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A bevy of Street analysts weigh in on Vivus' (VVUS +11%): Cowen says Qsymia has "considerably...
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Wednesday, July 18, 2012, 1:35 PM ETA bevy of Street analysts weigh in on Vivus' (VVUS +11%): Cowen says Qsymia has "considerably better" efficacy over Arena's (ARNA -7.5%) Belviq. Brean Murray says the approval came clean, without any harsh restrictions. Jefferies - after initially being negative on the stock - calls the FDA decision a "major win" for the company and upgrades the shares to Underperform. Wells Fargo is a bit more cautious, saying that despite the big win, the company still faces reimbursement challenges, a restrictive distribution network, and patient compliance.
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This news story has 18 comments:
what about the contra indications - sound severe to me
It seems to me that WFC is taking the correct "show me what you can deliver" approach to this approval.
Better to be safe than sorry.
So how do you feel about the Qsmyia approval? Many were so upset that I thought this was a good med and likely will get approved. Belviq will not get many sales. Since it affects Serotonin receptors and thereby not good to use with SSRI and other antidepressants. That eliminates a "big and fat" population. The analysts are somewhat negative of the sales of Qsymia. Do not know why many analysts seem uneducated about fundamentals of medicine and science. When those are correctly understood and in place regarding biotech science principles the market will follow over time. Am sure Qsymia will produce great sales numbers.
BTW: Just do not know why analysts do not get Erifta (Tesamorelin) distributed by Serono-Merck. It melts body visceral fat in HIV Lipodystrophy. Which means also non HIV people would gain same health benefits as off label usage.
Disclosure: I am a share holder of THER (Theratechnologies, Canada). Have followed the science of most of the GHRH (Growth Hormone Releasing) peptides for many years. Am a member of the Growth Hormone/IGF-1 Research Society since 1998. Likely hGH testing will get some positive results in athletes at the London Games. Since the IOC doping urine tests can now identify the non-native isomers of hGH numbers/ratios. Any questions?
Karlis Ullis, MD
Santa Monica, CA 90405
kullismd@gmail.com
http://bit.ly/JdtaAH
Secondly, are you even aware of subtypes of serotonin receptors. If not, please look into it and try to see which serotonin receptor is being targeted by Arna. Thank you
Most "interesting for me" to see how angry people can get when they see MD degree. Looks like people just do not have good medical experiences these days. I hear that all the time.
Best wishes,
Karlis Ullis, MD
Santa Monica, CA 90405
This seems very counterproductive. Phentermine is also a stimulant no different than Adderall and Ritalin and each state has its own reporting requirements for scheduled drugs, but the real kicker is how long of a holiday is required after the 12 weeks is reached, how is it determined, and the biggest question of all is Q. a drug users can take for a lifetime or is it a shorter term jump starter to get the process going?
Depends on how much you want to lose weight. Life is a series of tradeoffs. In this case you can lose weight but get heart damage. Your choice!!! Ha Ha!! I wouldn't take it myself, but I do own several hundreds share, especially considering half the country is now obese.
In contrast to Belviq ( a much safer drug that can be combined with Phentimine to achieve a higher level of efficacy), a woman (between the ages of 18 to 45) wishing to take Qsymia will have to submit to an initial pregnancy test, and one each month thereafter, as long as she wishes to take the drug. She, as welll as, male patients will have to have a BMI of 27 or higher, and must also have a co-morbidity of hypertension, diabetes or dyslipidemia. The drug will only be able to be delivered through mail-order pharmacies. Or, you can can take Belviq, with or without the Phentermine, skip the pregnancy tests and the monthly visits to your physiician's office, and take the script to your nearest drug store and have it filled.
Now, Brean with that said, do you really think that physcians and their patients are going to be bothered with the Qsymia REMS? Or, given the choice say, "I think that I will take Belviq Doc!"
Believe me the choice is obvious, and if you don't know the right answer, you deserve to lose your money, but you're not going to lose mine. Belviq is not only the right drug...it is the right investment.
Belviq seems to be effective enough and SAFE. Arena Pharma also has a distribution partner that has already engaged its forces, European approval on track, and is really a novel chemical entity with huge potential, including that of being prescribed with Phentermine.
Qsymia looks like a well-groomed dog and Belviq looks like a young thoroughbred racehorse - both getting ready to race.
DOWNGRADE: Vivus (VVUS) downgraded by Brean Murray from Buy to Hold.
BRIEFING.COM – 1:25 PM ET 07/18/2012