Comments on: Immunogen and Seattle Genetics – On The Verge Of An Inflection Point http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/ Biotech stock reviews Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:51:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-387 Ohad Hammer Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:27:43 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-387 Very nice results, great PFS and DCR in this type of patient population. Their ADC is definitely one of the most intriguing candidates in oncology, at least in my eyes. I am not too enthusiastic about metastatic melanoma as an indication since it is a graveyard for investigational drugs, and there is only one candidate that I find investment worthy. I do think, however, that the breast cancer trial could be a game changer for CRGN. I don't want to get everybody's (including myself...) expectations too high, but judging by the activity seen so far and the validation of GPNMB as a target, CR011 stands a real chance of being effective in 15-20% of breast cancer cases (most of whom don't have a lot of effective therapies), so the potential is huge. Anyway, we'll have to wait for results next year ohad Very nice results, great PFS and DCR in this type of patient population.
Their ADC is definitely one of the most intriguing candidates in oncology, at least in my eyes.
I am not too enthusiastic about metastatic melanoma as an indication since it is a graveyard for investigational drugs, and there is only one candidate that I find investment worthy. I do think, however, that the breast cancer trial could be a game changer for CRGN.

I don’t want to get everybody’s (including myself…) expectations too high, but judging by the activity seen so far and the validation of GPNMB as a target, CR011 stands a real chance of being effective in 15-20% of breast cancer cases (most of whom don’t have a lot of effective therapies), so the potential is huge. Anyway, we’ll have to wait for results next year

ohad

]]> By: J.E http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-384 J.E Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:08:46 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-384 Any thoughts on CRGN's latest announcement? In the article you sounded bullish on their drug, do you think about adding the stock to the virtual biotech portfolio? Thanks Jeff Any thoughts on CRGN’s latest announcement?
In the article you sounded bullish on their drug, do you think about adding the stock to the virtual biotech portfolio?

Thanks
Jeff

]]> By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-347 Ohad Hammer Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:47:45 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-347 Hi Lauren I think once things get back to normal, SGEN will be traded in the low teens, excluding any additional data they publish at ASH. Hi Lauren

I think once things get back to normal, SGEN will be traded in the low teens, excluding any additional data they publish at ASH.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-346 Lauren Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:15:38 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-346 As an avid reader of your blog, I have been accumulating SGEN for the past year or so. I was wondering what your expectations are for the stock, is it going back to 10$ anytime soon? Thanks, Lauren As an avid reader of your blog, I have been accumulating SGEN for the past year or so. I was wondering what your expectations are for the stock, is it going back to 10$ anytime soon?

Thanks,
Lauren

]]> By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-247 Ohad Hammer Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:05:10 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-247 It's a very tough question. Ideally, I guess there are two guiding principles in Genentech's strategy. First, they would like to be present in every treatmenty line, from the adjuvant setting to palliative setting with as many lines as possible. Second, they would want to have a doublet of their agents, if possible, to increase revenues. I think the most powerful tool in their armamentarium is T-DM1, which should probably be first designated for patients who failed Herceptin and will gradually diffuse to earlier lines of therapy. I don't know what they are planning to do with pertuzumab, but ideally they might try to squeeze it before T-DM1, thus creating two successive lines after Herceptin+chemo. The problem is that the CLEOPATRA trial has just begun, so they can't wait and will have to pursue both opportunities in parallel for the same line. With respect to the adjuvant setting, things are more complicated. this seems like the best place to use Avastin in combination with a Her2 therapy. Anyway, their strategy will depend a lot on Tykerb's activity as monotherapy or in combination with Herceptin. It’s a very tough question.

Ideally, I guess there are two guiding principles in Genentech’s strategy. First, they would like to be present in every treatmenty line, from the adjuvant setting to palliative setting with as many lines as possible. Second, they would want to have a doublet of their agents, if possible, to increase revenues.
I think the most powerful tool in their armamentarium is T-DM1, which should probably be first designated for patients who failed Herceptin and will gradually diffuse to earlier lines of therapy. I don’t know what they are planning to do with pertuzumab, but ideally they might try to squeeze it before T-DM1, thus creating two successive lines after Herceptin+chemo. The problem is that the CLEOPATRA trial has just begun, so they can’t wait and will have to pursue both opportunities in parallel for the same line.
With respect to the adjuvant setting, things are more complicated. this seems like the best place to use Avastin in combination with a Her2 therapy.

Anyway, their strategy will depend a lot on Tykerb’s activity as monotherapy or in combination with Herceptin.

