Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : The New Economy and its Winners -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (28853)	4/27/2006 5:24:16 PM
From: bob zagorin	Respond to of 57684

this is a pretty big story imo. Isis antisense drug shown to lower cholesterol Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:40 PM ET By Deena Beasley LOS ANGELES, April 27 (Reuters) - An experimental drug that works at the genetic level is able to lower cholesterol by more than 40 percent, according to results from a small mid-stage clinical trial released on Thursday. The drug, which is known as Isis 301012 and is being developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ISIS.O: Quote, Profile, Research), is designed to block a key protein in the synthesis and transport of LDL cholesterol, which can clog arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. "This is a stunningly potent drug," said Dr. Stanley Crooke, chief executive of Isis, a pioneer in the development of "antisense" drugs meant to work by blocking production of disease-causing proteins. The three-month trial of 30 patients with high cholesterol tested the drug at weekly doses of 50 milligrams, 100 mg and 200 mg. The 200 mg dose reduced levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, by a median 42 percent, while triglycerides were lowered by 46 percent. The results are near those seen with common cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Lipitor. The Isis trial showed no statistically significant increases in HDL, or "good" cholesterol. "The efficacy is very clear. They have to look at a greater number of patients to see about the side effects ... physicians are used to statins being pretty darn safe," said Dr. Steve Young, a cardiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a former consultant for Isis. Isis said the weekly subcutaneous injections were well tolerated, although one patient experienced a temporary increase in levels of liver lipids. "We have seen remarkable safety both in animals and man to date," Crooke said, noting that other lipid-lowering drugs have failed due to accumulation of fat in the liver. Crooke said the next phase of the trial will test two higher does of the drug. Most conventional drugs work by inhibiting proteins. The idea behind antisense is to interfere at the genetic level to prevent rogue proteins from being formed in the first place. But many once-promising antisense drugs have failed, including experimental therapies from Isis for HIV and lung cancer. Isis is the developer of the only commercial antisense drug -- a treatment for a rare type of eye infection in AIDS patients. The company aims to develop 301012 as an add-on therapy in patients unable to achieve target blood fat levels with statins and for patients who can't tolerate current drugs. Initially, however, Isis expects to have the drug approved for patients with a rare genetic disorder that causes extremely high cholesterol levels and results in the early onset of heart disease. Isis hopes to file that application with regulators in 2008, Crooke said. The company is developing Isis 301012, and two experimental diabetes drugs, under a collaboration with Symphony Capital Partners LP.

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (28853)	4/27/2006 5:25:43 PM
From: Lizzie Tudor	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 57684

Microsoft 3Q Profit Up but Misses Views Thursday April 27, 4:52 pm ET By Allison Linn, AP Business Writer Microsoft 3Q Profit Misses Wall Street Expectations; Software Company Offers Tepid 4Q Forecast biz.yahoo.com BTW, notice the picture of Ballmer on the upper right corner of this PR.

To: Lizzie Tudor who wrote (28853)	4/28/2006 12:44:39 AM
From: Bill Harmond	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 57684

18:38 MSFT Microsoft Conference Call Summary (27.25 +0.15) -Update- Revenue per search fell from the prior year period; saw growth in search volumes, search revs were down... Says IT spending environment was in line with expectations... Co says that according to NPD, attachment rate for Xbox 360 is Higher than any other console at this point in its life cycle... Faster than expected transition to next generation gaming, Xbox 1 revs softer than expected... raising Xbox sales guidance positive for ERTS, TTWO, ATVI : Most estimates had MSFT coming in at the low end of prior guidance of 4.5-5.5 mln because of supply problems... Continue to see strong demand in XBox 360... co says will have high product costs to deliver XBox; looking to sell as many as they can to increase market share of Sony; states additional costs will cost them margin, but does not expect these to last past Q4... Co says they are not giving a lot of details about the shape of next year with regards to Vista margins... co notes that they are doing hiring for future product development... one analysts states that they are very nervous about the expense costs in 2007; asks if it is due to ramp up to battle GOOG and YHOO: co disagrees with the analyst; says it is a broad based approach in costs rising across multiple fronts; says there is not a 'Trojan Horse' that the co is not mentioning; agrees that there are some big numbers and big potential spending but not building into their guidance things that they are not talking about... stock is trading at $25.50 in after hours.