Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX)

[gofishmarko]

How about selling the Tyzeka rights to GILD ?

Since it now appears likely that any real commercial potential that Tyzeka has is likely to derive from usage in combos with either adefovir or tenofovir , and that's a couple of years away , it seems like a waste for IDIX to fund a marketing and sales operation in the meantime , not to mention the P4 trials. Right now Tyzeka might be worth more to GILD than it's worth to IDIX / NVS. ( I'm assuming in this scenario that IDIX/NVS have decided that valtorcitabine is not going to be Tyzeka's saviour. )

Nothing prevents IDIX/NVS and GILD from collaborating on a combo , of course , but an outright sale of Tyzeka might make more sense for both sides. GILD has an established HBV franchise , while IDIX has no new drug candidates for HBV ( again , discounting valtorcitabine , which they could throw into the deal as a freebie ). A sale would provide cash , greatly reduce cash burn , and allow IDIX to focus on antiviral drug discovery.

Just a thought , but I'm guessing an announcement of a such a deal would be seen as a positive for IDIX.

EDIT : The problem with this may be that GILD wouldn't be willing to pay much for Tyzeka , since they already have the tenofovir plus emtracitabine combo ( Truvada ) , and might not see Tyzeka as much of an upgrade to emtracitabine. Still , combo trials using Tyzeka are already underway and there is at least a chance that results could be surprisingly good and thus make the deal rewarding for GILD.