Replies to post #198251 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

RBC cut its price target on ESPR from $65 to $40—presumably based on the negative FDA panel vote on Vytorin (#msg-119157187):

$ESPR getting a steep downgrade after hours by RBC Capital, slashing PT from $65 to $40. 'Visibility keeps getting tougher.'

— CR 🎗🧡 (@CashRocket) December 15, 2015

[biomaven0]

>>votes 10-5 to reject Vytorin label expansion

My interest here is what it says about the cholesterol hypothesis.

My personal view is that the hypothesis in its pure form (anything that reduces cholesterol levels improves cardiac outcomes) is pretty clearly wrong. What I personally believe is that cholesterol reductions are typically offset by a corresponding upregulation of PCSK9.

The statin case of course is an exception - there we have clear benefit despite what also appears to be PCSK9 upregulation. Might be a difference in degree (my guess) or some other factor.

Peter