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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID |
06/27/2008 |
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You will always hear a lot of opposing and challenging opinions, not only on Vanda’s sleeping pill tasimelteon, but on each and every drug following the announcement of results from clinical trials.
The truth is .... |
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GOOD NEWS IN A BAD MARKET |
06/26/2008 |
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Another bad market day, which makes us expect some profit taking from the firms that have been recently in rallying moods. There is good news, but the bad bear will not let their news boost their stocks. The good news, though, must be remembered for future consideration. |
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WHAT'S NEW FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES |
06/25/2008 |
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Developing a treatment that could halt progression of type 1 diabetes and preserve enough islet cell function to avoid the need for insulin administration all together is the ultimate goal of endocrinologists. |
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BIOTECHNOLOGY IN A SLIDING MARKET |
06/24/2008 |
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In the bad market, the biotechnology sector is looking solid compared to other industrial sectors, big and small. |
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CONTROLLING GENES |
06/19/2008 |
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Three years and two months of testing Sangamo\'s technology were sufficient to validate its capability to manipulate genes and revolutionize agriculture, fuel and drug industries. |
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TECHNOLOGIES AND THE BIOREVOLUTION |
06/17/2008 |
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Some biotechnology firms look sometimes like faltering with no remedy to revive them. All of a sudden, news that looks of little impact might mark the beginning of resurrection. |
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IDENIX' (IDIX) PROMISING HIV DRUG |
06/12/2008 |
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A novel HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug has good results. |
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SANGAMO (SGMO): PROMISING DATA IN D.... |
06/10/2008 |
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At the 68th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), positive data were presented about Sangamo\'s ZFP Therapeutic™ program. The presentation is entitled, \"Evidence of Neuroregeneration Using Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Zinc Finger Protein Activator (SB-509) in Diabetic Neuropathy: A Chronic Degenerative Polyneuropathy,\" Sangamo\'s Phase 1b results from clinical trial (SB-509-401) demonstrated statistically significant improvements in measurements of nerve health and function in subjects with diabetic neuropathy. |
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SEQUENOM"S DOWN SYNDROME TEST |
06/04/2008 |
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Sequenom (SQNM), one of Prohost’s picks announced that its prenatal SEQureDX test, which screens maternal blood for Down syndrome had a 100% success in predicting positive disease. The stock rallied. |
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ALNYLAM (ALNY): BIG MONEY |
05/27/2008 |
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Another deep-pocketed Japanese company, Takeda is attracted to Alnylam\'s RNAi technology. |
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HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS (HPV) |
05/20/2008 |
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A more accurate test for HPV might save more women from developing cervical cancers. |
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ASCO: Too early to call |
05/19/2008 |
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Giving everybody access to thousands of abstracts presented at ASCO is a step forward. The question is: Will the unprecedented move by ASCO succeed in eliminating some analysts’ rush to evaluate cancer drugs prior to the meeting, thus causing confusion? |
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LPATH (LPTH): WHAT DID WE LEARN? |
05/15/2008 |
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What should we learn from a press release? Taking as an example the news announced by Lpath, we learned that the firm has the fundamentals indispensable for a development-stage biotechnology company. These fundamentals are usually overlooked by analysts, a leading cause for the undervaluation of many biotechnology firms.
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PROHOST E-LETTER #271 |
05/06/2008 |
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For Subscribers Only. Please click on the link on the Home page below. |
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WHAT HAPPENNED ON MARCH 28 IN A CHI.... |
05/02/2008 |
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A child suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the bone marrow and blood has been treated by transplanting human placenta-derived stem cells (HPDSCs. Read about the firm and the hospitals behind the groundbreaking transplant
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IDERA”S TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS |
05/01/2008 |
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The Promises of TLR technology |
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ZYMOGENETICS M.S. DRUG ATACICEPT |
04/30/2008 |
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Why atacicept for M.S. |
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REGENERON: TOWARDS ANOTHER FINISH L.... |
04/28/2008 |
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PROGENICS' DRUG APPROVAL |
04/25/2008 |
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Prohost warrned investors that slashing Progenics stock price was irrelevant and the subcutaneous form of methylnaltrexone will be approved. It was. |
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ELAN AND TYSABRI |
04/24/2008 |
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Hype has a short life span because, sooner, or later, reality surfaces. Tysabri is one of the most deliberately misjudged, if not the most underestimated breakthrough drugs ... |
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MIGRAINE |
04/16/2008 |
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The medical community has become increasingly aware that Inflammation might be playing an important role in many chronic and life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Capitalizing on this notion, Pozen and GlaxoSmithKline added an anti-inflammatory drug to a member of migraine-specific medicines. It worked. The firms were granted FDA approval for a new better acting migraine drug called Treximet. |
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MILLENNIUM: A TAKE OVER |
04/10/2008 |
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Knowing better than investors the value of Millennium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM), Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has bid $8.8 billion on Millennium. Stock has crossed our $24 target. |
