Replies to post #151 on Verastem (VSTM)

[n3m3sis]

Is it any wonder somebody does not want the price to rise too high?

For Genmab, the news ends the uncertainty about the future of Arzerra that began when Novartis picked up the rights to the drug in oncology indications as part of its asset swap with GSK. Novartis went some way to clarifying the situation in August when it agreed a $1 billion (€910 million) deal with GSK to acquire the rights to Arzerra in autoimmune indications. Now, the Swiss Big Pharma has gone a step further and provided additional details of its plans for the product, which include a shift in interest away from pemphigus vulgaris and toward the bigger prize of multiple sclerosis.

Stiefel, a GSK subsidiary, started a Phase III trial of Arzerra in pemphigus vulgaris--a rare, potentially life-threatening skin disorder--in 2014. At that time, Arzerra was seen as an alternative to high-dose systemic steroids for the 7 million people worldwide who live with pemphigus vulgaris, but Novartis has decided not to pursue the opportunity. The Phase III trial is being discontinued, a decision that Genmab said has nothing to do with the safety or tolerability of Arzerra. Genmab also revealed there are no plans to develop Arzerra as a treatment for neuromyelitis optica.

In dropping rare disease indications from its plans, Novartis has rested the fate of its $1 billion bet on Arzerra on a Phase III trial in relapsing multiple sclerosis. Work to generate data to support this use case is to start in the back half of the year when Novartis will begin a Phase III trial of a subcutaneous formulation of Arzerra in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Novartis is aiming to have data to support a regulatory filing in 2019, setting it up to potentially add Arzerra to a multiple sclerosis portfolio that already features Gilenya and Extavia.

You pay 1 Billion for a company and its drug and then this happens....

Shares of Verastem Inc. (VSTM) jumped 50.3% to $5.77 ahead of the market open on Wednesday, Sept. 6, after the Boston firm announced positive top-line results from its Phase 3 study of duvelisib in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

Also on Wednesday, the company said it has broadened its duvelisib development program to include targeting the treatment of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has given duvelisib fast track designation for the treatment of patients with PTCL that have received at least one prior therapy.

In addition, Verastem said it has tapped Brian Stuglik, an Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) alum who later founded Proventus Health Solutions LLC, as a board member. (MACK) , up nearly 16% to $14.49.

The drug that Verastem faced off against is the one that Novartis just paid £1 billion for and beat it hands down, prompting a FDA Fast Track Designation.

Wouldn't you try to keep the share price as low as possible?

Minimum price for Verastem, with the fast track fda designation and capture of their ex E.Lily new Director is £2 Billion!!!!1