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Biotech / Medical : Ligand (LGND) Breakout! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: medsunman who wrote (30123)	1/11/2000 1:51:00 PM
From: Torben Noerup Nielsen	Respond to of 32384

The most interesting item to me is the B-Cell lymphoma expansions. Now the Seragen acquisition is starting to make more sense to me. I've long wondered what the rationale was if Ontak could only be used against CTCL. With an additional market that is 20-30 times larger, the whole picture is a lot clearer. I never could believe that the entire board would have approved an acquisition like this without seeing a lot more upside than just the CTCL market, the Strom patents and a small manufacturing facility. Gee, if Robinson planned this, he's been working hard to enhance shareholder value :-) What a surprise.... Thanks, Torben

To: medsunman who wrote (30123)	1/11/2000 3:41:00 PM
From: Cheryl Galt	Respond to of 32384

Thanks, Medsunman. What quick, concise feedback on central issues! Some of that timing IS a surprise, some of it I expected. I'm surprised that the first two arms of the ABC trial are complete. My personal experience with trials is that they take forever to get going, because at each center there are so many start-up routines (planning, assignments, notifications, newsletter printing and distribution, accrual, consent forms, patient testing, washout routines ... ). Thanks again for your report. I've filed it, and am looking forward to the "more." :-) I prefer info from prime sources, and deeply distrust rumors and speculation -- which seem more often to align (at least in terms of timing) with the hopes/desires of the speculator than with reality. Cheryl PS I'll post the 3-arm ABC protocol. PPS Please listen for news of TGEN, Targeted Genetics, a Seattle company, which presented at exactly the same time as Ligand. They flared, then retreated, before the presentation. (Wish I'd sold, to re-purchase later ... )

To: medsunman who wrote (30123)	1/11/2000 4:18:00 PM
From: Cheryl Galt	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32384

The complete protocol - Ph II ABC trial (Bexarotene (LGD1069) Targretin) is in PDQ at cancernet.nci.nih.gov Excerpts of Trial Abstract: ------------------------------------------------ Phase II Randomized Study of Bexarotene (LGD1069) in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer (Summary Last Modified 10/1999) A total of 84-180 patients will be accrued for this study OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of oral bexarotene (LGD1069) at two different dose levels [200 and 500 mg/?] in patients with advanced breast cancer. II. Assess the safety and tolerability of this treatment regimen in this patient population. III. Evaluate the efficacy of oral bexarotene in terms of induction of differentiation and decreased aberrant cell proliferation in these patients. Stratum 1 (hormonal): Must be hormone receptor positive (ER or PR) Prior hormonal therapy only allowed for metastatic disease Must have progressed on last hormonal regimen Stratum 2 (chemotherapy): Hormone receptor positive or negative Must have progressed on or after prior chemotherapy (1-2 regimens) for metastatic disease (bone marrow transplant counts as 2 regimens) Prior hormonal therapy allowed Stratum 3 (tamoxifen): Must be hormone receptor positive (ER or PR) and progressing on tamoxifen No symptomatic visceral metastasis if on adjuvant tamoxifen at time of systemic recurrence -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENTRY CRITERIA include: No bone metastases No CNS metastases No prior retinoid therapy for breast cancer No history of or clinically significant risk factors for developing pancreatitis Fasting triglycerides within normal range [Note: These last two criteria will exclude people who would be at particular risk for Targretin's adverse effects.] [Some of the other entry qualifications / disqualifications] Biologic therapy: Prior monoclonal antibody HER2 therapy for metastatic disease allowed only if combined with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy and treatment failed No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior retinoid therapy for breast cancer ---------------------------------