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

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17243)	3/11/1998 4:48:00 PM
From: Henry Niman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32384

Bernie, I was running out the door and actually thought you wanted info on the molecular mechanism of rexinoid/SERM synergies. The article in thestreet.com didn't mention LGND or compounds. It really focused on Evista and it's shortcomings (lower than expected initial sales coupled with LLY's heavy reliance on a major blockbuster to replace Prozac going off patent in 2001 or 2003. The encouraging news centered on the fact that the compound was new and the upcoming ASCO conference would show how well in worked to prevent breast cancer so sales would take off. I mentioned LGND because yesterday I had speculated on a potential "off label" application for LGND because I couldn't imagine how LGND would get a piece of the Evista action. Tuck's comments suggest that the LLY drug had something to do with estrogen and serum, and a SERM like Evista is all that I could come up with. Thestreet.com also indicated that the popular press would pick up on then breast cancer prevention aspect which I think will be great news for LGND since they are working on synergies between rexinioids like Targretin (or Panretin) and SERMs like Evista, and animal studies had already shown breast cancer prevention synergies between Panretin/Targretin and Tamoxifen/Evista (and treatment synergies between Targretin and Tamoxifen). Moreover Panretin/Tamoxifen trials have already begun, and LGND has them listed as Phase I/II.

To: Flagrante Delictu who wrote (17243)	3/11/1998 5:09:00 PM
From: Abuckatatime	Respond to of 32384

Bernie, no mention of Ligand in the article. As Henry mentioned the breast CA data to be presented at the ASCO conference in May apparently will be convincing, perhaps enough to bolster media and consumer interest in the drug. Most of the article was devoted to discussing the problems and potential Evista has in the marketplace given its current FDA-approved indications. After reading the article I was left with the impression that Evista would not be a blockbuster for LLY unless it proves effective in treating other conditons, eg breast CA. It has not been the overnight success some might have expected because, among other reasons, a)it doesn't relieve menopausal hot flashes, b) there's no data available yet that show that it reduces the incidence of bone fractures, and c)it's more expensive and perhaps less effective than competing drugs, ie AHP's Premarin. As we've discussed, Ligand's rexinoids will hopefully be shown to synergize (love that word) with raloxifene and other SERMs in the treatment and prevention of breast CA.