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Biotech / Medical : XOMA. Bull or Bear? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: aknahow who wrote (10650)	7/7/1999 6:21:00 PM
From: Arthur Radley	Respond to of 17367

I'm in full agreement with McCamant. " Biotech Sector Holding Up Very Well Posted Wednesday, July 07, 1999 at 09:59 AM EST by Jim McCamant Medical Technology Stock Letter The biotech stocks have been holding up very well in the weak market that we have been experiencing. The price action of many of the second-tier biotech stocks has improved significantly. Considering how well these stocks have performed in this nervous market, we anticipate that many of our recommended stocks will move up on any market strength. As we stated on March 11, 1999 in Issue #366, "The biotech industry is beginning a period of consolidation," and sure enough, the merger and acquisition activity is clearly helping the group. The acquisition by Roche of the portion of Genentech it did not already own will free up about $3.5 billion to buy other biotech stocks. Abbott's bid for Alza, worth approximately $7.3 billion at the time the merger was announced, and Pharmacia & Upjohn's $650 million bid for Sugen will also create more buying activity in the sector. Not only is this activity going to spur buying in biotech, but the prices being paid for these companies represent just how undervalued many biotechs stocks have become. It is clear that despite the shaky market we have been experiencing, that now is a time to be very aggressive in establishing or adding to positions of your favorite biotech stocks. Source: Medical Technology Stock Letter, P.O. Box 40460, Berkeley, CA

To: aknahow who wrote (10650)	7/7/1999 7:15:00 PM
From: Pseudo Biologist	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 17367

George, you got it right re. disclosure. Biogen did release some data to some people as evidenced by the following post that cites a Salomon-Smith Barney report: Message 9842622 Here is the most interesting part: ******************************************** Biogen announced positive results from its Phase IIb trial of Amevive for moderate to severe psoriasis. The trial was a randomized placebo controlled study with 229 patients in four arms, 3 dose arms of Amevive and one placebo arm. Patients received IV bolus injections once weekly for 12 weeks, with 12 weeks of follow-up. Results: The primary end-point was efficacy at 2 weeks after completion of the 12 week dosing. The drug worked quickly, with initial effect noted 2-4 weeks after initiation of therapy. At 2 weeks post-treatment, over 50% of patients in the top 2 dose groups had improvements vs 20% in the placebo group. The physician global assessment of the disease improved to mild or better in 37% of Amevive-treated patients vs 11% of placebo patients. At 2-weeks post-treatment, 20% of Amevive patients had complete clearance vs 0% of placebo patients. At 3 months post-treatment, 23% of Amevive-treated patients were still clear or almost clear, vs 0% of placebo patients. The results were statistically significant. Safety: There was a modest reduction of T cell count, which did not go below the lower limit of normal for most patients and was reversible upon discontinuation of treatment. No capillary leak or cytokine release syndrome was detected ************************** Hard to say from here that these numbers are any better or any worse than Xoma/Genentech's molecule. Do you know anything about "Olux"? PB

To: aknahow who wrote (10650)	7/7/1999 9:01:00 PM
From: Tharos	Respond to of 17367

MENINGOCOCCAL SUPRAGLOTTITIS INCIDENCE MAY BE ON THE RISE id.medscape.com WESTPORT, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - The incidence of supraglottitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis appears to increasing worldwide, according to a report in the May-June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Drs. Eric Schwam of Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and Jeffrey Cox, of Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, report the case of a 44-year-old woman who presented to the emergency room with fever and severe neck swelling accompanied by difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Computed tomography showed "...extensive soft tissue swelling from the oropharynx to the supraglottic region with obliteration of the airway surrounding the endotracheal tube." The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics, epinephrine, oxygen, and oral intubation. The swelling resolved by day 7, and the patient was released on day 9 and treated at home with intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam for 1 week. Blood taken before antibiotics were given cultured N. meningitidis sensitive to both penicillin and ceftriaxone, but resistant to tetracycline. Drs. Schwam and Cox note that only five other cases of meningococcal supraglottitis have been cited on Medline, all since 1995. The five cases involved women older than 40 years of age, four of whom required either intubation or tracheostomy. Supraglottitis is more frequently caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Drs. Schwam and Cox point out that "...while one case [of meningococcal supraglottitis] was reported each year from 1995 to 1997, three cases have been reported in 1998-1999, from three continents." These cases may suggest "...the emergence of a new meningococcal syndrome worldwide," the authors conclude, calling for clinical surveillance to "...determine if meningococcal supraglottitis will become more than just a rarity." Emerg Infect Dis 1999;5:464-466.