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ONCOPHAGE® (VITESPEN) VACCINE APPRO.... |
04/08/2008 |
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the Russian Ministry of Public Health has issued a registration certificate for the use of Oncophage® (vitespen) developed by Antigenics (AGEN) for the treatment of kidney cancer patients at intermediate risk for disease recurrence. The company expects to launch Oncophage in Russia in the second half of 2008. |
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SANGAMO BIOSCIENCES (SGMO) |
04/07/2008 |
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More and more scientists and drug developing firms, private and public, are becoming aware that Sangamo’s ZFP Nuclease (ZFN) platform might be the breakthrough that addresses many of the major problems hampering the success of biological science revolution. |
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COMPUGEN: A MARKER IN MYOCARDIAL IN.... |
04/01/2008 |
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Compugen has provided the medical community with what confirms the value of its predictive discovery platforms. This capability has begun to bring in new valuable molecules, which were not previously known. |
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A NEW DRUG TO DIMINISH HIV RESISTAN.... |
03/31/2008 |
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A broad-spectrum antiviral product candidate might suppress HIV resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) |
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PRADAXA®: A NOVEL ANTICOAGULANT |
03/28/2008 |
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Pradaxa®, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor. The novel drug is approved in Europe to prevent venous thromboembolic events in adults who have undergone elective total hip or total knee replacement surgery. |
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THE PROHOST N-LETTER IS POSTED |
03/27/2008 |
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The Game. The biotech sector . The bad patterns. The rule of thumb and the biotech disciplines that will supervene. (FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY>) |
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DINAVAX (DVAX) AND MERCK |
03/18/2008 |
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While receiving an investigational hepatitis B vaccine, one individual among 2500 vaccinated with 5000 doses of the HEPLISAV vaccine co-developed by Dynavax and Merck was diagnosed with Wegener\'s granulomatosis, |
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GENTA'S DRUG GENASENSE |
03/17/2008 |
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Genta\'s drug, Genasense inhibits Bcl-2, a protein that makes cancer resist chemotherapy. |
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GENENTECH'S YEAR AND YEARS |
03/14/2008 |
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It is, indeed, Genentech’s day, where the firm is expected to project 2008 profit outlook between $3.30 and $3.45 per share, its Avastin\'s unprecedented sales growth, its pipeline and its plans for the future. |
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PDL BIOPHARMACEUTICALS |
03/05/2008 |
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\"To sell ourselves, or not to sell ourselves\", this is the question. \"We want to sell, but we could not sell\", this is the cause of investors\' catastrophic losses. The story repeats itself with different star players. Is it time to buy now, or to think about it? What other biotechnology made us decide to buy without thinking? Read the answer in the upcoming Prohost letter. |
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REWRITING THE TEXT BOOKS? |
03/03/2008 |
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The market first.
Then news from Vanda (VNDA) which insinuates that as a developer of antipsychotic and neurological products, especially of an antipsychotic drug waiting for approval, this firm is doing its homework. |
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GTX (GTXI): GOOD NEWS |
02/26/2008 |
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Designed to reduce side effects androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which aims at lowering testosterone and estrogen for the treatment of prostate cancer. Toremifene citrate at 80 milligrams has met the endpoints of the trials. GTX (GTXI) soared |
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GENENTECH: THE GIANT SUPERVENED |
02/22/2008 |
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We said it on February 15. It happened on February 22. The FDA granted Avastin accelerated approval to protect women from breast cancer spread and protect investors from the market\'s parasites. |
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ONYX (ONXX) A BUY OPPORTUNITY |
02/19/2008 |
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The irrational selling of the stock offers an opportunity for those who had missed buying the stock and another opportunity to accumulate by the firm’s fans. |
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CORRECTING HYPONATREMIA |
02/16/2008 |
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Low serum sodium (hyponatremia) is a complication of heart failure and can also occur in patients with cirrhosis or syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). At least a quarter of patients with heart failure have hyponatremia. Recent studies have demonstrated that low sodium levels are an independent predictor of worsening outcomes in heart failure patients. |
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GIANTS AND DWARFS |
02/15/2008 |
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Genentech\'s management has proven time and time again it is a giant. That\'s why we never lost faith in this firm\'s unparalleled capability to grow. |
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deCODE: SNP PROSTATE CA TEST LAUNCH.... |
02/14/2008 |
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We are at the age of personalized medicine. deCODE Genetics has launched a swab test that detects increased risk for prostate cancer. The event marks a new milestone in the fast evolution of biotechnology. |
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DENDREON\'S PROVENGE: PROMISING NEW.... |
02/14/2008 |
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Dendron releases promising data for its prostate cancer active immunotherapy Provenge. |
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GENENTECH: UNNECESSARY DEBATE. |
02/13/2008 |
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Avastin is already a blockbuster. Why making a fuss out of its approval for breast cancer? |
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COMPUGEN: TIME FOR RECOGNITION |
02/12/2008 |
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Compugen took time to build its strong engines. Has time come to reap the fruits. |
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UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES |
01/31/2008 |
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Come to Predictive medicine symposium. It is open to the public. |
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EPIX: AND SEQUENOM: |
01/24/2008 |
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Epix Accomplishment for Cystic Fibrosis.
