Replies to post #99913 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

Roche would have to formally renounce the ITMN partnership to develop HCV protease inhibitors before it could license IDX320.

[mcbio]

Re: ITMN/IDIX/(ACHN)

In light of the events with Roche and ITMN's drug, do you see Roche as a potential suitor for partnering IDIX's 184 and 320 (together)?

Notwithstanding the cost that Roche may have to incur to renounce the ITMN partnership, I think that both IDIX (either 320 alone or with 184) and ACHN (ACH-1625) have to at least be a legitimate option that Roche is considering. We have discussed the issues with ITMN-191 on this board and if the backup 2nd gen HCV PI is apparently not close to the clinic, one would think that Roche has to seriously consider an HCV PI that is in the clinic and ready to go. Note that ITMN management did indicate on the call today that Roche views PIs as an important component of HCV therapy. ACH-1625 is the furthest along and is Phase 2-ready although it is not pan-genotypic, as IDX320 is designed to be.