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

To: Henry Niman who wrote (20959)	5/17/1998 12:02:00 PM
From: jayhawk969	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32384

Henry, From the bowels of the recent 10-Q, I have not seen or heard this before. "Ligand has learned that a United States patent has been issued to, and foreign counterparts have been filed by, Hoffman LaRoche ("Roche") that include claims to a formulation of 9-cis-Retinoic acid (Panretin) and use of that compound to treat epithelial cancers. Ligand had previously filed an application which has an earlier filing date than the Roche patent and which has claims that the Company believes are broader than but overlap in part with claims under the Roche patent. Ligand is currently investigating the scope and validity of this patent to determine its impact upon the Panretin Capsules and Gel products. The PTO has informed Ligand that the overlapping claims are patentable to Ligand and initiated an interference proceeding to determine whether Ligand or Roche is entitled to a patent by having been first to invent the common subject matter. The Company cannot be assured of a favorable outcome in the interference proceeding because of factors not known at this time upon which the outcome may depend. In addition, the interference proceeding may delay the decision of the PTO regarding the Company's application with claims covering the Panretin Capsules and Gel products. While the Company believes that the Roche patent does not cover the use of Panretin Capsules and Gel to treat leukemias such as APL and sarcomas such as KS, or the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, if the Company does not prevail in the interference proceeding, the Roche patent might block the Company's use of Panretin Capsules and Gel in certain cancers, and the Company may not be able to obtain patent protection for the Panretin Capsules and Gel products."

To: Henry Niman who wrote (20959)	5/18/1998 4:06:00 AM
From: Alper H.YUKSEL	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 32384

Congratulations, You expected more coverage than Barron's and you got it really soon ! Regards Alper