Sequenom\'s prenatal Down Syndrome screening |
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DURING THE MARKET TURBULENCE |
01/23/2008 |
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Some are afraid and others take advantage. Where else to go? |
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THE EPIX STORY |
01/16/2008 |
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FOR A FEW DOLLARS |
01/10/2008 |
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For Illumina, the whole headache that was made to look like a hurricane threatening the firm\'s existence is erased with a low dose of pain killer - $90 million only. |
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ISIS AND ANTISENSE REVIVAL |
01/08/2008 |
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OSI (OSIP) AND OSIRIS (OSIR) |
01/04/2008 |
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Investors might have finally decided to appreciate the value of the technologies and products. |
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COMPUGEN: PERSONALIZED MEDICINE = P.... |
12/20/2007 |
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Seeing is believing. CompuGen signs a collaborative agreement with Roche |
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IDERA: A COLLABORATION AGREEMENT |
12/19/2007 |
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Idera signed a collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA. |
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SIMPLIFYING HIV-1 TREATMENT |
12/18/2007 |
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The European Commission has granted approval for Atripla®, which combines Gilead Sciences drugs Emtriva® and Viread® with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Sustiva® . Also, Medarex Cashes in on Good News. |
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BIOGEN IDEC: PROHOST EXPECTED MOVE |
12/13/2007 |
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The same reasons for BIIB\'s failure to find a buyer were there when the firm announced it accepted to be sold. We cited them then, others are mentioning them after the fact. |
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MORNING NEWS AND COMMENTS |
12/07/2007 |
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Good news for Medarex. What about Genentech? |
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GENENTECH'S AVASTIN |
12/05/2007 |
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Will Avastin Be Recommended? Please don\'t drive yourself crazy, or, may be better if you do. |
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REGENERON IS ONE OF TEN |
11/30/2007 |
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Regeneron -Sanofi-Avantis multimillion dollar agreement is expected to happen to ten biotech firms in Prohost selection. Most names will be mentioned in the next issue of the Prohost N-Letter. |
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INTROGEN'S ADVEXIN |
11/27/2007 |
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Advexin for the treatment of inherited Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (“LFS”) cancers.
Some positive results of Osiris\' (OSIR) Stem cell drug Chondrogen |
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING |
11/22/2007 |
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Love erases the darkness of human awareness. |
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PHARMION: ACQUISITION. NEXAVAR AP.... |
11/19/2007 |
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While the oil price is going up, the American consumer is still spending and the biotech sector getting more energetic. Onyx, as expected, received FDA approval to use Nexavar in hepatocellular carcinoma. In the mean time, Celgene acquires Pharmion. |
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PFIZER TO ACQUIRE COLEY (COLY) |
11/16/2007 |
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The move by Pfizer to acquire the TLR specialist Coley highlights the Toll-like receptor approaches to vaccines and therapeutics. It could be good news for firms specialized in this technology. |
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MILLENNIUM PHARMACEUTICAL (MLNM) |
11/07/2007 |
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Velcade is Curing, hence, Velcade is Selling. A breakthrough, Velcade, is being transformed into a blockbuster. Now we have other important news about Millennium\'s MLN1202. It is about preventing atherosclerosis. |
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SMOKE, MIRRORS AND DISTORTION |
11/05/2007 |
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What Happens To Vertex? |
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MLNM, VNDA, DVAX |
11/02/2007 |
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Good news from Millennium and Dynavax. Vanda decided to stop its offer. Why? |
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LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE |
11/02/2007 |
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Minocycline, Which Had Shown Early Promise in Treating Lou Gehrig\'s Disease
Actually Worsens it. We have faith in the near-future scientific achievements.
