Replies to post #52645 on Biotech Values

[keitern]

Thanks, Dew, for highlighting that aspect again. The Atryn choice has been difficult from a stock appreciation point of view because of the first couple steps in the pathway not being particularly lucrative. It makes perfect sense, however, if we are able to end up with an approved DIC drug as an "endaround" and Atryn still available for other treatments in addition to HD and DIC. I think I am correct in thinking there are still more applications for Atryn.

[ghmm]

MAXY: Appreciate the comments.

EDIT: Have you ever looked at Altus? I am biased (a shareholder) one thing that attracted me is they do not change the underlying molecule with their crystallization technology. Allen Leon (sp?), David's partner at BSR, asked on one of the calls about forming antibody's for their PKU product (preclinical) and they seemed to think it was very unlikely because of how it is absorbed (if memory serves).

[Rodenta]

Someone here said the maxy ceo was an arrogant sob. Maybe its true.

[cjgaddy]

Dew, given MAXY-Alpha’s hold, would you pls. update your “HCV: Most Likely to Succeed” chart? Ie, any additions? Is the rest of your category #2 intact? Any chg. to your ‘descending order of likelihood of success’ sequencing? Much appreciated.

Posted by: DewDiligence 8/11/07 12:04AM BioValues #50913:
HCV: Most Likely to Succeed
In descending order of likelihood of success (IMO):
1. Telaprevir (VRTX/JNJ in ph.2).
2. The various enhanced interferons: Albuferon (NVS/HGSI in ph.3), Locteron (OctoPlus/Biolex in preclinical), and Maxy-Alpha (Roche/MAXY in preclinical).
3. The protease inhibitors from Roche/ITMN and SGP.
4. Various early-stage compounds from GILD (alone), GILD/ACHN, Roche/VRUS, and IDIX.
JMHO, FWIW

9-21-07:
REDWOOD CITY, 9-21-07: Roche has advised Maxygen, Inc. that it has placed a voluntary hold on further clinical dev. of MAXY-alpha, also known as R7025. MAXY-lpha is a novel interferon-alpha for the treatment of HepC & HepB. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070921/aqf026.html?.v=25

[microcapfun]

>>CEO Howard Russell even boasted on CC’s that investors need not be concerned about immunogenicity because MAXY’s scientists knew exactly how to design around the problem.<<

I mentioned previously that I followed that company very closely for many years. I've met Russell and communicated with some of the top people at the company (all of whom left many years ago). Russell is a con artist. Nothing he says can be trusted. In the early days Maxygen had many really fabulous scientists, fantastic technology and a lot of potential. The technology might be still worth more slightly than peanuts, but the rest is long gone, thanks to Russell.

The IF-alpha failure doesn't surprise me a whit.

micro