Biotech Values

[ghmm]

ALTU:

Interesting. Thanks for posting it. The MS presentation is by far the best to listen to for those interested in ALTU.

Their drug did not fail at least not that we publicly know. Their lead drug Trizytek (ALTU-135) for pancreatic insufficiency is in Phase 3 with efficacy results due in Q3 of this year. Nothing is easy especially with this company's history. Unless they have study conduct troubles this has an extremely highly likelyhood of success.

What we are waiting on prior to Triztek is Phase 1 results for ALTU-237 even though it is primarily a safety study in healthy volunteers a signal on if the drug is working is a key objective is to see if it reduces the amount of oxalate in the urine (study subjects get a high oxalate diet). I really like the potential in the rare hyperoxaluria if they show it works. Then they claim it is the same mechanism as 236 (PKU) and 242 (Gout).

Then we have what has killed the company ALTU-238. WHen Genentech walked away in addition to losing half our market cap we had the burden of doubling our cash burn. This to me has created the biggest sense of urgency. If we had this burn off our shoulders we could push through.

If the wire story you posted is accurate I wonder if they hit another setback somewhere or perhaps now with 237 data the picture is a lot clearer. To me it is almost a no brainer for biomarin since they just invested in a couple of early stage CF drugs and Kuvan is going to be a key revenue source so locking out any potential PKU competition. I would personally like to see the company stay independent and get someone like former TKT CEO Michael Astrue.