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NEXAVAR: APPROVED IN EUROPE FOR LI.... |
10/30/2007 |
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Do we have now to expect the FDA grant Nexavar marketing approval in the United States? You bet. |
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SANGAMO: A FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TODAY |
10/28/2007 |
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These are the kinds of breakthroughs we love to see brought to our attention through the Prohost Antenna. Read this outstanding news. For subscribers, the E-Letter new issue will be posted tonight. |
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AMGEN: THE VALUE OF PATENTS |
10/24/2007 |
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In a world where survival is for the stronger, rather than the fitter, it is important for the biotech firms to make sure their patents strongly protect their intellectual properties. That\'s how Amgen managed to survive. Also, we have good news from Osi (OSIP). |
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ILLUMINA LAUNCHES A NEW MicroRNA AS.... |
10/22/2007 |
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From Illumina, the Engines of the biotechnology industry revolution are becoming more powerful, less costly and easier to use. Let\'s see what Illumina is offering researchers. From Osi, A new approval of Tarceva has been granted in Japan
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IS THERE A RATIONAL REASON FOR VERT.... |
10/19/2007 |
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In addition to the comment on VRTX\' yesterday performance , we could not overlook the new price of the biotech industry. |
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BIOGEN IDEC (BIIB) FOR SALE |
10/13/2007 |
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Regardless of who will be the new owner, the stock has soared and is rallying now, up $12.17. |
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EXELIXIS: SYMPTOMS OF SUCCESS |
10/09/2007 |
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Symptoms of a biotech company\'s success should not be overlooked when the messy wind takes its stock south |
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GENZYME LOOKS GOOD |
10/05/2007 |
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The first analysts to jump into writing articles about PDLI and other firms that are living decisive moments in their lives are unfortunately those with private agendas. |
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COLORECTAL CANCER |
10/03/2007 |
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The FDA approval of Imclone\'s (IMCL) drug Erbitux as monotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer brings a treatment option for patients who have lost hope in all existing treatments |
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REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS (REGN) |
10/01/2007 |
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More Validation For Regeneron\'s Trap Technology |
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ALEMTUZUMAB: FOR M.S. AND OTHER IMP.... |
09/26/2007 |
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A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ARRAY (ARRY.... |
09/24/2007 |
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Array\'s state-of-the-art drug discovery technology attracted Celgene (CELG). Celgene is not the first to sign a collaboration agreement with Array. |
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DNA METHYLATION ANALYSIS |
09/21/2007 |
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Breakthrough tools for gene analysis are beginning to surface in specialized medical centers. According to a research conducted at the Australian-based Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sequenom\'s MassARRAY® EpiTYPER™ is successful in providing detailed DNA methylation analysis. |
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CORD BLOOD STEM CELL |
09/20/2007 |
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ViaCell (VIAC) and Children\'s Hospital & Research Center Oakland reported results that children with Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia can be cured with umbilical cord blood from a compatible sibling. |
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GENZYME: FDA APPROVES sBLA FOR CAMP.... |
09/20/2007 |
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Study Data Demonstrated Improved Progression-free Survival with Campath. Campath reduces the risk of disease progression or death by 42 percent (p=0.0001). |
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EXELIXIS ANTI MET INHIBITOR |
09/14/2007 |
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Exelixis\' drug XL880 is currently the only MET inhibitor for which there is human pharmacodynamic data demonstrating that the compound does, indeed, inhibit MET in human tumors. MET is likely to play a role in the proliferation of many types of solid tumors, including lung, breast, and colon tumors |
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INVESTING IN PRIVATE BIOTECHS |
09/14/2007 |
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AMGEN: THE END OF THE TEMPEST IN TH.... |
09/12/2007 |
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When we said it, we looked abnormal. The fact is that Amgen\'s Epogen and Aranesp did not hurt, but helped. Yesterday, the FDA Committee\'s decision to oppose restrictions on erythropoeitin drugs should end the storm in the teacup. |
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ERBITUX AGAIN |
09/11/2007 |
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The good news about Erbitux on lung cancer is not necessarily bad news for other great products. As a matter of fact, it is excellent news for the biotechnology sector as a whole. |
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HIV TREATMENT: A NEW MILESTONE |
09/10/2007 |
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In addition to Protease and Reverse Transcriptase inhibition, in six months, we will have an integrase inhibitor developed by Merck and called Isentress for the treatment of HIV infection. |
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THE BATTLE OF THE GIANTS |
08/31/2007 |
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The war between Amgen and Roche is continuing. Amgen\'s transient victory is excellent news for the biotechnology giant . |
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XOMA: A VALIDATING AGREEMENT WITH P.... |
08/28/2007 |
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What is BCE Technology? |
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ONYX (ONXX) AND BAYER (BAY) |
08/27/2007 |
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Excellent News About Nexavar® on the nasty liver cancer hepatocellular carcinoma. Trial will be stopped to allow all patients to receive treatment with Nexavar. |
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NEXAVAR FOR LIVER CANCER |
08/21/2007 |
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Rather than giving priority review for Nexavar as a new hope for patients suffering from the nasty liver cancer, we expected an instant approval. |
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TYSABRI: VERY OPTIMISTIC NEWS |
08/20/2007 |
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ILLUMINA (ILMN) |
08/02/2007 |
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Illumina\'s tools are taking research and researchers and the whole biotechnology evolution into a higher level |
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PHARMION'S EXTRAORDINARY NEWS |
08/02/2007 |
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It is time to be aware of a great development in therapeutics, where silencing genes has become a fact. The approach is known as epigenetic , which proved to be an excellent alternative for cancer drugs that aim at killing normal, and tumor cells. Targeted epigenetic therapy, re-establishes the cancer cell\'s natural mechanisms to control abnormal growth. |
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AMGEN’S RESPONSE |
08/01/2007 |
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Although much better than what was perpetrated, or intended, the coverage restrictions placed on the FDA-approved indication have no scientific basis and are incompatible with good clinical practice,\" said Roger M. Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of Global Research and Development at Amgen. |
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TRAVELLERS DIARRHEA |
08/01/2007 |
