Replies to post #29829 on Relief Therapeutics Holding AG (RLFTF)

[tiggerifficm4]

A big THANK YOU!
I was most interested in the duel. Obviously, the Z guy was wrong and unfortunate he had such a avenue to report and cause panic.

Chairman of the Board of Directors Selvaraju and bank analyst Zilian in duel

Following the stock crash, Olav Zilian, the analyst from Mirabaud Securities, who most likely triggered it with a sell recommendation, and Ram Selvaraju, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Relief, engaged in controversy.
The trigger for the sell recommendation was the study stop due to the hopelessness of PhaseBio's pemziviptadil. Zilian considers it to be very similar to Relief's RLF-100, while Selvaraju, himself a pharmaceutical analyst and Managing Director at broker H. C. Wainwright, points out crucial differences, especially the mechanism of action.
The focus is on the relevant receptors on the cells, VPAC1 and VPAC2. According to PhaseBio, the active ingredient pemziviptadil docks selectively to the VPAC2 receptor. RLF-100, however, binds rather strongly to both receptors. Relief's hypothesis is that the ability to bind a VIP-analog molecule to VPAC1 is crucial for influencing the course of disease in Covid-19 or other patients with respiratory problems. VIP means vasointestinal peptide. VPAC1 is important because these receptors are expressed on type 2 pneumocytes. These play a critical role in Covid-19.
Zilian, however, doubts that the two peptide chains are actually different. RLF-100 corresponds to naturally occurring VIP, and PhaseBio calls its pemziviptadil a fusion molecule between natural human VIP and a molecule that extends its half-life. In addition, RLF-100 binds to both receptors quite strongly, and PhaseBio does not refer to any data on its website to support its claim. It is not known to what extent the PhaseBio compound binds primarily to VPAC2.
Selvaraju also points out that RLF-100 may affect several processes. For example, there is evidence of an antiviral effect of RLF-100, and it could also protect the aforementioned type 2 pneumocytes in the lungs. This may even be crucial for the VRP. This is because these cells produce a mucus that is essential for oxygen exchange. The Chairman emphasizes that the relief compound has passed both the first and second interim analysis of the Phase IIb/III study without any problems. PhaseBio did not even pass the first one.
However, Zilian believes that the ongoing Phase llb/III study would have been stopped if it had generated very convincing results. He also assumes that the increase in the targeted number of patients from 144 to 165 is an indication of an initially less pronounced data trend. Selvaraju replied that the early termination of the study was a hurdle that was extremely difficult to overcome. The increase in the number of study participants had been encouraged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even before the first interim analysis.

[djhfsu]

r_deckard...thank you for sharing the full article. I found the last sentence very interesting, especially the part bolded:

"He also assumes that the increase in the targeted number of patients from 144 to 165 is an indication of an initially less pronounced data trend. Selvaraju replied that the early termination of the study was a hurdle that was extremely difficult to overcome. The increase in the number of study participants had been encouraged by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even before the first interim analysis.

It seems like the analyst, Olav, wasn't able to fully appreciate Relief's drug and how it impacts both VPAC 1 & 2. Also, this same analyst isn't convinced the 2nd interim analysis was as effective as the first and thus the basis for his article. I liked how Ram stated the FDA wanted the increased number of patients in the trial and this was known before the first interim analysis was even done. That is reassuring.

At the end of the day, it doesn't sound like this drug is a stinker. So now we wait to see if it helps a little or a lot for critical patients. It will be amazing if the impacts are even bigger on healthier patients just presenting with Covid.

Have a nice weekend all.

Dave