Well, everyone clear on that PR? My reaction, fwiw, is a bit troubled, on a number of counts. First, Boger at last week's conference emphasized the earlier pipe's caliber as well as its breadth. Now comes the PR (score one for rkrw) and, as best as I can tell, VRTX is going to put most of its marbles into 950 and 702--seemingly stellar candidates, to be sure, but still with plenty of risk in light of the fact that these two are themselves relatively early in the development cycle. I don't really know anything about the prospects of the CF candidate.
How to interprest this statement: <<"We believe that based on a rigorous analysis of available clinical data across all of our programs, and an appreciation of the commercial opportunity in our areas of concentration, the decision to focus our portfolio will drive clinical and commercial value for Vertex and its shareholders in the coming years.>> Commercial opportunity, I understand. But the "rigorous analysis of ... clinical data"--does that mean that the earlier pipe candidates, specifically MMPD and 765, didn't really pass the pre-clinical efficacy grade? So, we'll try to partner these out? Or is it, in a Rick view: let's cut bait on those that we really don't see being part of our core clinical/commercial competency?
I guess the Merck partnership is on track, as Boger alluded to specifically during the presentation.
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