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Approximately 55 million international travelers this year will visit countries where bacteria that cause travelers\' diarrhea are endemic, particularly Africa, Asia and Latin America. About 20 million of those travelers will develop travelers\' diarrhea. A patch vaccine developed by a firm called Iomai (IOMI) seems to have positive results. |
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AMGEN'S ANEMIA DRUGS SAGA |
07/31/2007 |
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Like in all treatments, from aspirin to chemotherapy, dosing, side effects and contraindications are priorities to assess. Weighing risks against benefits has been a normal successful practice since the beginning of regulating therapeutics. This is what Amgen’s tale is all about. The saga that took several months to unfold accomplished nothing but worrying patients, infuriating specialists and getting to Amgen’s shareholders’ money. |
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TYSABRI FOR CROHN |
07/31/2007 |
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The FDA Advisory Panel Votes In Favor Of Tysabri\'s Approval For Crohn\'s Disease |
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CRUCELL TECHNOLOGIES, TARGACEPT AND.... |
07/30/2007 |
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It is no secret that Crucell is a great Biotech. And it is no secret that the Pharmaceutical industry needs biotechnology breakthroughs, hence to sign collaborative agreement with them. |
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BIOGEN IDEC BEATS ANALYSTS EXPECTAT.... |
07/25/2007 |
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Both BIIB and PGNX have good news. BIIB beats analysts expectations and PGNX\' HIV entry inhibitor beats the competition. |
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GILEAD AND CUBIST |
07/20/2007 |
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Professional traders who do not know, or, better said, do not care to know about the firms’ activities and accomplishments, but only about patterns, own the biotech sector during the quarterly results’ season. As the season ifades away, and in a good market day, investors’ appreciation of some accomplishing firms is really felt. |
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OPIOID INDUCED CONSTIPATION (OIC) |
07/20/2007 |
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Promising Phase 1 Results with oral Methylnaltrexone was published and demonstrate promising results. Developer is Progenics (PGNX) and Wyeth. Another subcutaneous form of the drug is expected to go to the market on January 2008. |
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ANGINA |
07/19/2007 |
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Generx is a new class of drugs. It leverages the body\'s natural healing processes in response to repeated ischemic stress (insufficient blood flow and myocardial oxygen supply due to coronary heart disease). The FDA granted it fast Track. It is developed by Cardium Therapeutics (OTCBB: CDTP). |
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NANOGEN (NGEN) A FAST HEART TEST |
07/17/2007 |
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NanoGen is shipping a fast heart test to be used in hospital emergency rooms. In other news, two causes for disappointment for Metabasis (MBRX). |
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WIDE ROLE OF IL-1 IN DISEASES |
07/16/2007 |
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IL-1 seems to play a big role in inflammatory diseases and other diseases, including diabetes. In the news, Xoma has begun Phase 1 clinical trials of its in-house IL-1 monoclonal antibody blocker for Type 2 diabetes. |
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A LUCRATIVE PARTNERSHIP |
07/13/2007 |
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The Target is excellent and the molecules work. Merck felt it is the best time to team with Ariad (ARIA) on a drug that could treat multiple cancers.
Are Genentech/ Amgen, or Amgen/Genentech still #1 and #2 biotechnology firms? |
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AMGEN AND GENENTECH BEAT CRITICS\' .... |
07/12/2007 |
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Why did W.S. analysts miss seeing excellent biotech firms before their stocks soared following the announcement of excellent news? |
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DENDREON’S TALE STILL ALIVE |
07/11/2007 |
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Dendreon\'s story has not ended yet. Now, it is the SEC who wants to know. |
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HELPING CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS |
07/10/2007 |
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Beginning August 1, 2007, Gilead Sciences will initiate an expanded access program1 to provide its investigational therapy, aztreonam lysine for inhalation, to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection who have limited treatment options and are at risk for disease progression. |
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GILD, ALNY AND NWBO:OB? |
07/09/2007 |
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Barron\'s highlights Gilead. Roche signs a $1.1 B agreement with Alnylam and guess what? A brain cancer vaccine developed by Northwest Biotherapeutics (NWBO :OB) to reach the Swiss market. |
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TYSABRI IS THE BEST |
07/03/2007 |
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For the first time, a multiple sclerosis drug is recommended for use by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Tysabri (natalizumab) is the drug and the recommendation is for patients with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). |
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A BREAKTHROUGH FROM ILLUMINA AND de.... |
07/02/2007 |
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Last week llumina, (ILMN) began shipping a new Human1M DNA Analysis BeadChip. It is the most comprehensive genotyping research tool that enables uncovering the genetic basis of multiple complex human diseases
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NEXAVAR |
06/27/2007 |
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Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals (ONXX) submission of a Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA)... |
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COMMENTS ON PDLI, CURAGEN AND OTHER.... |
06/20/2007 |
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Right decisions are important and a vision is required for analysts to see the future medical needs and fish the firms that promise supplying them. Is it not what we are doing everyday? |
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TECHNOLOGIES ON THE ROAD TO VALIDAT.... |
06/18/2007 |
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Some novel technologies took long to be validated. In most cases, scientists who are working on these difficult programs and those who are aware of them never lost hope in their success. Investors, though, got bored and, in many instances sold their shares in the developing firms. Here is news about difficult concepts that might have walked the road towards validation. |
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AN APPROVAL FOR GILEAD AND APPROVAB.... |
06/18/2007 |
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At the same day, the FDA approved Gilead\'s drug Letairis (ambrisentan) for pulmonary hypertension,the agency expressed dissatisfaction with Encisive\'s drug, Thelin for the same disease. |
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OPTIMISTIC NEWS |
06/12/2007 |
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We have news, yes, good news and many breakthroughs to reveal, together with the best investigational cancer treatments. The results of our study conducted during and following the ASCO conference are handed to subscribers of the Prohost E-Letter. Vaccines and other biological treatments made us select from today\'s news announcements from VICAL, CURAGEN, FAVRILLE and REPROS (RPRX). They are worth mentioning. |
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IL-1 TRAP AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES |
06/08/2007 |
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Cure one, cure many. Regeneron\'s drug that targets the gene-derived Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) could become a treatment for many other inflammatory diseases. |
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CREATING PERMANENT T-CELL RESISTANC.... |
06/07/2007 |
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We are impressed by Sangamo BioSciences’ (SGMO) approach to HIV treatment and by the data presented about its zinc finger DNA-binding protein (ZFP) Therapeutic™ for HIV/AIDS. The data demonstrate that ZFN-modified human T-cells are protected from HIV infection.
