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Biotech / Medical : Agouron Pharmaceuticals (AGPH) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: billkirn who wrote (5985)	1/27/1999 6:26:00 AM
From: Henry Niman	Respond to of 6136

Bill, I've followed WLA more in the diabetes area than cardiovascular, and I suspect that the Rezulin problems helped drive the deal. Like AGPH with Viracept, WLA is being increasingly viewed as a one drug company (Lipotor), and they are on the acquisition trail to bolster their pipeline. Rezulin is their #2 seller, and it and Lipotor have fueled their growth. Lipotor was able to grab market share in part due to the fact that it is effective at lower doses than the competing Statins and that is just what Rezulin's competing drugs (TZDs) will do. SBH just received priority review on Avandia (BRL49653) and it may be on the market by June. It's 100 fold more potent than Rezulin (used at 4 - 8 mg per dose instead of 400 - 600 mg) and appears to have a better safety profile. LLY/Takeda are a few months behind SBH with Actos, and some expect it to emerge as #1 in the TZD market. The market is getting increasingly crowded as others (GLX, Rhone Poulenc, LGND) make progress in the TZD area see BioCentury Diabetes review at: biocognizance.com The TZD approach is complemented by a Rexinoid approach because the two targeted hormone receptors (PPARgamma and RXRalpha) form heteroduplexes to turn on genes that overcome insulin resistance, the underlying cause of type II diabetes. WLA has a rexinoid deal with LGND's joint venture partner, AGN, while LGND has a rexinoid deal with LLY. Much of this info can be viewed through links at Ligands' Diabetes page at biocognizance.com The main section of BioCognizance, as well as the forum section have a fairly informative search function which will pull out relevant pages with a ranking and title.