Replies to post #2306 on Idenix Pharmaceuticals (IDIX)

[Mufaso]

Intermunes spike Monday of $5.05, to $18.43 added roughly $200 million to ITMN’s market cap. This an example of what mildly positive news on a HCV drug trial can do to a stock.

If Idenix is able to achieve it’s goal of an IND and phase I trial completion for IDX 184, in 2008, I would expect that to add at least $200 million to it’s cap.

Cash in the bank, a strong partner and an approved drug in Tyzeka limit the downside. Given the pipeline includes another HCV drug (IDX 102) and a HIV drug in IDX899, I like the risk reward proposition that Idenix offers.

[DewDiligence]

IDIX 2008 Goals

[Added detail on design of phase-2 IDX899
study and data to be reported at CROI.]

HIV

--Complete phase-2a IDX899 7-day monotherapy study (in progress); report interim results this study and complete results from phase-1b study at CROI conference in February. Also at CROI: results of phase-2 drug-interaction study with IDX899 and protease inhibitors.

--Start phase-2 IDX899 6-week combination study; this will be a head-to-head trial of IDX899+Truvada vs Sustiva+Truvada in first- or second-line patients.

--Partner IDX899 program following phase-2 study.

HCV

--File IND for the nucleotide prodrug, IDX184, and complete phase-1 trial.

--Start phase-2a study for IDX184 in combination with HCV SoC.

--File IND for HCV protease inhibitor and complete phase-1 trial.