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Biotech / Medical : Ligand (LGND) Breakout! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: medsunman who wrote (14381)	2/6/1998 7:02:00 PM
From: Henry Niman	Respond to of 32384

I agree that LGND can go very far very fast. In 1995 it doubled in about 6 weeks as I recall. LGND really has quite a bit going forward. After the LLY deal, the price really should be closer to 20 than 10. This year they are focused on profitability, which is something that the street can obviously understand. I expect several revisions upward, so the "profit in 1999" mantra will be obvious to everyone. With LGND's pipeline, its pretty easy to see what those profits will do to LGND's EPS, which of course easily translates into LGND's share price. Many on this board think that LGND is well known, but I'm not so sure. I think that the frequent visits to the Links to Ligand ( home.att.net ) will have a significant effect. The site has been hit over 15,000 times in the past few weeks, and most visitors should like what they see. The number of banks and analysts who stopped by should be reasuring and exciting to shareholders. Of course the big pharmas are the most frequent visitors, with merger mania (and job rumors) running rampant, but those employees are potential LGND shareholders (and maybe employees), so their visits (over 350 in one day from one company!) can also translate into a higher share price. I expected LGND to hit 30 last year, and I think I was a year early. LGND's clinicals were stellar, but the rest of the sector left quite a bit to be desired. LGND's move toward profitability, just 10 years after acquiring the IR technology, is impressive, and sooner or later the street will take note of LGND's accomplishments. There is some talk that the Asian crisis merely delayed the January effect, which is starting to show up in the smaller stocks. I'm sure that LGND shareholders will welcome the effect, even if it's a month or two late, and LGND is well positioned to lead the Biotechs higher. Much of their effort has been focused on the NDA, which of course is a major milestone. However, three more NDAs 10-15 months later should really impress, and make investors aware of LGND's pipeline which will finally begin to pay dividends big time. The initial indications are smaller markets, but LGND plans on charging a significant amount for treatment, and off label use should be much higher than the street acknowledges. Cancer treatment leaves much to be desired for most malignancies, and LGND has already provided some impressive anecdotal results. FDA reform will allow for promotion, and I expect results from LGND's Phase II trials to be put to good use once the retinoids are approved. Today was a good day. But the move has just begun. LGND broke through it's 50 day moving average on very heavy volume, and technicians will begin to take note.