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.

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

To: DR. BOND who wrote (4080)	12/29/1997 4:41:00 PM
From: blankmind	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23519

-- Great News - I think. -- I just got off the phone with one of the analysts who downgraded the stock. Very interesting convo: -- Reasons for the downgrade: 1. Confer call very badly managed. And it was a very "contentious" situation. 2. Never should have cannibalized the 1st plant 3. Too slow to report these events 4. Too obscure about the $100 mill cash position 5. Flow of info to public very poorly managed; they thought they could pull off the impossible; and such a project can't be done in 11 months - (or words to that effect) -- Reasons to like the stock per the analyst: 1. $3+ per share cash position ($100 mill divided by 30 mill shs) 2. 10 mill+ short position (he mentioned this on his own; without any prodding) 3. The IMS numbers (already mentioned by Dr. Bond) - were surprisingly robust - he said a 5.2% rise on new scripts & 7.2% rise on refills 4. The x-mas shutdown for maintenance was totally appropriate 5. There is nothing wrong witht the timeframes to get the new plant up & running - especially the approval process 6. To the question of what will it take to upgrade the stock: he said news that the old plant is at 100% and at least one new line at the new plant is running -- said nothing about viagra or any competing product. 7. He also said that "it's my understanding that both PACO plants are devoted to the production of MUSE." This is important b/c I've driven over & witnessed 250 cars in one plant & 600 in the other at 1:30 am - so there's a heck of a lot of activiyt going on. 8. Also - he never mentioned that this might be a scam or anything to that effect. Out.