Bill:
I dunno. I do believe that, with increased crowding of human populations and an increased frequency and ease of travel, variant pathogens will continue to emerge and present new threats. The epidemiology of diseases ass'd with HBV, HPV, etc. indicate that pharmas aren't keeping pace with societal changes.
Our populations will increasingly be divided into groups characterized by the presence or absence of given pathogens. Soon we'll see personal ads that are divided not by SF seeking SM (single female seeking single male) but by SH+A-P+He-F seeking SdittoM (single herpes-positive, HIV-negative, genital warts-positive, hepatitis B-negative female seeks male of similar pathogenic spectrum).
While this is admittedly an awful view of the future, I also feel that societies with the lowest frequency of individuals that are infected with chronic pathogens will be most successful. In a terrible world, we could also picture discrimination (hiring, etc.) that further segregates our populations.
So..... rather than chasing a rapid diagnostic for the latest flu variant, I focus on long-term investments in the best of anti-pathogen companies and on the "platform" technologies that will accelerate drug discovery in general. That does not mean that I think that chasing that diagnostic is not wise or that it won't make one a bundle.
The newsletter...... an update. Our Information Systems Manager, Paul Yadlowsky, has designed some marvelous features into our website. We have sorted quote lists that update during the day which can be sorted on volume, percent daily increase, average price per trade, and symbol. In addition, we have a "robot" that goes out and retrieves news updates which you can then link with. Another feature is a list of market caps that updates automatically and from which you can link to Yahoo! quotes and news by simply clicking on the ticker.
Sounds great? It is. However, the automated functions were not welcome at many ISPs. As a result, we've had trouble launching on schedule. It now looks as though we've found a host where we will be welcome.
Given the recent collapse in biotech, the delay may actually be of cosmetic benefit for portfolio performance dating from launch. Unfortunately, real-world, several of the editors have riden this downturn long. That is, our launch may be timed to make us look more brilliant than we are.
An example..... until last week, I was three for three when it came to "FDA crunch time". I'm an investor in early-stage companies, and I've usually moved on to another opportunity by the time a biotech hits FDA review (either advisory committee or full agency). I had chosen, however, to ride with Agouron through Viracept, Gilead through Vistide, and Gliatech through Adcon-L (AC only to date, and I bailed on the Monday following the AC meeting). Three for three is pretty good, but last week I was long DEPO as were several other BioPlatform editors.
So, the timing may be of cosmetic benefit to performance subsequent to launch. We'll take it.
Cheers! Rick |
