Replies to post #59204 on Biotech Values

[bladerunner1717]

Dew,

Maybe this is a dumb question, but I was wondering why Teva can't simply launch a branded generic of their own. They certainly have the experience and the infrastructure.


Bladerunner

[zipjet]

>>You underestimate the potential of the generic-Copaxone program

Perhaps. Won't be my first or last error. :-)

Treating MS is a subject that has more than a passing interest for me. My wife has been on Copaxone for many years. It proved a wise choice and she has done reasonably well. But it was a holding action. Soon she will switch to Tysabri. (We were about to do that once before when T was pulled off the market.) I will start getting some first hand sense of how it works for her.

My view of Copaxone and the Ifn's is that they are far better than nothing but still leave MS too active. It appears T will be much better - say twice as good. I hope so.

I figure there has to be something wrong with the Copaxone patent for the M356 activity to go this far. The patent is not my concern.

Nor do I doubt that MNTA will be able to duplicate Copaxone.

But for Copaxone to have ANY value for MNTA shareholders three things must happen. 1 - It must not be eliminated by a better drug/s. (Considering the marginal benefit of Copaxone, they could be displaced completely.) 2 - The company must stay viable. (That means mL or M118 needs to come through.) 3 - The company must stay independent - not bought out.

Without meeting those hurdles, MNTA will not be around in 5 years for us to see how valuable M356 turns out to be.

ij

[ghmm]

MNTA:

Do you or know how strong Teva's patent position is around Copaxone or is that a better question for ij? TIA