This week's Barron's has an article on BBIOY. I sold my BBIOY months ago around 67. Now it's 87. Their main drug, Marimastat, is supposed to, in effect, turn malignant tumors into benign tumors. In last year's Phase II trials, they gave it to inoperable patients and a significant portion reacted favorably. Marimastat was effective across a broad range of cancers - colorectal, ovarian, prostatic, etc.
Marimastat is, I think, the first in a new class of drugs called MMPI's, which inhibit the action of proteins that a cancerous cell mass would secrete. This inhibition of the specific protein (forgot the name) prevents the cancer from spreading. Thus, the body can wall off the cancer and it doesn't become fatal. I believe Marimastat is in the final testing phase - the FDA's mandated Phase III trials. There are other co's which are developing MMPI's - I don't know which ones, though.
Philip |