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ASCO |
06/04/2007 |
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The results coming from ASCO highlight the biotechnology industry’s important and extraordinary achievements on the road to providing cures for malignancies. Comparisons and assessments of the oncology drugs will be made after the convention ends. At that time, data can be carefully and thoroughly analyzed in the Prohost N-Letters and E-Letters and the opinions of top oncologists heard Here is some news. |
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NOVAVAX: A MODEL FLU VACCINE? |
06/01/2007 |
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VLP H5N1 protected ferrets from challenges with live live H5N1 bird flu viruses with a dose that is 25-fold lower than the average human dose for most seasonal flu vaccines and more than 100 times lower than other H5N1 vaccines against avian influenza. But this is not all. |
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CRITICAL THERAPEUTICS (CRTX) |
05/31/2007 |
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The FDA approves ZYFLO CR™, the first extended -release leukotriene synthesis inhibitor for the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older. |
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DENDREON (DNDN) AGAIN |
05/31/2007 |
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The FDA indicated that it will be satisfied with either positive interim results or final analysis of survival, as described in the IMPACT Special Protocol Assessment Agreement. Dendreon anticipates completing enrollment in the IMPACT study this year and interim survival results in 2008. |
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GENZ, MEDI, CATS ON A HOT TIN ROOF |
05/29/2007 |
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It is either inside information, or irrationality. |
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EXELIXIS (EXEL): A TYPICAL PROMISIN.... |
05/24/2007 |
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The excitement in the emergence of biotechnology is about the hope the industry offers through new capabilities in bringing far-reaching treatments. Exelixis, in our view, is one of the biotech firms that can realize the dream. |
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FOREST LABS AND CYPRESS BIOSCIENCE |
05/23/2007 |
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Cypress stock soared. More important: Will the sufferers of the debilitating fibromyalgia find a specific remedy for their pains? |
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HIGH-TECH DISCLAIMERS |
05/16/2007 |
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The new successful high-tech approach to publishing rumors with devastating effects without consequences to the writer, In other news, Revlamid, developed by Celgene (CELG) might have good news. EYE ON WHAT?
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SATRAPLATIN PILL FOR PROSTATE CANCE.... |
05/15/2007 |
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Until satraplatin will be approved in August, hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients can take it free of charge. (See inside) |
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VICAL (VICL) AND DNA VACCINE |
05/14/2007 |
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More proof of efficacy for the firm\'s DNA vaccine. |
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PROVENGE AGAIN |
05/11/2007 |
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Taxotere is unsafe and ineffective in terminally ill patients with prostate cancer |
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ON PROVENGE |
05/10/2007 |
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THE FDA AND PROVENGE |
05/09/2007 |
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Nobody yet knows what additional information will the FDA ask before approving Provenge. Soon we will know and act upon the knowledge. In the release we believe we read that the FDA asked for more data. We did not read it asked for more trials. |
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IN THE PROHOST E-LETTER |
05/08/2007 |
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Well-selected biotech stocks must be protected from hype. Stem cells miracles are in reach. Today\'s impacting news. |
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DENDERON AGAIN |
05/07/2007 |
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Dozens of articles about Dendreon are coming (unexpectedly) from longers. The positive opinions are challenging those with the short positions who are backed by tremendous money. |
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GENETIC ORIGIN OF DISEASES |
05/04/2007 |
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It hunted diabetes-causing genes and, a couple of years ago, it pinpointed the most impacting gene behind the risk of developing diabetes. .At the time, the small biotech’s discovery was denied publishing by a peer review journal. The firm is deCODE GENETICS, which has now discovered a genetic origin for heart attack. |
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TYSABRI® |
05/03/2007 |
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Not only safety, but efficacy and superiority of TYSABRI® have been announced at the 59th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston, MA. Extension study data demonstrated that TYSABRI has a sustained treatment effect on clinical relapses and the risk of disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated for up to three years. |
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deCODE GENETICS |
05/02/2007 |
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Gene-based drugs are moving forward in trials. Here is a drug that would prevent heart attack based on preventing inflammation, not on lowering cholesterol. Is it time for DCGN to be appreciated by investors? Now, we hint, then we will tell. |
