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Biotech / Medical : Agouron Pharmaceuticals (AGPH) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Joe E. who wrote (2578)	10/31/1997 2:56:00 AM
From: Steve Fancy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6136

Pennsylvania Adds Agouron's Viracept To AIDS Treatment Program Dow Jones Online News, Thursday, October 30, 1997 at 18:30 HARRISBURG, Pa. -(Dow Jones)- The Pennsylvania State Public Welfare Department said Thursday it will add Viracept, a protease inhibitor, to its Special Pharmaceutical Benefits Program to treat HIV/AIDS patients. Viracept is manufactured by Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AGPH), an integrated pharmaceutical company. In September, Agouron reported that after 12 months of treatment, the mean reduction in viral load for those taking 750 milligrams of Viracept three times a day in combination with other anti-HIV drugs was greater than 99%, and T-cell count continued to show progressive improvement. The Welfare Department said Viracept belongs to a class of drugs which has shown "significant" clinical effects in combating HIV/AIDS. The Special Pharmaceuticals Benefits Program was started in 1987 to help moderate-income people with HIV and AIDS pay for expensive medications. The SPBP currently serves about 3,500 people. The $11 million program is funded with state and federal monies. Copyright (c) 1997 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ========================================================= This oughta help a little. Great news actually. Watch for more states to follow. sf

To: Joe E. who wrote (2578)	10/31/1997 11:52:00 AM
From: Randy Schmid	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6136

Hi Joe - no offense taken at all - the idea to always open a spread is one I intend to follow a lot more closely in the future. What I was looking for with the 55s was continued upside momentum, so I could sell a higher strike against it and get even more money (say GREED! and smile...). AGPH stock turned south about the day after I bought the 55s. I had seen my Nov. 47.5 calls go to double their value, then retreat to about 2/3 of their value. I'd also sold (twice) covered calls against these calls and actually managed breakeven (almost) by doing so. With options further out, you can often afford to wait for a few weeks months before the time value decay sets in significantly, so that's been my play so far. I suppose on reflection you could always buy back the sold call at slightly higher premium and let the owned call run. With my luck, I'd do that and the stock would reverse its trend! Thanks for the thoughts - would welcome more. Regards, Randy