This is a tough one. My initial reaction might be to say no, because you are perhaps expecting someone to answer the question.
However, on reflection, it appears it would be a very good rhetorical question. How so? Because you may be asking the question to stimulate our thinking about XOMA and the conference in question. If the reader should say 'I wonder, are people talking about the conference?', then you succeeded in getting someone to think about the whole issue.
But it could backfire, in so far as it being purely rhetorical. Someone may find out whether or not people are talking about XOMA and then proceed to answer your question with 'George, yes people are talking blah blah blah.' Or, 'George, I haven't heard a thing, what do you suppose that means?'
Now, did my answer make your question non rhetorical because I responded to it? No, because I was responding to your first question.
However, the second question did cause me to start thinking about the conference. So let me leave you a question, what do think would be the implication of XOMA being at the conference? Or not being there?
If they announce anything, it could be very exciting. But I don't think they will. The meningo study will be finished at the end of the year, but it will take time for the results to be fully analyzed, unless there is something really striking in the results.
Now what if there was something striking in the results?
If its bad, we won't hear about it in January for sure. They'll go back over the results, talk with lawyers, etc.
But what if it is good, strikingly good?
They'll be sure to talk things over with the FDA, if for no other reason, to stay in their good graces. Also, scientists like to get published in peer reviewed journals, and the journals will not publish if the material has been published somewhere else. Of course, what could happen, and this is pure speculation, is the results are so exciting they might get an agreement to publish and received permission from the editor to release a summary of findings at this conference. That would be truly awesome.
Does the H&Q conference carry enough prestige to make such a scenario worthwhile? Would it be worth the trouble to go through the steps outlined above?
Anyway, to really answer your question, I have no idea whether or not people are saying XOMA will be at the conference. However, if people in the know are saying they will, it could be very good news indeed. If they are going to talk about the menigo trials at the conference, that would mean 1) The results are good, make that, very good; 2) The FDA is happy and XOMA has their permission to talk about the trials; 3) Either the scientists involved don't care about the publishing of the results, or, are going to publish and have permission from the editor of the journal as well.
Jack |