]]> By: edwin http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-246 edwin Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:20:37 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-246 what do you think will be dna's her+ strategy going forward. seems like dna will have a number of options for her2+ patients: herceptin, herceptin + avastin, herceptin + pertuzumab, t-dm1, some other combo? what do you think will be dna’s her+ strategy going forward. seems like dna will have a number of options for her2+ patients: herceptin, herceptin + avastin, herceptin + pertuzumab, t-dm1, some other combo?

]]> By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-233 Ohad Hammer Fri, 30 May 2008 00:23:58 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-233 I think DNA is aggressive with T-DM1, at least partially, due to potential competitors such as Tykerb. I think DNA is aggressive with T-DM1, at least partially, due to potential competitors such as Tykerb.

]]> By: GaryM http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-232 GaryM Thu, 29 May 2008 22:09:01 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-232 I believe you're wrong about DNA not wanting T-DM1 to replace herceptin in the not to distant future. Look at the new trials they're about to run in the Clinical Trials database, in my opinion they're intended to make the transition from Herceptin to T-DM1 as rapid as possible so other therapies can't step in and take even a small part of the market. I believe T-DM1 will prove far superior to anything that's currently out there, and this will be very apparent in the new data provided at ASCO and later on this year. The initial Pivotal Trial should occur later this year, and I believe it will be in refractory patients because the drugs effectiveness in this group is so great that early data will probably be all that's needed for FDA approval, i.e. this trial should end with the data from the first peek. Gary I believe you’re wrong about DNA not wanting T-DM1 to replace herceptin in the not to distant future. Look at the new trials they’re about to run in the Clinical Trials database, in my opinion they’re intended to make the transition from Herceptin to T-DM1 as rapid as possible so other therapies can’t step in and take even a small part of the market.

I believe T-DM1 will prove far superior to anything that’s currently out there, and this will be very apparent in the new data provided at ASCO and later on this year. The initial Pivotal Trial should occur later this year, and I believe it will be in refractory patients because the drugs effectiveness in this group is so great that early data will probably be all that’s needed for FDA approval, i.e. this trial should end with the data from the first peek.

Gary

]]> By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-220 Ohad Hammer Sat, 24 May 2008 19:23:46 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-220 I think they are definitely a buyout candidate but I don't think the acquirer will be SGEN. I think they are definitely a buyout candidate but I don’t think the acquirer will be SGEN.

]]> By: BigFlogger http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-219 BigFlogger Sat, 24 May 2008 18:24:54 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-219 With their substantial cash do you think CRGN is a buyout candidate by the likes of SGEN? With their substantial cash do you think CRGN is a buyout candidate by the likes of SGEN?

]]> By: Ohad Hammer http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-218 Ohad Hammer Sat, 24 May 2008 15:41:51 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-218 I think it's a great move, I just wonder what kind of preclinical data they have. They are getting more shots on goal, which is the best thing to do at this stage. They know the ADC technology works and that the antibody is relatively safe. It's important to note that GPNMB (also called osteoactivin) is still not a validated target for breast cancer, and there is disagreement with respect to its actual role. Nevertheless, its expression in Breast cancer and the correlation with aggressiveness has been suggested by independent research groups like this Canadian group: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/5/10/1001. CRGN also have another ADC powered by SGEN's technology( CR014) in pre clinical stages that looks good, but they'll have to partner 011 before committing resources to that one, I reckon. I think it’s a great move, I just wonder what kind of preclinical data they have. They are getting more shots on goal, which is the best thing to do at this stage. They know the ADC technology works and that the antibody is relatively safe. It’s important to note that GPNMB (also called osteoactivin) is still not a validated target for breast cancer, and there is disagreement with respect to its actual role. Nevertheless, its expression in Breast cancer and the correlation with aggressiveness has been suggested by independent research groups like this Canadian group: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/5/10/1001.

CRGN also have another ADC powered by SGEN’s technology( CR014) in pre clinical stages that looks good, but they’ll have to partner 011 before committing resources to that one, I reckon.

]]> By: biofest http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-216 biofest Fri, 23 May 2008 14:43:48 +0000 http://www.hammerstockblog.com/immunogen-and-seattle-genetics-%e2%80%93-on-the-verge-of-an-inflection-point/#comment-216 What do you think about CRGN adding breast cancer and brain tumors to their CR011 endeavours? What do you think about CRGN adding breast cancer and brain tumors to their CR011 endeavours?

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