Ligand - LGND - thread for non-PhDs | Stock Discussion Forums

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Biotech / Medical
Ligand - LGND - thread for non-PhDs

An SI Board Since January 1997

Posts	SubjectMarks	Bans	Symbol
57	0	0	LGND

Emcee: John Grandy	Type: Unmoderated

Introduction Market Data Compact

This thread is an alternative to the other thread on Ligand, the one dominated by Henry Niman's extremely numerous and extremely scientific postings.

While I am ingratiated to Henry for his posts and really don't know of someone better informed to speak about Ligand, the endless posting of numerous lengthy abstracts, data, heavily scientific discussions, etc, all by the same person does not create a forum-like atmosphere where someone can quickly come up to speed on a company and their stock.

I hope Henry will participate on this thread as well, but perhaps with an eye towards the cognitive abilities of the non-PhD in life-sciences, and definitely will not use this thread as a de facto bio-sciences library.

What do I know about Ligand? LGND is recommended by both McCamant's Medical Technology Stock Letter (buy up to 14, but this is an old number, likely to change) and Michael Murphy's California Technology Stock Letter (buy up to 14). The stock ran from 11 to 17, beginning at the start of the Robertson-Stephens conference in Dec, and stopping abruptly and turning around the day of LGND's presentation at Hambrecht & Quist in Jan. Since then its dropped back to 15. Anyone know why it sold off the day of their presentation? Anyone know the next relevant conference and or FDA meeting for LGND?

Also, any trading-related info would be very useful. I know that Fidelity Select Biotechnology in Q2 1996 took a very large position; but also that some other fund in the Fidelity family sold 1/2 million shares to Bankers Trust in Q2 1996, BT are traders, not holders of stock, typically. This may somehow be related to the arbitrage possibilities with the ALRIZ warrants (= two LGND 5 yr warrants at 7.125 + 1 ALRI warrant (ALRI symbol for ALRI, holding company for retinoid patent portfolio, will trade on NASDAQ in June )).

LGND has developed a number of molecules (retinoids chiefly) which can combat cancer, diabetes, and obesity by influencing the amount/type of endogenous ligands in the bloodstream. These ligands in turn bind to cell rececptor sites and influence cell behaviour - such as uptake of sugars.

Currently a number of the cancer drugs are in Phase III trials for humans. My question to anyone is :

Isn't the chief danger to FDA approval of LGND's science the various possible
complications in humans of synthetically altered endogenous ligands? Complications
which will only become wide-scale apparent in broad phase III trials : namely,
non-specificity, over-stimulation, & inappropriate residence half-life of ligand in the
blood.

In other words, all has gone well on the high-wire act up to show-time but now all
sorts of unanticipated and/or effects previously removed by isolation can come into
play -- like someone in the audience distracting the performer.

Go to reply# or date (mm/dd/yy):

Reply	Message Preview	From	Recs	Posted
57	Henry, don't know if you have this one insidertrader.com	celeryroot.com	-	3/18/1997
56	Since my previous posts on the upcoming Nature article may be too complicated,	Henry Niman	-	3/12/1997
55	The article "What Short-Sellers Are Really Thinking" is on page	Henry Niman	-	3/6/1997
54	Gerald, I think that most on the board understand that a normal short position	Henry Niman	-	3/5/1997
53	Gerald, There is no risk is shorting LGND because the money was used to buy ALR	Henry Niman	-	3/4/1997
52	Henry - If there's no prospect for earnings there's little risk shortin	Gerald Drews	-	3/4/1997
51	Gerald, LGND's short position (3 million shares) is an arbitrage position u	Henry Niman	-	3/4/1997
50	bob, I don't think that the price rose without reason. There was a flurry	Henry Niman	-	3/4/1997
49	Bob - MMs are likely taking profits at low end of trading range. There was a la	Gerald Drews	-	3/4/1997
48	What's going on Henry ? For apparently no reason the MM's are driving	bob smith	-	3/4/1997
47	John, I'll try to give a bit more detail on the TZD/Retinoid arena. I don&#	Henry Niman	-	1/31/1997
46	John, LGND has a clear lead in the retinoid/RXR area because they have targette	Henry Niman	-	1/31/1997
45	Is part of LGND's advantage over its competitors that it has molecules in t	John Grandy	-	1/31/1997
44	"Based on results from animal studies, we believe ALRT268 has potential i	Henry Niman	-	1/30/1997
43	Hi John, You mentioned about McCamant's Medical Technology Stock Letter	CJ Quantumwell	-	1/30/1997
42	Since I am STILL being asked if the new diabetes drug has anything to do with L	Henry Niman	-	1/30/1997
41	A Canadian view of U.S. Biotechs in 1996 can be found at: dfait-maeci.gc.ca:80/	Henry Niman	-	1/30/1997
40	Plenty of biotechs have slipped since the Hambrecht & Quist run-up. The BT	John Grandy	-	1/30/1997
39	Can someone please assure me that LGND won't dip any lower than 14??	vulture	-	1/29/1997
38	Rahul, I also have heard that LGND will not be presenting at Merrill this year.	Henry Niman	-	1/24/1997
37	Henry I spoke to a friend of mine who is a broker at Merrill Lynch. I don'	Rahul Shah	-	1/24/1997
36	John, Big boys are still interested in BUYING LGND. Virtually every large bloc	Henry Niman	-	1/23/1997
35	All should be aware that today's sharp sell-off in the large cap technology	John Grandy	-	1/23/1997
34	Karun, LGND's price generally drives ALRIZ's. ALRIZ is very thinly tra	Henry Niman	-	1/23/1997
33	Why is ALRIZ trading more than twice that of LGND? What are the fiscal bonding	Joe S Pack	-	1/23/1997

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