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Biotech / Medical : Centocor ( CNTO ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: David S. who wrote (789)	9/27/1998 11:40:00 AM
From: Robohogs	Respond to of 965

Hmmm. let's see. Let's pretend I'm an investment banker for Roche/that German firm who sold Retavase. Yeah, let's go tell the world who else bid how much for Retavase - I don't think so. IBankers and companies never disclose who bid and how much. For all we know, there were no other bids but the bankers hoodwinked CNTO or there were ten other bids, some higher but the company figured CNTO would be the least effective competition of those bidding a lot. Who knows? As for Remicade, who yet knows if it will even work. November's meetings could kill this stock or launch it higher. Embrel will be on the market longer and could kill Remicade with its easier administration. But let's see - twice weekly and needs to be done just right or problems or once every month or two depending on trials. Hmm, both drugs have some bad side effects. Insurers hate to pay for at home drugs. Need to test for side effects. Completely new treatment area. Just maybe doctors will prefer to see patients in front of each monthly/two monthly treatment and perhaps insurers will be more likely to pay. As for that device, it is way too intrusive if these other treatments work.

To: David S. who wrote (789)	9/27/1998 12:35:00 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 965

Well maybe one reason CNTO paid a healthy chunk for Retavase is that they know (or strongly suspect) that it works very well when combined with ReoPro. If this is correct, and the ReoPro/Retavase combination becomes the standard therapy for MI, CNTO will have made a very good acquisition in Retavase, no matter if they overpaid or not. Here is a quote from their 10-Q: The Company believes a potential advantage of the acquisition of Retavase lies in the possibility that ReoPro(R) (abciximab) and Retavase, administered in combination, may prove to have a therapeutic advantage over monotherapy for acute myocardial infarction patients. Two Phase II clinical trials currently are underway to evaluate the approach of using ReoPro in conjunction with a fibrinolytic product in the management of heart attack patients. I hold my small stake in CNTO mostly because I believe in ReoPro/Retavase and because there is a huge short position that may need to exit if I am right. The latest ReoPro results were very strong, and I am hoping for more of the same. I certainly didn't buy my stock because of any recommendation from an investment banker. Peter