VERTEX !!! Ein neuer Anfang?! - 500 Beiträge pro Seite

[hulot]

Morgen, morgen,

neue gute Nachrichten und hoffentlich endlich mit neuen
Kurspotential:

Vertex Pharmaceuticals und GlaxoSmithKline haben von einem Beraterausschuss der europäischen Arzneimittelbehörde EMEA eine positive Empfehlung für das zur Vermarktung beantragte HIV-Medikament Telzir erhalten. Telzir wurde positiv für eine Kombi-Behandlung von HIV-Patienten empfohlen. Die Vertex Aktie stieg am Donnerstag um 5% auf $9.35.

© BörseGo

Endlich wieder bessere Zeiten in Sicht!!
hulot

[Dausend1000]

Förtsch!!!! DAAAAAAUUUUUSEEEEENNNND

Vertex war Schrott, ist Schrott, bleibt Schrott.


Selbst Förtschi hat Vertex längst auf strong sell
abgestuft. aber erst nach 90% Minus

[hulot]

Wer ist FÖRTSCH ? Ein GURU ? Ein Wa(h)rsager ?

Schaun me mal -hulot

[hulot]

Hier das ganze ein bißchen ausführlicher:

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that they have received a positive opinion from the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) for Telzir(R) (fosamprenavir) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults in combination with other antiretroviral medications.

Telzir, when combined with low-dose ritonavir and other antiretroviral agents, has demonstrated its ability to reduce the concentrations of HIV in plasma in both antiretroviral therapy naive and experienced patients. For antiretroviral naive and experienced patients, the recommended dose is one 700mg tablet of Telzir twice daily and one 100mg capsule of ritonavir twice daily with other antiretroviral medicinal products. The low number of tablets and the fact that Telzir with low-dose ritonavir may be taken with or without food may help HIV-infected patients`` long-term adherence to therapy and improve overall outcome.

Telzir was co-discovered by GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Pharmaceuticals and is currently marketed in the United States under the brand name Lexiva(TM).

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world``s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and an industry leader in HIV research and therapies. The company is engaged in basic research programs designed to investigate new targets to treat HIV.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company``s strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical partners. Vertex``s product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex co-promotes the new HIV protease inhibitor Lexiva(TM) with GlaxoSmithKline.

Vertex Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. While management makes its best efforts to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Vertex``s actual results to vary materially. These risks and uncertainties include those risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex``s form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004.

Vertex``s press releases are available at http://www.vrtx.com/. For full prescribing information, contact one of the individuals below: Vertex Contacts: Michael Partridge, Director, Corporate Communications, [phone] Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations, [phone] GlaxoSmithKline Contacts: Martin Sutton, 011-44-208-047-5502 (media) Duncan Learmouth, 011-44-208-047-5540 (investors)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

© PR Newswire


hulot

[joey30]

Diesen Namen überhaupt in den Mund zu nehmen ist ja schon Schande genug.
Man nehme sich einfach die Depotänderungen des Aktionärs für diese Woche. Super Qualitätsaktien, so wie im Aktionär immer empfohlen.
Fehlerquote von 2001 bis Ende 2003 95% bei Empfehlungen.
80% davon absoluter Totalverlust. Super seriöses Blatt.

[hulot]

Wenn ich mir den Chart der letzten Monate so anschaue, könnte mit dieser NEWS im Rücken, der Kurs wieder nach oben gehen.
Auf jeden Fall bleibt Vertex jetzt in weiterer Beobachtung!

Gruß-hulot

[goldmaki]

@6

also charttechnisch mit eingezeichneter 38- und 200 tage-linie auf jahressicht sieht es für mich total undifferenziert aus.
z.zt drängt sich ein neuinvest charttechnisch nicht unbedingt auf

schaut euch einmal diesen rohstoffwert an

http://www.sallymalay.com/FileLib/031231HalfYearReport.pdf

oder besser für biotech

titan pharmaceuticals 914404

gruß goldmaki

[hulot]

Ha, auch an der NASDAQ mit fast 2% im PLUS !!!
Weiter so, dass die 10$ gepackt werden
hulot

[hulot]

Na das sieht ja richtig gut aus. Noch zwei Tage und Vertex ist in USA wieder 2-stellig !

Gruß-hulot

[hulot]

Mein Tipp bis Freitag dieser Woche:

Vertex bei 10,45$ !!

