Replies to post #21691 on Biotech Values

[randychub]

vrtx - from a poster on the yahoo board. To me safety is the issue that with 8 patients taking the drug is still up in the air.

"windwalker"

To me, that makes no sense at all. Firstly, far as I could tell, the "potential" of VX950 is based on the same amount of data as BILN had (with about the same level of effectiveness) before - well, you know what happened. Secondly, why wouldn't VRTX set the study up to maximize their chance of success? i.e., plan for the full 48 weeks and - if the 3-month data are compelling - GREAT - off to the races! But that isn't what they're doing is it? No, no, no...for some hitherto unkown reason, VRTX does not want to go past 3 months. "WHY," I must ask myself - why, why why? Can't make enough pills? Inadequate exposure safety margin? Can't afford the pegIFN? Why, why, why?

[rkrw]

All oral treatment is the ultimate goal, combinations of different mechanisms to keep it from mutating. If you look at what NVS has been paying for different oral pieces, idenix and anadys...ands is an interesting one, a pill that induces endogenous interferon production.