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AMGEN, YES, AGAIN |
05/01/2007 |
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Vectibix, Amgen\'s colorectal cancer drug, demonstrated efficacy on treatment-resistant patients. The drug is in clinical trials for other cancers and as a first-line treatment for colorectal cancer. |
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HEPATITIS B AND ULCERATIVE COLITIS |
04/30/2007 |
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Excellent news from Idenix and PDL biopharma |
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MIRACLES DO HAPPEN |
04/28/2007 |
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For everybody |
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CRXL, SGMO AND IDIX |
04/27/2007 |
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There are reasons for enthusiasm about the news coming from these biotech firms. Read the news and later in the day, subscribers will read about reasons for enthusiasm, if any. |
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MILLENNIUM QUARTERLY RESULTS |
04/26/2007 |
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Millennium reports strong financial results. The stock, like usual, experience a law of thumb sell-off. It is a pattern. Sometimes, though, a couple of days, or weeks after following the pattern, some will realize how costly to them was their capricious decision. |
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CURIS/GENENTECH GOOD NEWS |
04/25/2007 |
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A class of Wnt antagonists that, in preclinical studies, inhibit the Wnt pathway by acting upstream of beta-catenin, which is believed to be an important molecular target in the Wnt pathway of cancer. Other discoveries and drugs are mentioned too. |
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UP AND DOWN FOR REASONS AND FOR CAP.... |
04/24/2007 |
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DNDN: Will rally. ELN will be hit despite Tysabri\'s growing sales. EXEL has good news. What about Amgen? |
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CONGRATULATION PROHOST SUBSCRIBERS: |
04/23/2007 |
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AstraZeneca decided to acquire MedImmune at 15B dollars, i.e., $58 a share. |
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GILEAD SCIENCES (GILD) A TOP-TIER B.... |
04/20/2007 |
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GILD rallied. It deserved it as its franchises are growing and the first quarter financial results exceeded analysts\' expectations. |
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1 ARANESP (AMGEN) GOOD NEWS |
04/19/2007 |
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The drums of war against Amgen’s (AMGN) drug Aranesp did not stop, but investors might have stopped hearing them as the sound of a new positive study results about Aranesp, which was announced today was higher than that of the empty drums of fear and skepticism. |
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BiTE MOLECULES |
04/19/2007 |
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MedImmune (MEDI) and Micromet (MITI) are behind the creation of these molecules, which have the potential to selectively direct and activate cytotoxic T cells to target cancer cells |
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INTROGEN INTRAVENOUSLY-ADMINISTERED.... |
04/18/2007 |
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A cancer suppressor gene was successfully administered intravenously to patients with lung cancer.
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TELIK (TELK) A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. |
04/17/2007 |
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After a setback, a few months ago, Telcyta has proven it could be the drug that one must rely on in non-small-cell-lung cancer. |
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MILLENNIUM AND PERSONALIZED MEDICIN.... |
04/17/2007 |
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Findings Published in the journal Blood Highlight Millennium Leadership in Personalized Medicine and Could Strengthen the Role of Velcade as Foundation of Therapy in Broad Range of Multiple Myeloma Patients |
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PROGEN INDUSTRIES (PGLA) |
04/16/2007 |
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On December 18, in the Prohost E-Letter issue # 250, we recommended buying Progen (PGLA), stating that: “ The news from this firm, we believe, is promising for three reasons (Read the news) |
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THERAPEUTIC CANCER VACCINE AND GLIO.... |
04/16/2007 |
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Time might have come for cancer vaccines to be considered by oncologists, especially for those late-stage cancers, or cancers that do not respond to current therapies. We had good news from Provenge developed by Dendreon and now we got good news from Antigenics’ vaccine Oncorphage. |
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GENENTECH (DNA) |
04/12/2007 |
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We knew it before they report it, we mean the first-quarter profit surge of Genentech. We knew and others knew it too, but preferred to close their eyes so they can keep playing the negative game on the most positive accomplishing firm. |
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BIOTECH UNIVERSE |
04/12/2007 |
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Dendreon, MedImmune, Cell Genesys and PDL Biopharma |
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VICAL (VICL) |
04/11/2007 |
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Studies suggested that Vical’s patented vaccine adjuvant, Vaxfectin™, has the potential to be used as a dose-sparing agent with conventional flu vaccines against seasonal or pandemic flu strains.
