Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA)

[RockRat]

>>Momenta is strictly going after one cancer type with one Chemo agent. I'm not sure why they would do this unless they want to use Gemzar alone.<<

I remember being frustrated at how long it took to get this compound into the clinic. I have some hope that their extensive preclinical work has allowed them to focus on indications and combos with the best chance of success. Many small oncology companies rush things and flop later. With the usual caveat about the predictive value of preclinical work, I'm hoping the slow/thorough approach in the opening stages of development pays off.

I'd give 'em an extra 1% for that alone. :>)

Again, our best early reads will likely come from GDC-0449, which hits some of the same targets and is ahead in development in the pretty much the same indication. The other compound aiming at the same targets, Progen's PI-88, is farther ahead, but looks like a victim of the "go faster on insufficient data" approach as far as clinical success is concerned.

The reason Momenta is targeting pancreatic is that the drug has an effect on the pancreatic cancer cell's stroma, which is a real problem with pancreatic versus other cancers -- chemo to date has had little affect there -- so this is the best chance to differentiate the drug.

The strategy makes sense to me.

Regards, RockRat (and you should refer to me as such, since there is another "Rocky" here)