Replies to post #19326 on Biotech Values

[fid]

What do you think of Anormed's (AOM) approach to HIV?

Cant say that I know much about HIV but AOM has an informative investor & analyst event on their website.

http://www.anormed.com/

AOM also today announced that they are beginning another AMD070 trial today. AOM should be releasing some results from the earlier Ib/IIa trial at the following conference:

http://www.retroconference.org/2006/


Another investor & analyst conference for another company I follow Isotechnika can be found at their website:

http://www.isotechnika.com/


One last Canadian pump, Labopharm, DDS seems to be on a good upswing based on its beginning commercialization in Europe of once daily Tramadol. DDS should be announcing some news as to a FDA filing in the very near future. Also DDS had started another Phase III trial and should be announcing results?

DDS had earlier ran two FDA trials but one trial failed due to a high placebo effect. DDS had stated that they intend to file for FDA approval very shortly but also at the same time stated something to the effect that they will release Phase III results when they deem fit. Not sure how they could put the new Phase III data in the NDA unless it is a rollong submission?? DDS has a partnership with Purdue. BVF should be rolling out once daily tramadol in the U.S. very shortly with their partner J&J.

fid

[rfj1862]

>What do you think of Anormed's (AOM) approach to HIV?<

Well, you didn't ask me but I'll answer.

I am not sure that there is tremendous market potential for Mozobil; and a 2-3 fold increase in stem cells really isn't that impressive. Also, despite the fact that I work in multiple myeloma, I wasn't aware stem cell harvest was a major problem.

Regarding the HIV drug: I am highly skeptical of the prospects of any HIV drug--even of those in new classes--because quite frankly HIV patients are pretty well served by the existing therapeutic classes. There remains a lot of room for improvement in tolerability; however, protease inhibitors like Reyataz and the new TMC114 are making great strides in that area.

My other reason to be skeptical: AMD070 binds to CXCR4 and inhibits entry. The problem, as I see it, is only a minority of infectious virions use CXCR4 for entry. I don't see what the advantage is in inhibiting entry of 40% of the virus when the remaining 60% is sufficient to initiate and maintain the infectious cycle.

That's not to say that there isn't money to be made here on positive trial results for Mozobil. I would be very cautious about getting in front of any results for AMD070. I have not had sufficient interest in this stock to generate a timeline, but if possible perhaps the best timing would be to wait for an AMD070 failure (meaning <1 log reduction in viral load) and then load up for good Mozobil results. Again, no idea if the timeline for these agents fits this scenario.

Not sure about how the partnerships will contribute to earnings.

I also hate the name Mozobil. Sounds like a clown ;-) I would suggest a minor change: Mobozil. So much more suggestive of what it does.

Just my opinion and again this is just a first-blush analysis. Also want to emphasize that I am skeptical of companies with HIV products in general--for example, I think that investing in PANC at these levels is crazy, particularly because they haven't even gotten the dose right.

Now, if someone would do me a favor and give me an equally uninformed opinion on REX, I'd appreciate it.