Replies to post #121587 on Biotech Values

[ghmm]

IMO, it means Vertex's PI is unlikely to be a part of any initial all-oral combo's which to me is at least negative for Vertex and thus puts VRUS as a leading candidate to have one (or more) components of any initial all oral combo's.

[oc631]

However, I view this news as bearish for IDIX and INHX, since both have nukes that are further along than the ones VRTX licensed today.

By licensing two nukes it's possible VRTX is trying to emulate VRUS' dual nuke backbone strategy. Details weren't released but I would expect a purine and pyrimidine pairing from Alios. VRUS shocked the market testing PSI-7977 12 weeks as an monotherapy and in a best case scenario this could be the first generation oral treatment on the market. Looking past this event would be approval (hopefully) of a second generation dual nuke combo and this is what VRTX needs to prepare itself to compete with. A single nuke offering won't do. In that sense this is the right deal for them and it also gives them two shots on goal if one compound doesn't work out. This is a long shot for VRTX but one they need to take.