Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Vivus: into single digits -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Timoteo who wrote (367)	4/23/1998 10:26:00 PM
From: AlienTech	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1016

From FOX news.. read the last paragraph, Its also something that vvus is working on in the wings and if they can get anything to deal with it, it should be even bigger than viagra. Especially since Viagra is touted as not a recreational drug. Now if its available at 7'11 it will 'blow' coke sales 10:1. Vivus surges on hopes rival drug may give it a boost 7:42 p.m. ET (2343 GMT) April 23, 1998 LOS ANGELES, April 23 - Shares of drug maker Vivus Inc. rose more than 43 percent on Thursday on hopes its treatment for impotence could benefit from the highly publicized introduction of Pfizer Inc.'s rival drug Viagra. Vivus stock closed $3.50 higher at $11.50 on volume of more than 14 million shares on Nasdaq, where it was one of the most actively traded issues, after positive comments from a Wall Street analyst. Wole Fayemi of Cruttenden Roth Thursday raised his rating on Vivus to strong buy from neutral and set a 1998 price target on the stock of $23 a share based on the belief that Vivus (VVUS.O) will benefit from the launch of Viagra by Pfizer (PFE.N). "The introduction of an oral treatment (Viagra) and the publicity surrounding it should dramatically increase the number of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction,'' Fayemi wrote in his research brief. "We believe that all companies with impotence products, especially Vivus, are likely to benefit from the introduction of Viagra.'' Vivus makes MUSE. The product comes with an applicator that is inserted into the tip of the penis and it discharges a pellet that delivers a drug that brings on an erection within five to 10 minutes and lasts for up to an hour. Fayemi said that there may be safety and efficacy issues that will limit the patient base for Viagra. He added that the drug was only effective in about 50 percent of those suffering erectile dysfunction. He said Vivus was well positioned to serve those patients with more severe erectile dysfunction who may find Viagra ineffective. PaineWebber analyst Charles Olsziewski echoed Fayemi's sentiments. "Viagra is not going to work for every patient that tries it,'' Olsziewski said in an interview. "This oral medication has not been shown in clinical trails to be effective with patients with moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.'' Analysts said Viagra works best with patients with a milder problem while Vivus's MUSE works better on those with a more severe problem. Viagra, launched two weeks ago, sells for $10 a pill and is on its way to becoming one of the fastest-selling drugs in history. As many as 20 million American men between the ages of 40 and 70 are thought to suffer from impotence, but less than 10 percent of those are actively being treated. "(Viagra) has heightened awareness, and Vivus can ride the coattails and benefit when those patients who cannot use the Viagra pill look for other options,' Olsziewski said. In 1997 about 2.7 million patients went to doctors for sexual dysfunctions, up more than 17 percent from the prior year, giving an indication that the taboo of admitting to a sexual dysfunction was subsiding. "It's one of those classic situations, much like incontinence was several years ago,'' Olsziewski said. "It's a closet issue. No one wants to admit they are impotent, there's the virility issue and the vanity side of it. Now we're seeing people beginning to come out of the closet.'' REUTERS