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 : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: twt who wrote (486)	11/10/1998 3:06:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

twt, I notice that volume is still quite high while the stock price remains in a narrow trading range during the past few days. I would assume that the stock is under accumulation. The company does have some problems (high debt, heavily leveraged), but for those of us who have bought the stock for it's promise, it's worthwhile holding on. BTW, PFE is moving up the last time I checked. The news can only be Celebrex, and we know which company benefits more from this drug.

To: twt who wrote (486)	11/10/1998 4:01:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

Monsanto Drug Seen Effective in Arthritis With Few Side Effects Bloomberg News November 10, 1998, 3:31 p.m. ET Monsanto Drug Seen Effective in Arthritis With Few Side Effects San Diego, Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Monsanto Co.'s Celebrex appears to treat arthritis as well as commonly used pain relievers, without their side effects, a new study shows. Monsanto could start sales of Celebrex in early 1999, working with Pfizer Inc. as a marketing partner. Rival Merck & Co., the world's biggest drugmaker, is working on a similar drug, Vioxx. Simultaneously, Merck released new research findings on Vioxx, which isn't expected to start sales until later in 1999. Researchers gave 1,004 patients with arthritis of the knee either Celebrex, Roche Holding AG's Aleve, or placebo. Celebrex was as effective as Aleve and as safe as the placebo, or dummy pill, the researchers said. ''These data indicate that Celebrex is highly efficacious in treating the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and at fully therapeutic doses has a safety/tolerability profile that is similar to placebo,'' the researchers concluded. Monsanto shares rose 7/16 to 39 5/8 in late trading. Merck's Vioxx and Celebrex are the first of a new class of drugs, the Cox-2 inhibitors. These drugs target the compounds in the body linked to pain and swelling more specifically than existing painkillers, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. The Cox-2 drugs interfere with the production of the enzyme, cyclooxygensase-2, linked to pain and swelling. Advil, Motrin and other types of ibuprofen interfere with this enzyme and a related one, cyclooxygenase-1, which appears to help protect the stomach from its own acids. As a result, long-term use of existing painkillers causes stomach bleeding and other side effects in some patients. The Cox-2 drugs are expected to top $1 billion each in annuals sales. Some analysts estimate the drugs could top $5 billion combined in sales. For Monsanto, Celebrex is seen as a key product that could help stop a slide in its profits. Monsanto, led by Chief Executive Robert Shapiro, has invested $8 billion in acquiring seed and technology companies over the past two years. Its per- share annual profits are expected to decline until 2000 when Celebrex has its first full year of sales. St. Louis-based Monsanto last month ended a planned $35 million merger with American Home Products. --Jim Finkle in San Diego and Kerry Dooley in Washington through news.com

To: twt who wrote (486)	11/10/1998 5:41:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

CNBC's Market Wrap had a piece on Celebrex and Vioxx by Amanda Grove. The usual positve spin about the two drugs being potential blockbusters with revenue of up to $5 billion etc. Drug analysts from A.G. Edwards and Bear Stearns were interviewed. Both Merck and Monsanto's fortunes are said to hinge on their Cox-2 inhibitor drug. Amanda Grove said that Merck will soon submit NDA to FDA. Date to note would be Dec. 1 (and don't we all know!). General positive piece of reporting. CNN, CBS, ABC should all be picking up the ACR news.