Agree...diffuse mismash. Hope after things settle
down after the mergers it will be easier to see in
what direction Valentis is headed--it will be fun
to get that first Valentis glossy annual report...
I can't remember why originally GMED ended up in
my account, but VLTS is still there now because of
gene switch and the angiogenesis inhibitor program,
I assume we will see a partner soon for the latter.
Valentis seems relatively unencumbered by deals,
and unlike Vical, is not so far along that clinical
trials could disappoint and drain some of the hope
out of the stock price. Fits in with my general
pattern of buying into stories which are early,
the second wave. I may have gone back a bit too
far with Ariad, third wave, but I am still pretty
sure I'm not yet interested in the first line of gene
therapy companies--Vical, TKTX etc, as you know I
like the really cheap stuff--and does not seem like
the first companies to do phase III trials are going
to be the ones that lock up the market for gene
therapy, a bit too early in the technology--a few
failures first, then either ARGENT or GeneSwitch
save the day, who knows. Ultimately maybe Ariad will
look smart for having gone so slow (I just dont quit
do I, ha ha).
Add to the list of VLTS credits are the two phase-II
VEGF trials--but, yes, a lot going on. A new partner
and a settling down period are on tap. I suppose
there is always a chance the whole things gets taken
out, but not til after PolyMASC is completed.
I like that Valentis has a few years of cash though,
so not worried about getting diluted, unlike a few
of my other things--where backs are to the wall.
I am really just easing into gene therapy--only
about a fifth of my biotech account is in aria and
vlts. It still seems a bit early to plunge in with
both feet, by 2002 I hope to have this sorted out
better. I'd expect by 2005 the "Gorilla" of this area
of biotech will be known to everybody, I hope I see
the leader emerge over the next few years and get
to ride it.
Have not followed cege or avgn lately, and I know
that biotechnav has cege, isip and vicl listed for
the agressive account, don't know how I managed to
settle on the two I have instead of any of these
others, darts all of them right now anyway. |
