Replies to post #189447 on Biotech Values

[mcbio]

FGEN

To my knowledge, yes.

CTGF is clearly intimately involved with fibrosis, but I wouldn't call it a magic bullet. Fibrosis is very complex and there are weird feedback loops with e.g., TGF-beta.

The FGEN drug was able to reverse radiation-induced lung fibrosis in an animal model - as far as I know that is the only demonstration of reversal of fibrosis in the literature.

Thanks. I'm going to give FGEN a look again. I know I had dismissed them earlier when we were discussing roxadustat given the potential issue of competing against generics but they seem to believe they have pretty strong differentiation on at least safety from ESAs. I don't know the economics on their deals with AZN/Astellas for the drug but I'm assuming they maintained significant rights and obviously this is a late-stage asset going after a huge potential market. Probably not a shock that the stock is near $2B given the novelty of their programs (the fibrosis drug alone is going after large, unmet markets in IPF, DMD, etc. so if it works huge value). And, FWIW, I agree with your take on the CC and the potential tell on roxadustat.

[mcbio]

>>Is FGEN the only one currently targeting CTGF for fibrosis?

To my knowledge, yes.

CTGF is clearly intimately involved with fibrosis, but I wouldn't call it a magic bullet. Fibrosis is very complex and there are weird feedback loops with e.g., TGF-beta.

The FGEN drug was able to reverse radiation-induced lung fibrosis in an animal model - as far as I know that is the only demonstration of reversal of fibrosis in the literature.

FWIW, Corbus claims their drug reduces CTGF and TGF-beta: http://www.corbuspharma.com/news/press-releases/detail/174/corbus-pharmaceuticals-announces-presentation-of-positive .

[dewophile]

FGEN

The FGEN drug was able to reverse radiation-induced lung fibrosis in an animal model

In their open label ph 2 using high res CT there were patients with reversal of fibrosis as well - also i think a first. This was all in the low dose group - in fact i don't knwo if they released data on the high risk group but the currently enrolling randomized trial uses the higher dose FWIW

PS: I've been travelling so haven't been as active and noticed FGEN has taken a dive. Maybe this is a good entry point for mcbio et.al??