Chris, apologies for not responding more quickly - was out of town at the end of last week and I try not to touch a computer on the weekends...
I thought the setback was pretty tough. Antova is something that holds lots of promise - assuming its safe. And, now maybe its not.
Amevive is the drug that Biogen's president once said he would stake the future of the company on, and that is still on target. But, now instead of Amevive, Antova, Adentri, VLA4, new Avonex indications and some drug they are filing a new IND on this year (supposedly), now Biogen has had to go back to the drawing board for 2 of those drugs (VLA4 and Antova).
Earnings should continue to be strong, but Amevive is more important than ever now, and Adentri now seems important where before it was a bonus (to me anyway).
Rick, any idea why the safety issues weren't picked up in Phase I?
Regarding analysts' fingers in the wind: I don't think they know any better than we do whether clinical programs will succeed or fail, start or stop. I do think analysts are right about potential psychological effect of halted trial: the growing cloak of invulnerability about Biogen has shown some holes.
Harold Engstrom (Muggle) |
