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

To: John J H Kim who wrote (5773)	3/3/1998 4:42:00 PM
From: Muizz M. Kheraj	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23519

Does anyone believe that the newest approved competitor, Imagyn (IMTI) will provide any competition to PFE or VVUS? Muizz

To: John J H Kim who wrote (5773)	3/3/1998 4:44:00 PM
From: Don Dunlap	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23519

Vivus sees Q1 loss, Q2-Q3 sales pressured Something is rotten in Denmark. How can we have good sales, but no profit unless expenses have skyrocketed. Looks like all the shorts are right and we have been stupid to believe anything VVUS management says. They still aren't disclosing the truth. Now full regulatory approval won't be reached until May. Tuesday March 3, 4:07 pm Eastern Time Vivus sees Q1 loss, Q2-Q3 sales pressured DANA POINT, Calif, March 3 (Reuters) - Vivus Inc, despite good first quarter sales of its erectile dysfunction treatment, said it will post a first quarter loss and that competition from Pfizer (PFE - news) may hurt second and third quarter sales. ''The big issue is Viagra,'' Vivus chief executive Lee Wilson said, referring to the competing erectile dysfunction treatment product Pfizer plans to market this spring. ''We may be vulnerable to massive sampling by Pfizer and that could affect our sales in the second and third quarters,'' Wilson told analysts attending the Cruttenden Roth Growth Stock Conference here. He noted that the potentially bad news comes despite the fact that Vivus first quarter sales of its MUSE treatment for male impotence will come in at 1.8 million units -- the same as in the fourth quarter of 1997. In the fourth quarter, the company reported revenues of nearly $33 million, including $29 million in product revenues and about $4 million in milestone revenues. A Vivus spokeswoman meanwhile linked the forecast for a first quarter loss to the fact that Vivus is selling more product overseas and at lower prices, because those customers are assuming the costs of marketing MUSE there. Wilson also noted that the Pfizer Viagra threat will cause Vivus costs to rise in the first and second quarter in connection with stepped up marketing. In December, Vivus announced it would be unable to meet production goals for the fourth quarter, due to a delay in certification of a new 90,000 square foot plant in New Jersey. Analysts responded by cutting ratings on the company and slashed product revenue forecasts for 1998 to $199.5 million from previous estimates of $325 million. On Tuesday, Wilson said Vivus is producing about 600,000 units per day at its old 6,000 square foot facility and producing an undisclosed amount at its new plant, which he expects will obtain full regulatory clearance by May. Wilson said Vivus is currently manufacturing product in the new facility that is at ''risk'' because the plant has not won clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ''The new facility should give us the capacity to work through our back order. Demand activity is quite good and once we get regulatory (FDA) approval, we'll be able to ship this product,'' he said. While Wilson is concerned about the availability of Pfizer's Viagra, he said it will help boost awareness for erectile dysfunction products overall. ''I'm excited about Viagra, but I think our product is safer,'' and more effective. MUSE is a soft pellet no bigger than a grain of rice that can be inserted into the urethra. Viagra comes in a tablet form. ------------------------- More Quotes * Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE - news) and News: * Vivus Inc (Nasdaq:VVUS - news) Related News Categories: health, international ------------------------- Help ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright c 1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon See our Important Disclaimers and Legal Information. Questions or Comments?