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Biotech / Medical : VVUS: VIVUS INC. (NASDAQ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: blankmind who wrote (3692)	12/15/1997 4:10:00 PM
From: mc	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23519

Blankmind, I've been away from the thread all weekend, but, after reading all the posts I must say: You're killin' me. 1.In post 3382 you suggest that VVUS "contract out production" To who? No one else makes a product that involves trans-urethral delivery. Vivus is the expert in the field. 2.In the same post you suggest they "hire on a project manager." They have hired a new person to oversee operations and judging by how quickly after his hire they came out with these announcements, I would guess that he's trying to get things straightened out. 3.Post 3385 - "any news of a share buyback?" Please, please, please, before you continue to give opinions on the stock, do some more DD. As you've since found out they do have a stock buyback plan in effect. At the end of the quarter we'll know the specifics of their actions. I just can't believe all the comments and opinions you've given in the last few days when as of friday you didn't even know what type of delivery system was used. The delivery system IS Vivus' very existence. That's what they make money from, not the drug. 4.Post 3560 - "If Pfizer's drug hasn't been approved yet, I think VVUS has more lead time than some think." I'm actually curious about this one. Based on what? PFE has applied and received fast-track consideration already. Do you think there are problems with their Phase III data or is this just another off the hip feeling you have? Also, your comments that other products would be on the shelf if they were any good is quite strange. We do require extensive studies of drugs in this country before we allow people to sell them. PFE has been given fast-track consideration. How much more do you want. Even MUSE has only been on the market for about a year. 5.re: Vinik purchases and sales We don't know what his true profit or loss is. You can't assess this since we don't know the cost of the first 5% of his purchases or the last 5% of his sales. I think he probably did pretty well on his sales provided he got out before the earnings shortfall announcement. 6.Lastly, re: short squeeze Don't you think the shorts have probably gotten out with this massive decline in price? If not why? Sorry for my bitterness, but unfortunately, many of us have lost a good chunk of money on this and I find it makes me a bit uncomfortable when you start giving interpretations of what is going on with Vivus when it is obvious your research to date has been superficial at best. Good luck to you, Gary P.S. Dr. Bond - I know what you're thinking - it's ok he's a long, I'm allowed to give him a bad time <g>. By the way where have you been hiding yourself, you're awfully quiet?

To: blankmind who wrote (3692)	12/15/1997 6:16:00 PM
From: Dermot Dunne	Respond to of 23519

blankers, somebody on the thread solicited opinions on the conference call. I was offering simply one man's five cents' worth - OK we're in defaltion, reduce that to two cents. Part of due diligence is an assessment of management's capabilities. One necessary attribute of a CEO is PR, and in this case specifically investor relations. So, I hear a CEO who is not at all sympatico, who comes across with more bluster than substance. A completed character assassination won't help at this point. We have to understand that the only thing going for Vivus is time, not any technological advantage or patent rights. There is no rocket science here - formulation into a suppository vehicle, sterile packaging into foil wrapped six packs - these are all mature processes. Two other manufacturers are marketing the same substance. And New Jersey is packed with good ole Yankee know-how and can-do. There is no startup bottleneck for any potential competitor. What Vivus has, and they have done well, is a significant lead in the creaky and frustrating regulatory process. I hate to see them stumble on simple people problems and blow that lead. "Exhausted shift workers", "slow learning curve", are two of those people problems with relatively cheap and quick fixes. Can you imagine, say Pfizer, putting on a conference call and coming out with that sort of lame explanation? Heads would roll, and instantly. So, first things first - management need to throw the whole kitchen sink at doing what it takes to complete that regulatory approval before considering using money on stock buybacks. Of course they should make contingency plans for the release of Viagra, but keep on sticking to their knitting.