VVUS: VIVUS INC. (NASDAQ) Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : VVUS: VIVUS INC. (NASDAQ)

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: adam hefian who wrote (7246)	4/18/1998 1:37:00 AM
From: Mkilloran	Read Replies (2) of 23519

adam________read te 10k report on edgar 3/31/98 .....it will explain a lot of your questions....Vivus has been driven down for several reasons...investor fear that PFEs Viagara will take over the market as well as limited plant capacity to produce Muse in 4qtr 97 & 1qtr 98. The plant capacity is being resolved ...origional plant with contract workers was 6,000 sq ft with an ability to produce 1.8 mill units a qtr. New plant is built and is 90,000 sq ft ...is approved by MCA (British version of FDA).awaiting FDA approval and will be staffed by Vivus employees at a lower expense. Sales in the UK were $1.9 mill for the last 4 1/2 week in 1st qtr... 2nd qtr will be a full qtr for uk sales. Two major intl distributers Astra and Jansen have paid Vivus $30 mill (some in 97) about $15 mill as they reach milestones going foward...As they get approval in new countries. Brazil,Argentina,Switzerland and S.Korea were just approved and Vivus received $1 mill payment. Look at the 10k for list of other countries and when paperwork was applied to sell..about 15 new countries are expected in 1998. Major expenses for direct consumer ads and a payment to settle law suite and limited plant capacity resulted in -.07 loss in 1st qtr. Est were for -.04 in 1st qtr....1998 eps are estimated ~.72 to .80 cents for 1998...~1.75 in 1999 ........These are all to be assuming PFE's Viagra doesn't take over the market. Could be higher or lower based on what % of the expanding ED market Vivus can capture. Muse II is in level III trials and expected approval and marketed in 1999....a future plant in Ireland is ontarget for yr2000..Vivus just completed a stock buy back approved at 2 mill shares...(last 1.63 mill was bought in 1st qtr)....Management owns a good % of this stock..large % owned by instutions...a very large short position outstanding ~10 mill shares....out of 32 mill shares outstanding. This is not a stock for the faint of heart, over extended margin accts, etc....option players god only knows were it will be day to day Some think it's going to crash and burn....other's think it's going to soar out of the ashes like the Phonix.. The battle for market share will become clearer by Qtr 3.... Vivus has dropped the direct consumer ads...let Pfe bring the patients to the Dr's office (pfe has just announced a $35 mill ad plan) .. Vivus has moved to a plan to educate the Drs about Muse and contracted for 200 sales reps to spread the word in the US. Astra and Jansen will pay for ad's and Dr's education overseas. They uy Muse wholesale for ~$7.00 a unit...where the US wholesalers pay $15 per unit. Read as much as you can on this tread and elsewhere...start with the 10k.....read the pro and the cons... Good luck... ...I'am long Vivus looking for higher prices into 1999/2000 .the long term view ...buying more below 10..

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next