Biotech Values

[oc631]

That’s unduly harsh, IMO. GS-7340 gives GILD a shot at developing what I’ll call Quad Prime: Elvitegravir + Cobicstat + Emtriva + GS-7340. If it works, this 4-in-1 pill will be 100% owned by GILD and will have patent protection for many years to come.

Six months ago my post was justified from what investors knew at the time. Now that GS-7340 is moving into mid-stage testing, and will potentially be a part of "Quad-Prime", the strategy is becoming eerily familiar.

Just as Btripla was an approval risk hedge for the first generation Quad the four drug combo with Tibotec's Prezista now appears to be GILD's approval risk hedge for the second generation in-house Quad "Quad-Prime". GILD clearly has the money and foresight to lock up the HIV market.

What's next in HIV after "Quad Prime"? I hope five years from now we aren't talking about the ""five-spot". This is getting a bit messy.

Kudos to SGMO for trying to turn the page in HIV drug development.