Biotech Values

[mcbio]

ARQL @ Leerink (2/12/14):

1. ARQL's wholly-owned AKT and FGFR inhibitors are nearing MTD in ongoing Phase 1 trials and there is a "sign of efficacy already emerging."
2. For the AKT inhibitor, ARQL is seeing a very strong PD effect. They are seeing significant changes in glucose and insulin together with exposure and are optimizing the schedule to knock the pathway hard. They believe their AKT inhibitor is different from other AKTs leading the field.
3. For the FGFR inhibitor, ARQL said the space is opening up as people are looking for tumor types driven by FGFR.
4. For AKT inhibitor it is a case of the drug becoming more interesting and for FGFR inhibitor it is a case of the target becoming more interesting. (FWIW, I took this to mean that they believe their AKT inhibitor is differentiated from the competition and that their FGFR inhibitor may not be differentiated but there is otherwise strong interest in this target and thus still a potential opportunity.)
5. The AKT and FGFR inhibitors may be synergistic with each other and also with tivantinib.
6. ARQL disclosed for the first time that they are working on an NQ01 inhibitor in collaboration with U.S. academia.