Replies to post #665 on Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MNTA)

[oldberkeley]

The Journal's 'reporting' on this report was underwhelming.

This point has been adequately made, but one more time, just IMHO: continually examining Teva's words or actions for "truth" or "accuracy" is futile. Almost by definition, FUD is not truthful or accurate, that's its point.

This is a deliberate, careful, masterfully exercised strategic FUD campaign, probably planned long before the FDA approval in July (their scientists must have told the top brass that the writing was on the wall.) They even got a U.S. congressman recruited for the campaign!

The work itself—the research, the development, the science—did not go in Teva's favor and put them in a losing position. But as all good chess players (or former tank commanders like Yanai) will attest, being in a losing position does not necessarily mean losing. Skillful maneuvering of your remaining pieces or opponent error can result in a win, or at least in prolonging the game. Spreading FUD is part of it.

If indeed it is a losing position, and no mistakes are made, the loss occurs. Let’s hope that Momenta plays well: the Israelis are good but they also play chess in Cambridge.