Nice day! hulot

[hulot]

Neues aus der Presse:

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that John F. Niblack, Ph.D., has agreed to be nominated for election to the Company``s Board of Directors at the upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 6, 2004. A 34-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Niblack retired from Pfizer Inc in 2002 where his most recent position was Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and President, Pfizer Global Research and Development.

During his tenure at Pfizer, Dr. Niblack held numerous management and senior executive management positions, starting as a molecular biologist in 1967. He successfully advanced throughout the organization and became responsible for Pfizer``s $5 billion research operation, which included 160 projects in development and over 300 projects in discovery research in 19 therapeutic areas. Dr. Niblack directed the late-stage development and regulatory filings for top selling drugs across a broad range of diseases, including Norvasc(R), Zoloft(R), Zithromax(R), Diflucan(R) and Viagra(R).

"Under John Niblack``s leadership, Pfizer``s Global Research and Development group established a track record as one of the most innovative and successful research operations in the history of the pharmaceutical industry," said Joshua Boger, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. "Vertex will benefit from John``s experience as we seek to develop and launch breakthrough medicines for a wide range of serious diseases."

In 1999, Dr. Niblack was honored with the Mayor of New York``s Award for Excellence in Science and Technology and was named Research and Development Manager of the Year by the Financial Times. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences and serves on the board of Bionaut Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Dr. Niblack has authored or co- authored numerous scientific publications. Dr. Niblack has a B.S. in chemistry from Oklahoma State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois.

If Dr. John Niblack and Dr. Eve Slater, whose nomination was also announced today, are elected as directors at the Company``s Annual Meeting on May 6, 2004, Vertex``s board would total nine directors, seven of whom are independent, non-executive directors.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company``s strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical partners. Vertex``s product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex co-promotes the new HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva(TM), with GlaxoSmithKline.

Lexiva is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Norvasc, Zoloft, Zithromax, Diflucan and Viagra are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc.

Vertex``s press releases are available at http://www.vrtx.com/.

A proxy statement setting forth information about Dr. Niblack, Dr. Slater and other nominees for election to the Company``s Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 6, 2004 was filed with the SEC on March 25, 2004, and was first mailed on March 26, 2004 to the Company``s security holders entitled to vote in the election. Security holders are encouraged to read the proxy statement carefully. Free copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by the Company are available through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov/. In addition, security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement by contacting the Company, 130 Waverly Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, Attention: Investor Relations, or at the phone numbers listed below.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and its directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the election of Drs. Slater and Niblack to the Company``s Board of Directors. Information regarding Vertex``s directors and executive officers is contained in the Company``s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2004 and the proxy statement filed on March 25, 2004. As of March 12, 2004, Vertex``s directors and executive officers beneficially owned approximately 6.7% of Vertex``s common stock.

Vertex Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements that Vertex is seeking to develop and launch breakthrough medicines for a wide range of serious diseases. While management makes its best efforts to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Vertex``s actual results to vary materially. Those risks and uncertainties include the risk that Vertex``s development efforts will not succeed, and other risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex``s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004.

Vertex Contacts: Michael Partridge, Director, Corporate Communications, [phone] Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations, [phone]

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

© PR Newswire
**********************************
Die Anzahl der Direktoren wird aufgestockt.
Steckt was dahinter?
Gruß-hulot

[hulot]

Hallo,
knapp an den 10 $ gescheitert, aber es sieht gut für die nächsten tage aus...

hulot

[blb]

Ich hätte bei VRTX schon längst nachgelegt, wenn sie endlich mal was zu ihrer hohen Cashburnrate sagen würden. Über eine Kapitalerhöhung werden sie so und so nicht herumkommen, sonst gehen wohl um 2006 die Lichter aus.

[hulot]

Moin!

Tag der Zahlen :

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will announce its first quarter 2004 financial results on Monday, April 26, 2004. The Company will host a conference call at 5:00 pm (EDT). The conference call also will be webcast.

The webcast will be available to all interested parties through Vertex``s website, http://www.vrtx.com/. To access the webcast, go to the investor center and select "conference calls." To ensure a timely connection to the webcast, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company``s strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical partners. Vertex``s product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex co-promotes the new HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva(TM), with GlaxoSmithKline.

Lexiva is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. Vertex``s press releases are available at http://www.vrtx.com/. Vertex Contacts: Michael Partridge, Director, Corporate Communications, [phone] Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations, (617)-444-6755

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

© PR Newswire

Die nächsten Tage könnten spannend bleiben !
Gruß-hulot

[hulot]

Hallo;

Neuigkeiten:

BERLIN, April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New data for proprietary investigational antiviral therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection being developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated were presented today at the Annual Meeting for the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Berlin, Germany. The clinical and preclinical data presented highlight the potential of these therapies to address significant unmet medical needs in the treatment of HCV.

