Replies to post #610 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

>> I believe lucentis has shown in their 6 month data an improvement in over 40 percent of their subjects. <<

drbio: I am unclear about which Lucentis data set you are referring to. Can you clarify?

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Surprised you are not a fan of OXGN given your affinity for other under-appreciated bios. I think it’s a tossup whether GENR or OXGN is first to partner their program in ophthalmology. GENR is further advanced in the development program, of course, but OXGN’s tie-in with the Wilmer Institute may be a significant factor for prospective partners.

[isolution]

Side-effect concern

You are saying the vefg trap will show side effects because of systemic administration. Why don't you feel squalamine will?
drbio, my concern about side-effect of systemically administered drug is still alive, see my post #419 and others:

First concern is side effects (see my posts 212, 259, 361) in the long term. The fact is that I don't believe in miracle drugs. I do understand the excitement about these 2 drugs in view of the results, but history has taught us that it is always followed by a list of counterindications. For example, see Aspirin or Asthma drugs. For this last one, asthmatic people, treated on a daily base for the long term develop several intolerances. In the same way, the toxicity from the long-term use of anti-angiogenic agents is an important issue.
That is why I think any drug shall be studied with an adapted drug delivery device to limit potential side-effects, even if they are unknown today (4 months data is very small). That is especially true for the eye. Why treat systematically such a small organ. Everyone needs to be cautious about the optimism about the novel drugs in angiogenesis. The systemic administration of these drugs is not the ideal way of treating ocular angiogenesis, as the drug does not reach the target tissues at an optimal concentration.
That is certainly why Oxigene insists on their last PR about local administration of Combretastatin (2 sentences in the article...!).
Squalamine and Combretastatin will certainly show some kind of side-effects in the long-term (these 2 drugs target neovessels, you generate neovessels not only when you have AMD but also when you cut your finger) and Geneara should be advised to think about a way to deliver Squalamine locally.