News Focus
News Focus
icon url

Zeev Hed

10/06/04 9:46 AM

#306153 RE: Justa Werkenstiff #306145

Yes, that risk does exost, though the $51 was made available because of the subpeona.
icon url

osprey

10/06/04 11:53 AM

#306253 RE: Justa Werkenstiff #306145

I rather doubt that DNA rituxan will be at all comparable to either Chiron flu vaccine or Merck Vioxx.

The latter two were legitimate catastrophes, Vioxx has unacceptable side effects, is off the market, and merck is out a few billion USD in revenue.

Chiron screwed up royally on some routine manufacturing process, got their plant shut down, lost 40 million flu doses of revenue, looks like a total idiot, and the rest of the world will be pissed all winter.

The subpoena by the penn attorney general is presented without details so we have to guess. This however, isn't the FDA or the US attorney general who generally handle global matters of interstate commerce.

Rituxan is a low toxicity, targeted cancer therapy for NHL that is generally regarded as safe for what it is (an onc drug) and effective. If they withdrew Rituxan right now, a few tens of thousands of NHL patients would start dying over the next few months. Won't happen.
My best guess is that DNA is being targeted for pricing or marketing. They are known for aggressive marketing and have been caught at it before. And Rituxan like all new age biotech drugs is expensive. Wait and see but I don't see another Merck or Chiron in this.
icon url

Justa Werkenstiff

10/07/04 10:18 AM

#306673 RE: Justa Werkenstiff #306145

Looks like my concern about DNA's chart was spot on as it falls apart today. Hope nobody got caught holding the bag...but I guess that is something nobody like to talk about.