Vertex``s extensive drug development portfolio includes two different approaches for advancing the future standard-of-care in HCV. Merimepodib, Vertex``s lead oral therapy targeting HCV, is being developed in combination with the current therapeutic standard, pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN) and ribavirin, with the goal of enhancing antiviral efficacy and increasing the proportion of patients who achieve a sustained response to treatment. Vertex is also developing VX-950, an investigational HCV protease inhibitor and one of the most advanced of a new class of direct antiviral agents for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. Vertex owns worldwide development and commercialization rights for both merimepodib and VX-950.

In a poster session at EASL today, clinical investigators presented results for patients enrolled in the extension phase of a pilot Phase IIa study designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of merimepodib in combination with peg-IFN and ribavirin in a treatment-refractory population. Additionally, in oral presentations at EASL, Vertex scientists reported preclinical data highlighting the promising antiviral profile of VX-950, including in vitro data assessing the antiviral activity of VX-950 in combination with interferon alpha.

"The results presented at EASL provide strong support for initiating late- stage clinical development of merimepodib, as well as the first clinical studies of VX-950," stated John Alam, M.D., Senior Vice President for Drug Evaluation and Approval at Vertex. "These are key milestones for Vertex and its interest in providing new therapies in HCV, and are anticipated in 2004. Vertex``s goal is to commercialize innovative therapies that will provide additional options for patients and enhance HCV clinical care."

Merimepodib Results and Clinical Plans

In 2003, Vertex completed the treatment arms of a placebo-controlled triple combination Phase II study of merimepodib (MMPD) in combination with peg-IFN and ribavirin. This trial was designed to evaluate the safety of the triple combination in 31 patients with genotype 1 infection who did not respond to a previous course of interferon alpha in combination with ribavirin. The study provided for six months of treatment, with an optional six-month extension phase for patients who responded to therapy. Data presented by clinical investigators in 2003 demonstrated that the triple combination of MMPD + peg-IFN + ribavirin was well-tolerated and did not appear to exacerbate the incidence of hematological toxicities associated with peg-IFN and ribavirin treatment. Study results also indicated that the addition of merimepodib enhanced the antiviral activity of the peg-IFN + ribavirin combination at 24 weeks.

In a poster presented at EASL today, clinical investigators presented data on 11 patients (three subjects receiving placebo + peg-IFN + ribavirin and eight subjects receiving MMPD + peg-IFN + ribavirin) who were eligible to continue into the extension phase of the study. Ten patients completed 48 weeks of treatment. At the end of 48 weeks of treatment, the safety profile of MMPD was similar to the core 24-week study, and the majority of adverse events reported were consistent with the known side effect profile of peg-IFN and ribavirin. One of three patients in the placebo group and three of seven patients receiving MMPD who completed the extension phase achieved a sustained viral response at week 72 (24 weeks post-treatment). Based on the Phase IIa results, Vertex is planning to initiate larger studies to evaluate the ability of merimepodib to increase sustained viral response rates (SVR) in HCV- infected patients. These larger studies may involve, as before, an initial treatment period with MMPD in combination with peg-IFN and ribavirin, but followed by continued treatment with peg-IFN and ribavirin alone, a clinical approach suggested by the clinical and preclinical data to optimize the SVR.

"Merimepodib demonstrated a good tolerability profile and showed important signs of antiviral activity in this study," stated Dr. Patrick Marcellin, Professor of Medicine at University of Paris VII, and the lead investigator for the study. "Genotype 1 HCV is associated with the lowest response to therapy, and patients who are non-responsive to prior combination therapy have very limited treatment options available. These results support larger well- controlled studies in treatment-refractory patients to evaluate the ability of merimepodib to effect an increase in sustained viral response in combination with peg-IFN and ribavirin."

Vertex anticipates initiating in 2004 a Phase IIb clinical study of merimepodib in patients who are non-responsive to prior treatment with peg-IFN + ribavirin. The primary goal of this placebo-controlled study will be to evaluate the antiviral activity of a triple combination regimen and to perform an assessment of sustained virologic response (SVR) rates. SVR is defined as an HCV-undetectable value at the end of a 24-week post-treatment follow-up period (week 72).

