Biotech Values

[Robert C Jonson]

This was yet another meaningless single-arm study where PPHM is touting the observed response rate relative to historical data.

Dew,
I understand that the preferred way to conduct these trials is with a control arm, but I don't understand why you say the results are meaningless. To me, meaningless would be a response rate that was the same as for the historical data; i.e., to treatment by docetaxel by itself. So it seems that either Bavi or the placebo effect is the cause of the better response rate, right?

I believe that Peregrine did the trials this way because it had insufficient funds to do it right. I think their hope is that these impressive results, though imperfect, are good enough to inspire a money bags BP or BB to fund more and better trials. This approach may be bearing fruit, as I can't conceive of folks like Dr. Chabner and Dr. Garnick risking their reputations by joining a loser, much less a scam, company.