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OSIRIS AND IMCLONE |
04/08/2007 |
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Of all the announcements, nothing is worth mentioned today except Osiris’ (OSIR) news about its stem cell drug Provacel’s effect on the cardiac muscle post infarction. Also to be followed up on is Imclone’s (IMCL) news about the efficacy of the firm’s drug Erbitux’ on head and neck cancer. |
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MEDAREX AND ANTHRAX |
04/02/2007 |
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Valortim™ is an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody developed by Medarex and the private firm PharmAthene. The drug is designed to protect against anthrax infection, including inhalation anthrax, the most lethal form of illness caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacterium. |
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CONGRATULATION DENDREON |
03/29/2007 |
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The FDA Advisory Committee Endorsed Dendreon’s Prostate Cancer Vaccine,
Provenge (Also Called Sipuleucel-T) Is Found Safe and Effective
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DENDREON’S PROVENGE |
03/27/2007 |
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At this stage, we do not believe that anybody can change anything. The advisory committee will have to look at the positives that the FDA mentioned and the negatives that the FDA has also considered relevant. More important, they have to put their feet in the shoes of the 30,000 or more patients who are supposed to die in the U.S. from advanced prostate cancer and whether the vaccine, alone, or in future combinations with other treatments, if approved, might save some of them. |
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STEM CELL TREATMENT |
03/26/2007 |
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We will be starting our Prohost N-Letter, which will be posted before you wake up tomorrow morning with Osiris (OSIR). Yes, the firm, which was selected by Prohost, might be bringing hope to those patients who are inflicted with intractable or deadly diseases and hoping that stem cell approaches will save them. |
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CARDIUM THERAPEUTICS |
03/22/2007 |
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Cardium Therapeutics (OTCBB:CDTP) and its subsidiary InnerCool Therapies enrolled the first patient in the RAPID MI-ICE study at Lund University Hospital in Sweden. The cooling procedure seems to reduce cardiac tissue injury following reperfusion. |
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DENDREON: WILL IT JOIN THE TOP-TIER.... |
03/20/2007 |
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We are at the end of the road with Dendreon’s (DNDN) prostate cancer product Provenge. Before the end of this month, the FDA advisory panel will discuss and debate the drug and vote on whether it recommends approval or not. |
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PROHOST IS UPGRADING THE WEB |
03/18/2007 |
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Dear Subscribers
We took advantage of the week-end to do some improvement on the web, which might temporarily prevent accessing the N-Letter and the E-Letter.. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Best regards
Prohost |
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GOOD NEWS FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENT.... |
03/15/2007 |
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The FDA approved Tykerb developed by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for breast cancer. The drug has the same target as that of Herceptin, hence some investors in Genentech are feeling stressed. The question is, Should they be? |
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UNDERSTANDING THE GENETIC BASIS OF .... |
03/14/2007 |
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Crossing the current frontiers that limit the understanding of the molecular bases of diseases, of the susceptibility to cancer and resistance of disease-causing organisms to treatment is what we expect the biotechnology revolution to bring. |
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OSIRIS AND IMCLONE |
03/09/2007 |
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Of all of today\'s news, nothing is impacting except Osiris’ (OSIR) stem cell drug Provacel. This drug\'s effect on the cardiac muscle post infarction is very promising. Also impacting is Imclone’s (IMCL) news about Erbitux’ efficacy on head and neck cancer. |
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DILIPIDATION |
03/08/2007 |
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From Lipid Sciences (LIPD) we learned about what could be a fascinating approach that creates a high concentration of a modified form of HDL (good cholesterol).
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THERE IS PLENTY OF GOOD NEWS |
03/07/2007 |
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Like many others, we also suffer from the disappearance of good news from the media. We suffer because we know that, like the bad news that fills the place, good news also do exist. The media, however, tend to overlook it. |
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KOSAN AND ROCHE |
02/27/2007 |
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Its Hsp90 inhibitors and its epothilones are breath-taking.
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CANCER DRUGS AND OTHER NEWS |
02/16/2007 |
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Some could be Breakthroughs |
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STEM CELL, RNAi AND A NOVEL TYPE 2 .... |
02/01/2007 |
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Promising news - all breakthroughs if confirmed |
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AMGEN IS STILL KING |
01/22/2007 |
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Sustaining Growth is Amgen\'s Strategy |
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LATE STAGE MELANOMA |
01/15/2007 |
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There might be good news coming from the small struggling firm SciClone (SCLN). |
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DENDREON: OPTIMISM? |
01/15/2007 |
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The FDA granted Dendreon’s (DNDN) prostate cancer product Provenge priority review |
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INSOMNIA |
12/21/2006 |
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Lunesta® developed by Sepracor (SEPR) treats psychiatric causes of insomnia. |
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LUCRATIVE ALLIANCES |
12/20/2006 |
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Kosan Biosciences (KOSN) signed a worldwide license agreement with Pfizer
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LIVER CANCER |
12/13/2006 |
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Liver cancer (or hepatocellular cancer) is bad. The worst part is that this deadly cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world. |
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IDERA: A BROAD COLLABORATION WITH M.... |
12/11/2006 |
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Merck (MRK) and Idera Pharmaceuticals (IDP) announced a broad collaboration
to research, develop and commercialize Idera\'s Toll-like Receptor (TLR) agonists.
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LATE-STAGE MELANOMA |
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