bdm deal with cdc on h5n1 bird flu, page-18

re: tjw Of course they used the research from the Biota team, as did Gilead with oseltamivir. I can't comment on the IP implications on this. Other legitimate scientific groups (including old Relenza researchers) have done work with Peramivir and it is not just a beat up by Biocryst. All I am saying is that peramivir is an effective intravenous/intramuscular antiviral that is a potential competitor with IV Relenza. It works. So does IV Relenza. It would be silly to ignore it. Real world experience and studies in animals and humans trump molecular models etc. If molecular models were all that were needed we would not have phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical studies.

I am just trying to remain balanced in regards to the likely prospects for Biota's products and their likely competitors. IV Relenza has a head start in terms of it's progress in studies but Peramivir has a lot of backing in the US. I really hope it won't be a rerun of the whole Tamiflu/Relenza scenario but we can't discount that possibility. It largely depends on whether GSK really supports and pushes IV Relenza to get it out there a long time before Peramivir can make it.

I think what I write is more powerful because of intellectual honesty. In no way does it detract from Biota's excellent prospects. There is simply no competiton for LANI and the market for this will probably make the market for IV antivirals trivial by comparison.