Replies to post #48026 on Biotech Values

[masterlongevity]

I agree. This is enough reason to get rid of the ASCO embargo./

[walldiver]

This is a more insidious matter than the bioscams of BPUR, INGN, and HEB. All indications point to some downright evil behavior on the part of TELK mgmt, starting with the decision to "unblind" all three of their important trials at once, with one of those three being unblinded virtually one year after the final data came in.

[microcapfun]

ASCO's embargo/Telik/Onyx

In effect, they screwed ovarian cancer patients pretty hard by hiding behind the ASCO embargo BS. What telk management did is plainly unethical, and if I was a doc, I'd refuse to work with the company in any manner whatsoever. A small part of the blame (5%) lies at ASCO's doorstep for giving companies this shield, which also ends up depriving patients of critical info regarding available treatments.


pgs -

In the other direction from Telik, what do you think about Onyx and Bayer waiting from February until June to report the results from their Phase liver cancer trial?

Granted they did report that the trial was successful and hit its survival endpoint. But hardly any oncologists are going to prescribe - and no insurance will reimburse - Nexavar for liver cancer w/o so much as top line data to go on. So liver cancer patients were screwed for several months because Onyx and Bayer waited 4 months to report the results from that trial.

And liver cancer patients tend to only live a few months ...

I think the companies could have put out some top line data (e.g. the hazard ratio) in February, and ASCO would still have allowed them to do a plenary presentation. Is that right? So as in the case of Telik, I only blame ASCO a little - and Onyx does what Bayer tells them to. So probably the 'assisted murder' of liver cancer patients is mostly Bayer's doing.

micro