VX-950 Results and Clinical Plans

In oral presentations at EASL on Thursday and Friday, Vertex researchers presented a variety of preclinical results highlighting the emerging profile of VX-950. Vertex researchers demonstrated that treatment of HCV replicon cells with VX-950 decreased viral replication by 10,000-fold to undetectable levels; when the drug was subsequently removed, no rebound of viral replication was observed, suggesting that the HCV replicon had been eradicated from the treated cells. A second line of experiments showed that combination of interferon alpha with VX-950 in the HCV replicon system allowed scientists to reduce the level of VX-950 and still obtain the same degree of antiviral potency obtained with a 5-fold higher concentration of VX-950 alone.

Data presented last year at the AASLD and International HCV meetings showed that the dominant mutation(s) selected in the laboratory against VX-950 remained sensitive to BILN 2061, a protease inhibitor developed by another company which has shown antiviral activity in HCV patients, and BILN 2061 resistant mutants remained sensitive to VX-950. In the studies presented at EASL, researchers analyzed minor mutations that were cross-resistant to VX-950 and BILN 2061 in the laboratory and found that enzymatic activity of the cross-resistant HCV protease was reduced approximately 4 to 7-fold, a condition which could impair the ability of the virus to grow.

"Vertex``s leadership position in the discovery of novel approaches to HCV treatment has been enhanced by the development of new technologies and approaches for evaluating the clinical potential of experimental compounds," commented Dr. Alam. "The results we have seen with VX-950 confirm our selection of HCV protease as an excellent target for the development of powerful antiviral therapies and that VX-950 has the potential of becoming a highly valuable therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCV patients."

Vertex anticipates that it will initiate a Phase I clinical trial of VX- 950 in healthy volunteers in 2004. Positive results from this first Phase I study will pave the way for the first evaluation of VX-950``s antiviral activity in HCV-infected patients.

Clinical Need and Market Opportunity in HCV Infection

HCV infection is a serious disease that causes inflammation of the liver, which may lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis, liver cancer, and ultimately, liver failure. Chronic hepatitis C infection afflicts approximately 2.7 million people in the U.S., many of whom are unaware of their infected status. Current treatments provide a sustained viral response for only 40 to 50 percent of patients chronically infected with genotype 1 HCV, the most difficult viral strain to treat and the most common form in the U.S. Patients who are non-responsive to current HCV therapy have limited treatment options, and clinical experience suggests that only a very low proportion of such patients achieve a sustained viral response with subsequent treatment regimens. HCV may go undetected for up to 20 years following initial infection. Worldwide, the disease strikes as many as 185 million people. Each year, 8,000 to 10,000 people in the U.S. die from complications of HCV.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company``s strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical partners. Vertex``s product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Vertex co-promotes the new HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva(TM), with GlaxoSmithKline.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements that (i) Vertex anticipates commercializing new therapies, including merimepodib and VX-950, for the treatment of hepatitis C and that merimepodib and VX-950 each have the potential to address significant unmet needs in HCV treatment; (ii) merimepodib and VX-950 each hold promise as part of combination therapy for HCV patients who have limited treatment options and represents an attractive commercial opportunity for Vertex; (iii) further clinical study of merimepodib will be initiated in 2004; and (iv) clinical study of VX-950 will be initiated in 2004. While management makes its best efforts to be accurate in making forward-looking statements, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Vertex``s actual results to vary materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risks that clinical trials for merimepodib or VX-950 may not be initiated or, if initiated, may not proceed as planned due to technical, scientific, or patient enrollment issues, that results from planned clinical trials with merimepodib will not reflect the positive results from earlier trials, that positive nonclinical study results for either merimepodib or VX- 950 will not be duplicated in future nonclinical or clinical studies and other risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex``s form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004. Lexiva(TM) is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Vertex``s press releases are available at http://www.vrtx.com/.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated will host a conference call on Monday, April 26, 2004 at 5:00 pm (EDT) to discuss its first quarter 2004 financial results, at which time it will review and update its HCV product development programs. The conference call also will be webcast, and the webcast will be available to all interested parties through Vertex``s website, http://www.vrtx.com/. To access the webcast, go to the investor center and select "conference calls." To ensure a timely connection to the webcast, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled webcast.

