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 : Pharmacyclics (PCYC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Harold Engstrom who wrote (392)	12/4/1998 5:43:00 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 717

Harold, There is competition in the light-activated stuff: QLTIF and MRVT. The QLTIF entry (Photofrin) is on the market, but has had limited acceptance because of problems such as photosensitivity. The PCYC stuff definitely seems better than Photofrin - less photosensitivity and operates at a better wavelength that allows deeper penetration and use inside blood vessels. It's hard to find out much about the MRVT stuff - more glossy pictures than hard facts. My own view is that the PDT therapy for cancer is very much a sideshow in the PCYC valuation model, although it garners nearly as much attention as does Gd-Tex. There are various other attempted radiation-sensitizers wandering around. I have seen no evidence that any of them are anywhere near as good as Gd-Tex or as far along development-wise. Some don't work well in hypoxic cells and others are only preferentially taken up by dividing cells, so don't work in slow-growing tumors or have to be given for a long time. I feel a little like a voice in the wilderness on this one, and could do with some more company <G>. Peter