Metabolix, Inc. Message Board

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So the biopharma news is abuzz by the wipeout over at $AFFY, as they and Takeda pull Omontys off the market after a number of deaths by anaphylaxis.

For those not familiar, Omontys, is an erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA)..or actually, a synthetic peptide erythropoietin memetic. The obvious winner here will be Amgen, as its EPO/ arnesp franchise should gain (or at least not lose) share from the newer product, now out of the scene.

Now Ligand & GSK's Promacta focuses its stimulation on platelets... not erythrocytes. But both have the same progenitor cells if you go back far enough. Still, the MOA of peginesatide, as it mimics erythropoietin, our read is its removal should have little bearing on market potential for Promacta.

But ... it could throw the door wide open for market potential of Ligand's unpartnered EPO Receptor Agonist Program.

To quote from the $LGND webpage, "Erythropoietin (EPO) acts on its receptor to stimulate the differentiation of bone marrow hematopoietic cells to form red blood cells. Various recombinant human EPO derivatives are marketed as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for the treatment of anemia due to renal failure or cancer chemotherapy (e.g., AranespTM, EpogenTM, EprexTM, and ProcritTM). We have discovered a series of orally-available, small molecule agonists of the EPO receptor that should provide additional benefit in the treatment of anemia with improved safety, tolerability, and patient acceptance due to the convenience of oral administration and the lack of excessive erythropoietic stimulation. In December of 2010, we presented preclinical data on our EPO receptor agonist LG5640 at the 52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, highlighting its unique mechanism of action and selective profile. In addition to LG5640, highly potent and selective EPOR agonists have been identified that display oral bioavailability in the mouse, rat and monkey, and have a desirable in vitro and in vivo safety profile for preclinical development. We are seeking a partner to advance pre-clinical and clinical development, and commercialization."

Unlike the synthetic peptide Omontys, small mol approaches like LG5640 and the next gen mols at Ligand would likely not share the same molecular causes of the reaction, which we expect is an off target activity. While the event may cause a bit of a step back till the cause is well understood, we anticipate it may swing the balance away from other synthetic peptides toward small molecules. At a minimum, this event will decrease the competition in the ESA space. In other words, $LGND should benefit... in the form of a better / richer R&D collaboration / out license deal.

Thank me later....

..but the fetus was dumped in a sewer, and he survived on shyte!

Upside is huge from these prices no brainer buy and hold

Sentiment: Strong Buy