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Biotech / Medical : Biotransplant(BTRN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Micawber who wrote (966)	7/28/2001 11:28:40 AM
From: Arthur Radley	Respond to of 1475

Brian, I had seen the article and fully agree that much works is in store for companies to develop this into a viable treatment method. It is MO that Bush will have to move on this issue and give his approval in the near future. With reference to this NY Times article, the part that I like and IMO will be a plus for BTRN is ...."as with blood transfusions or organ transplants, cells can carry infections or be rejected by th patient's immune system." Not only does BTRN have projects dealing with the rejection issue, but with the recent purchase of Eligix, they address the purification issue of potential infected cells. And then with the Austrilian company, they have a toe in the door with the actual stem cell research. Plus, the safe net with the Medimune drug that is moving through the clinicals. From my perspective, BTRN has every aspect covered, if stem cell research is expanded and if something viable comes from this area of medical treatment.

To: Micawber who wrote (966)	7/28/2001 12:05:54 PM
From: scaram(o)uche	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1475

one comment....... 1a. I think that everyone would agree that xenotransplantation, if technically feasible, would present a going business model that addresses a huge market demand. It isn't technically feasible. Yet. So...... OK, give it to Pollack. 1b. AlloMune has never been, IMO, an attractive business plan. But Drs. Sykes, Sachs et al. have some patients walking around -- with functioning kidneys -- who are in remission for their lymphoid malignancies. They're heroes. BTRN/Novartis is supporting work for those who are among the very best of academic transplant surgeons, geneticists, immunologists, etc., and these individuals are working hard to make AlloMune fit into a going business model. But, again, give it to Pollack. 1c. As Texas Dude mentioned, Lebowitz et al. have put together a business plan that is diversified. Eligix and MEDI-507 are independent of Pollack's thesis. Furthermore, Lebowitz et al. hope that Eligix will provide cash flow to support the mega-leverage inherent in the 507 and XenoMune efforts. I have a "wait and see" attitude here, and I won't overweight BTRN despite the leverage. 1c. My background is transplantation genetics. I've never, to my memory, invested in a single additional biotech that has a focus on cell or organ replacement. That's an irrelevant little piece of fluff that doesn't do anything to dent Pollack's thesis either. But, I feel better having said it. 1b. Anyone who reads this thread will see that my investment focus has primarily been resident with 507. I feel that the initial results from psoriasis, obtained with very low doses of MAb, support and extend novel in vitro observations. If that is the case and if there are no toxicities that prevent wide spread use, what is the market potential for 507? $2 billion/year? $10 billion/year? BTRN is a highly leveraged bet ("investment", to some of us). 1a. I obviously can't dent Pollack's logic. Anybody heard anything new with respect to cadaver beta cells for diabetes?