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Biotech / Medical : T/FIF, a New Plateau -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: stomper who wrote (630)	8/27/2001 11:50:45 PM
From: scaram(o)uche	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2243

I've followed the work from its inception, but loosely. More loosely than loose for about the last three years, and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So....... I have no opinion. The vaccine target, gp120, has generally been regarded with a lack of respect for a long, long time. The loop on the molecule which induces protective antibody is variable among virus isolates. If you immunize a chimp against a given gp120 and then challenge with the HIV strain from which that gp120 was derived, the chimp is protected. However, if you challenge the chimp with a different isolate, results vary from lab to lab. Vaxgen says that cross-protective immunity is induced, but...... most feel that such protection will be weak or lacking. It's a bivalent vaccine, and their hurdle is relatively low..... 30% protection. My gut says that they'll make it, but my brain begs for diversified business plans and a bit of downside safety. Interim look coming soon? There will be a ton of excitement building, if it hasn't already started? One should first ask "why, if it looks good, did Genentech spin it out?" Does Chiron have a chance of prevailing against Genentech regarding the critical patents? What is the royalty to Genentech? Don Francis has been on a crusade to stop HIV. He was sincere before joining the ranks of industry, and I hope that profit motive hasn't changed him. If I knew that I was going to be exposed to HIV, I'd damn well want to receive the vaccine beforehand. But, I wouldn't have any faith that I'd be protected in the real world. Price:book is about 4, which isn't bad for a respected biotech in most markets. In this market, where bears are picking on "business plans with a chronic element", it's a potential weakness. We're going into ICAAC, and the abstracts should be out there...... how do they look? Mike King at Robertson Stephens always has an early focus on ICAAC, does he cover VXGN? Will VXGN be submitting a "late breaker" abstract for ICAAC? Sorry that I can't be of more help. I saw one of your other posts, and opted to punt. Wish you hadn't asked me directly. :-) Welcome to the thread!