Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc fka ARIA

[rumrunner528]

I don't believe there is anything to the idea of improper sales based upon this information (not by management anyway). Many of those shares sold were by HB from his SEC planned sales (12B5 or something like that). That plan was initiated a long while back. Many others are exercises of options and the sale of a portion of those shares to finance the tax impact of the exercise, very common. My summary...no story here.

I have to wonder what impact this has had on Harvey's thinking. His goal of being a stand alone oncology company has been shot to hell. He's no spring chicken (anyone have his age) and hasn't the time nor the reputation to start over. There just doesn't seem to be any place to attract money (as many have said). His team of professionals were incentivized with options (among other things), but that certainly isn't working out very well. My guess would be that they would rather work in an environment of success.

Just as many of you (I should say us) are thinking "I just want to unload this and put this behind me," he may well have the same thoughts. I have to believe going to work at 26 Landsdowne Street right now down right sux.

It's hard to believe that a sale isn't number one on his mind.

rum