Vertex Contacts: Michael Partridge, Director, Corporate Communications [phone] Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations [phone]

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

© PR Newswire


Gruß-hulot

[hulot]

Autsch, wieder unter die 9$, trotzdem schönes Wochenenende!! hulot

[hulot]

Da gibt es jemand, der VERTEX auch mag:


Stock treatment
Rydex Biotech fund manger likes Genta, Ariad, Vertex

By Jon Friedman, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 12:03 AM ET April 30, 2004

.....
Another stock on his list is Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX: news, chart, profile), which develops drugs for viral and autoimmune diseases.

"This company is becoming closer to breaking even," Dellapa said, underscoring a developing trend in the biotech business.

"Ultimately, we believe that we`re buying the earnings stream and that this company would eventually have a positive earnings stream," he added.

In trading Thursday, shares of Vertex Pharmaceuticals lost 2 cents to close at $9.10.

Gruß-hulot

[hulot]

Ach ja, soll natürlich nicht verschwiegen werden:

Das amerikanische Biotech-Unternehmen Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., ein Spezialist für Wirkstoffe gegen Viruserkrankungen, konnte seinen Umsatz im ersten Quartal 2004 auf 17,5 Mio. Dollar steigern, nach 16 Mio. Dollar im Vorjahresquartal.
Jedoch wies das Unternehmen einen Verlust in Höhe von 40,4 Mio. Dollar oder 52 Cents je Aktie aus, gegenüber einem Gewinn von 20,6 Mio. Dollar bzw. 27 Cents pro Aktie im ersten Quartal 2003. Bereinigt um Sondereffekte belief sich der Verlust auf 36,2 Mio. Dollar oder 46 Cents je Aktie, während Analysten von einem EPS-Verlust in Höhe von 52 Cents ausgegangen waren.

Für das laufende zweite Quartal geht Vertex von einem Gewinn vor Sondereffekten in Höhe von 40 Mio. bis 42 Mio. Dollar aus. Im Gesamtjahr 2004 soll der bereinigte Verlust bei 140 Mio. bis 150 Mio. Dollar liegen.

Gestern stiegen die Aktien an der NASDAQ um 0,77 Prozent und schlossen bei 9,13 Dollar.

© finanzen.net

hulot

[hulot]

NEWS bei VERTEX:

TUCSON, Ariz., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New preclinical data for two proprietary investigational antiviral therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection being developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated suggest the potential for oral combination approaches in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In a poster presentation at the International Conference for Antiviral Research (ICAR) in Tucson, Arizona, Vertex researchers demonstrated that merimepodib, Vertex``s lead oral HCV therapy, and VX-950, an investigational HCV protease inhibitor, exhibited enhanced antiviral activity when dosed in combination in HCV replicon cells. These results highlight the potential for future clinical approaches in HCV evaluating different combinations of antiviral agents, including oral-only combinations.

Vertex scientists conducted a series of experiments using a two-day HCV replicon assay, which mimics the intracellular replication of HCV, and evaluated the antiviral effect of several drug-drug combinations in various concentrations. All combinations of merimepodib (MMPD) and VX-950 resulted in greater reduction of HCV RNA than either agent alone, and computational analysis determined that the antiviral effects of MMPD and VX-950 were additive to moderately synergistic. At the highest concentrations tested, the combination of MMPD and VX-950 in replicon cells led to a 2 log reduction in HCV RNA in two days. Researchers also observed antiviral synergy in two triple combinations consisting of MMPD + interferon alpha + ribavirin and MMPD + interferon alpha + VX-950 in two-day replicon assays.

"In clinical practice, new treatment options and combination approaches have the potential to provide increased antiviral activity as well as enhanced tolerability, which are key unmet needs in HCV treatment," stated John Alam, M.D., Senior Vice President for Drug Evaluation and Approval at Vertex. "The combined antiviral activity of Vertex``s investigational agents, as measured in the laboratory, provides insight into novel clinical strategies which Vertex may be able to pursue to enhance clinical care in the treatment of HCV."

Clinical Need and Market Opportunity in HCV Infection

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious public health concern affecting approximately 2.7 million people in the United States. HCV causes inflammation of the liver, which may lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis, liver cancer, and ultimately, liver failure. Cirrhosis of the liver resulting from chronic HCV infection is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the U.S. Due to the asymptomatic nature of HCV infection, it often goes undetected for up to 20 years following initial infection. Worldwide, the disease strikes as many as 185 million people. Each year, 8,000 to 10,000 people in the U.S. die from complications of HCV.

