Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc fka ARIA

[bellweather1]

Thanks Dough,

Yes I guess money was the obvious issue but we do have a little now and I suspect, one way or the other, the prospects of 534 &113 should get us the rest(needed).

If you can believe it, I've been invested in Aria in varying (but always significant)degrees since 1999. When I started to realize in the last few years that they we're actually on the verge of practical results, I had to force myself to do an about face and finally suspend my skeptical disbelief built up over so many years.

I have to admit that I still had some serious questions up until recently due to what appeared to be Harvey's attempts at double-dipping in terms of how he and other principals were compensated for shares of certain intellectual property rights(AGTI)that in my estimation should never have been set up to be separate from the rest of the companies assets (because it created an internal conflict of interest between them and the ariad shareholders whos' interests they were supposed to represent).

For a review, see: http://seekingalpha.com/article/110728-why-ariad-pharmaceuticals-needs-an-sec-investigation

If you're familiar with this matter, you'll remember that it led to the resignation of the few board members with the integrity to oppose this action.

I think in retrospect, it's obvious that most potential institutional investors have over the years been reluctant to invest, both because of ariad's hx of overpromising and underdelivering, but also because this inherent conflict of interest made it difficult if not impossible(due to unknown future dilution)to value shares. Think of it, just as their investment is about to pay off they're confronted with Harvey holding a gun to their head for some untold sum.

As a result, up until recently ariad has been little more than
a trading stock, and although this impression is quickly changing (due to obvious results and the all important resolution of this conflict), many observers in the biotech world still really can't believe their eyes. Old habits and perspectives die hard, so, having failed to do a thorough evaluation, I imagine they're still asking themselves, what's the catch this time.

But yes Dough, I agree that ariad appears (notice the residual "gun-shy" qualification) to be a fabulous value in view of the pipeline, and it is by far my largest(rediculously large) position, because I too could not wait for Jeffries cc or even the previous one, but I'm still a little nervous because old pespectives die hard!

From the way you sound, I assume aria is your top biotech pick. Is it?

I noticed Don mentioned a number of others.

Don if you read this, let us know how you rank ariad and the others in terms of priority?


Thanks again for the welcome!


bw