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

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17126)	3/10/1998 9:51:00 PM
From: squetch	Respond to of 32384

>>Evista in Canada is that the current sales force targets cancer specialists...<<Or they could hire more sales people to specialize in this new area. This is an issue for me with LGND. I am not sure of the answer. They eventually could need folks to sell and market in cancer, women and men's health, cardio, and maybe even neuro areas. I think this will be a "good" problem for LGND to eventually solve.

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17126)	3/10/1998 10:04:00 PM
From: Henry Niman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32384

Bernie, Since Tuck keeps coming up with "estrogen" in the drug description, I came up with a small territorial license. However, your point is a good one. Plan "B" might be to market Evista as an "off label" product for Breast Cancer. Such a market would initially be small, but I'm not exactly sure of the "off label" promotion requirements. LGND will be targeting cancer, and most of their alliances have a license back for cancer provision. In the other alliances, this applies to future compounds (a TZD identified under the GLX atherosclerosis alliance could be licensed by LGND to treat cancer), but maybe this one is for an approved compound. I'm not sure how involved LLY is in oncology, so they might be interested in licensing out Evista for cancer applications. I'm not sure if there is any clinical data to support an off label promotion. I know that the LLY/LGND research program will target combination breast cancer therapy using a SERM and Rexinoid. In fact Michael Sporn has already published an rat breast cancer chemoprevention study using Evista (Raloxifene) combined with Panretin (9-cis retinoic acid): J Natl Cancer Inst 1996 Jan 17;88(2):123-125 Chemoprevention of mammary carcinogenesis in the rat: combined use of raloxifene and 9-cis-retinoic acid. Anzano MA, Peer CW, Smith JM, Mullen LT, Shrader MW, Logsdon DL, Driver CL, Brown CC, Roberts AB, Sporn MB Laboratory of Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. PMID: 8537973, UI: 96133632

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17126)	3/10/1998 10:09:00 PM
From: RXGOLF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32384

<<The problem I see with Evista in Canada is that the current sales force targets cancer specialists. They would have to learn about women's health issues & get to know a whole new kind of specialists in women's health>> Bernie, I am glad to hear that Ligand has a current sales force. IMO it isn't a big worry about their current targets. My experience is that the drug reps love new products to push to new physicians. They get tired of telling the same thing to the same people. Sure, they may have to learn the quirks of new office staff at the new practice locals, but most will enjoy the challenge! The happiest Reps I see, are the ones with a new and exciting product! Good Luck, RXGOLF

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17126)	3/11/1998 6:48:00 AM
From: Henry Niman	Respond to of 32384

Here's what Dow Jones said about the extension: Dow Jones Newswires -- March 9, 1998 Eli Lilly Extends Ligand Pharma Specialty Product Option SAN DIEGO (Dow Jones)--Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) extended Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (LGND) option to acquire selected rights to a Lilly specialty pharmaceutical product. The option is included in a metabolic disease collaborative arrangement between the two companies. Under the terms of the original agreement, Ligand had a limited time to exercise the product option. The amended agreement allows Ligand additional time to complete its evaluation and assess certain product development, manufacturing and sourcing issues for the U.S. and select European markets that affect the product's commercial potential. If the option is exercised, the product would fit into a current area of strategic focus for Ligand, the company said in a Monday press release. The product is on a timeline that is compatible with acceleration of its goals, Ligand said. If Ligand decides to obtain selected rights to the product, Lilly could receive milestones of up to $20 million in Ligand stock. In the event Ligand does not exercise this product option, Ligand may elect to sell an additional $20 million in equity to Lilly at a 20% premium to the then market price, and qualify for certain additional royalties on net sales on Ligand's choice of Targretin. Ligand is a gene transcription technology company. Lilly provides pharmaceutical-based health-care products.