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Biotech / Medical : Visible Genetics Inc.(VGIN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Robert G. Hanah who wrote (267)	2/11/1999 9:47:00 PM
From: scaram(o)uche	Respond to of 337

Bob: Why don't you tell us something about sequencing, and how one detects HIV variants? Cheers! Rick

To: Robert G. Hanah who wrote (267)	2/11/1999 9:49:00 PM
From: Robert G. Hanah	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 337

From conference which my broker atttended: Study results show that patients treated (note treated in this arm being the key phrase) in the GART genotyping arm of the study had a 1.1 log decrease in the viral load with 50% of the patients having undetectable viral loads at 8 weeks, versus a 0.65 log decrease and 23% with undetectable viral load, for the non-genotyping arm. (This is the arm of the study without VGI's test being treated by the blind, "give 'em anything that works" theory) These results are consistent with VGI's recently reported VIRADAPT results. This key passage in the last paragraph makes it clear; Development of such resistant HIV strains frequency leads to the return of high virus levels in the patient. The GART and VIRADAPT studies are intended to address whether by genotyping HIV, it is possible to treat individual patients by selecting drugs to which the virus has not yet developed resistance, and thus maintain the virus at low levels. So the test gives the treating Dr the information needed to properly treat the patient. VGI's test is not a treatment, rather a valuable tool to properly treat HIV. I must also say that VGI is being rather modest in the statement above, it is not only possible to treat patients this way, but it is a MUST for their long term survival. This is why, for us investors, it is a stock that will see monumental highs when all of this becomes standard of care. VGI is truly on the cutting edge of this technology. Their staff made a professional appearance in Chicago. I'll finish by passing on a comment made by a physician after seeing VGI's presentation, "With all this you don't even need us"