The current standard of care in HCV treatment is a treatment combination of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN), an injectable agent, and ribavirin. This combination therapy provides a sustained viral response for only 40 to 50 percent of patients chronically infected with genotype 1 HCV, the most difficult viral strain to treat and the most common form in the U.S. Additionally, peg-IFN and ribavirin combination therapy are associated with treatment-limiting side effects, including depression, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and hemolytic anemia.

About Merimepodib and VX-950

Merimepodib is Vertex``s lead oral therapy for the treatment of HCV infection. Vertex anticipates initiating a Phase IIb clinical study in 2004 of merimepodib in patients who are non-responsive to prior treatment with peg- IFN + ribavirin. VX-950 is Vertex``s lead oral HCV protease inhibitor and one of the most advanced of a new class of antivirals in development for HCV. Vertex anticipates that it will initiate a Phase I clinical trial of VX-950 in healthy volunteers in the second quarter of 2004. Positive results from the first Phase I study will pave the way for the first evaluation of VX-950``s activity in HCV-infected subjects.

About Vertex

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a global biotechnology company committed to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases. The Company``s strategy is to commercialize its products both independently and in collaboration with major pharmaceutical partners. Vertex``s product pipeline is principally focused on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Vertex co-promotes the new HIV protease inhibitor, Lexiva(TM), with GlaxoSmithKline.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements that (i) merimepodib and VX-950 hold promise as part of combination therapy for HCV patients who have limited treatment options and represents an attractive commercial opportunity for Vertex; and (ii) combination therapy may result in increased antiviral activity and enhanced tolerability; and (iii) further clinical study of merimepodib and VX-950 will be initiated in 2004. While management makes its best efforts to be accurate in making forward- looking statements, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Vertex``s actual results to vary materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risks that clinical trials for merimepodib or VX-950 may not proceed as planned due to technical, scientific, or patient enrollment issues, that actual clinical studies of VX-950 and merimepodib in combination will not reflect the results obtained through in vitro testing, and that clinical results may not demonstrate the value of combination therapies for HCV patients generally, and other risks listed under Risk Factors in Vertex``s form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 15, 2004.

Lexiva(TM) is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Vertex``s press releases are available at http://www.vrtx.com/. Vertex Contacts: Lynne Brum, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Financial Planning, [phone] Michael Partridge, Director, Corporate Communications [phone] Lora Pike, Manager, Investor Relations [phone]

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

© PR Newswire

[hulot]

Morgen!

selbst aus Chartsicht sieht es nicht sehr erfrischend aus.
Irgendwie klebt das Teil unter 10$ fest. Hoff3entlich werden die 9$ bald wieder überwunden ...

hulot

[hulot]

Was ist denn sa schon wieder los???
hulot

[Wuscher]

Vertex raising $200-250m

Vertex Venture Capital is joining a long list of Israeli venture capital companies raising money for new funds.

Batya Feldman 2 Jun 04 18:37

Sources inform “Globes” that Vertex Venture Capital is about to raise $200-250 million for its new fund. Vertex declined to comment on the report.
Israel-based Vertex Venture Capital part of the Singapore-based Vertex Group, which manages $1 billion. Founded in 1997 by Yoram Oron, Vertex Israel Management also operates in Europe. Besides Oron, who is also president of Vertex Europe, and managing partner Moshe Shahaf, Vertex Venture Capital has four other managing partners.

Vertex is joining a long list of Israeli venture capital companies raising money for new funds, including Concord Ventures, Challenge Fund - Etgar, Gemini Israel Funds, Genesis Partners, Giza Venture Capital, Pitango Venture Capital, and a target=new href=http://www.yozma.com/home/> Yozma. Challenge Fund Etgar is raising a fund to specialize in homeland security.

Vertex Venture Capital manages investments in Israel and Europe and is headquartered in Tel Aviv and London, with offices in the US.

Vertex Venture Capital’s successful track record includes Telegate Ltd. (acquired by Terayon), Morecom Inc. (acquired by Liberate), Metalink (Nasdaq: MTLK; TASE:MTLK), Tradeum Inc. (acquired by VerticalNet), VisionTech Inc. (acquired by Broadcom), Oramir Semiconductor Equipment (acquired by Applied Materials), SHL Telemedicine (SWX:SHL), Solidum Systems Corp. (acquired by IDT), MidbarTech (acquired by Macrovision). Other companies in which the fund has invested include PowerDsine., ImageID, Actelis Networks, Scopus Network Technologies, Corigin, Hyperchip, Cyber-Ark, HyperRoll,and Actimize.

Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on June 2, 2004