Biotech Values

[ghmm]

Its interesting (but not surprising) to hear Vertex's approach in HCV development verses Roche and SGP's. While I would agree shorter duration beats longer duration I think SVR easily trumps short duration. While Vertex talked of 80% the Roche rep said North of 80% (perhaps just a slight wording difference) but maybe more to it. I noticed one of the first questions on the Vertex call referred to their Japanese partner doing a 24 week monotherapy study (no interferon and I presume no riba too but not certain!) where virtually everyone got rash.

I would think if a longer duration treatment had minimal side effects and perhaps avoided/reduced injections it would be preferable to one where you get rash even if its just a fraction that discontinue because of it especially if SVR is comparable or even better.