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

To: Mkilloran who wrote (7240)	4/17/1998 8:59:00 PM
From: Mark A. Stang	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23519

Since I said I'd stay long at 5, I guess I'll stay long at 8 3/4. Smart shorts covered today, did not want to carry their positions over the weekend. Although I certainly don't want to quarrel with my fellow longs, PLEASE drop the 80 BY OCTOBER! slogan. I've been a VVUS investor since last summer, went in high 20's. Good friend told me not to be a hog and unload at 40. Wouldn't listen to him because I just knew this baby was going to go to 70, like ZITL. VVUS thread was a manic party every day, until the gap-down day after 10/97 earnings. Took a $15K tax loss in December at $12 1/4, but doubled up at same price in my pension fund. Resisted temptation to sell at 15 in January or any lower price since. I think there is a place for VVUS in the ED market. Like a pilotfish riding a whale, VVUS should benefit from Pfizer's expansion of the market. Nevertheless, it is wildly unrealistic to expect VVUS to hit 40 this year, let alone 80. I will be VERY happy with 20, thrilled with 30. I also won't jump off the Sears Tower if it closes out the year at 5. Let's try to keep it friendly on this thread. As far as the class action suits, without having requested or read any of the numerous law firms' pleadings, I have these thoughts: 1. Summaries of the allegations sound like BS. 2. News of VVUS' $5 million settlement with patent claimant may have whetted appetites of plaintiff's firms, that (a) VVUS is soft in litigation and (b) however poor the company's apparent execution, the technology must be worth alot for the co. to cough up that kind of dough. 3. Class action lawyers do not sue to get blood from a turnip. Their investigation and evaluation revealed to them that (a) VVUS has adequate insurance coverage in place for their claims and/or (b) this company will have performed so well (or been acquired) by the time their claims go to trial that there will be plenty of money to pay for settlements or satisfy judgments. Have a nice weekend everybody. Keep cool, and take the LONG view.