Replies to post #146442 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

There’s a rumor that JNJ intends to hire J.P. Sommadossi to head up the company’s HCV program.

[mcbio]

I think for TMC435 to be considered more than it is now, JNJ needs to be serious about acquiring a few key candidates to do combinations rather than at the mercy of competing partners.

JNJ is already partnered with Medivir on the nuke set to enter the clinic in 4Q12. (The second Medivir nuke remains unpartnered.) And there are the ongoing combo trials combining TMC435 with GS-7977 and daclatasvir. Of course, I think consensus seems to be GILD will only move forward on in-house combos (though some on here speculate there could be a path forward for TMC435 to be ultimately combined with GS-7977 if both drugs get approved, even if not formally tested together). With daclatasvir, I imagine BMY is even more closely tied to Medivir after this news though it certainly remains to be seen if just a PI+NS5A+riba? will be sufficient.

You do have to wonder now if JNJ could potentially consider IDX184 to combine with TMC435. It could make sense. And I still think VRTX could be an option as well.