Replies to post #122377 on Biotech Values

[bladerunner1717]

If both were to merely develop fast acting insulin similar to current fast acting analog insulin, there would be no market for them at all.

The real question is whether there is really a market for ultra fast acting insulin. I don't know the answer to that. Can you give some reasons why you think so?


Bladerunner

[DewDiligence]

We seem to disagree on how well-served the diabetes market is by the array of marketed and late-stage development products from NVO and SNY (among others). You evidently see strong prospects for continued insulin tweaking, while I think the wide array of choices has already reached the point of severely diminishing returns for new aspirants.

[mcbio]

Second, neither BIOD nor HALO is trying to make as good as fast acting analog. They are trying to make ultra fast acting insulin which there is a need for as meal time insulin. HALO is actually comparing directly vs analog insulin. BIOD had issue with their development in the past, but they are going to compare with analog insulin as well in new development plan.

I think the bottom line is that BIOD is trying to show that one of their new formulations of ultra-fast acting insulins will work even quicker than a fast acting insulin like Humalog to raise insulin levels more quickly after a meal to more quickly reduce glucose levels and, in the process, show a reduction in hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia compared to the fast acting insulins like Humalog. If BIOD can show that in clinical trials, I would think there would be a legit market opportunity for such a drug. The key will be to what extent, if any, they can differentiate their ultra-fast acting insulins from Humalog. If it's not very much then, yeah, it's probably not a good business proposition, especially in the face of generic fast acting insulins in a few years.