Ann: Appointment of Chief Medical Officer, page-80

So, Bill comes home after a hard day at the philanthropic office and is greeted by his lovely wife, Melinda, who has prepared a delicious meal for her loving husband and children. Yes, the Gates are normal people who do normal things. After a hot shower and an aperitif, Bill, Melinda and family sit down for the family meal and share their daily musings.

"Oh Bill, I was talking to Mary today." (unlikely her real name). "You remember, Stephen's wife? He's taken on a new role with an Australian company, Bio something. They've had a breakthrough with HIV, and are apparently working with Covid too."

"Oh really, I'll have to give him a call. I did hear at the conference last week that the Aussies were onto something with a compound, BIT something. We'll have to have them around for dinner again."

Such is the small talk that can lead to big stuff.

The appointment is big news: 'to advise the Company as it moves into the next critical stage of development of our lead HIV-1 drug, BIT225.

If you have read the article posted above by mabrook, about CMO appointments, we learn that they can have numerous roles. Considering that Biotron has come this far without one, we can only take Miller's words, as limited as they are, in what Stephen will precisely be doing: critical stage of development.

I'm assuming that the important basis of the scientific stage of BIT225's development is "complete" (note inverted commas), which would then lead to the commercialization stage, of which a CMO seems to be required these days. As this is a complex area involving intricate knowledge of the legal, patents, and top-end industry acumen, especially in the US, it seems that with Becker's experience, commercialization must be what Miller is implying. After all, what else can be critical for development if the hard part of the science is already achieved?

But wait, some of you may be thinking that the science is NOT complete until a successful phase 3 is complete, and more. Rightly so, but phase 3 doesn't even begin without a commercialization scope insight. Yes, there is still a lot of science to be performed, and its not over until the last trial patients results are known, which is still likely two years away, but unless there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, phase 3 will never eventuate, and a CMO would not be required. Phase 3, if performed with a major pharma, requires significant commercialization principles considered from day one.

Now we have a bright spark from industry, who will carry the torch into the next stage: phase 3 and all it entails. My guess is that he will lead the charge here, enlisting the US partner etc. He seems to be the perfect candidate, with all his HIV research and industry experience.

COVID?

I had an ugly thought recently. Biotron is NOT investigating C19, but only said that it was because they had recently patented technology on corona-viruses, and it would seem strange, even unethical, if they didn't test their compounds on the new strain of virus. But secretly, they're doing nothing with it.

Then I woke up from my nightmare. Such are sleeps outside the cave. My leave in the brighter world was short lived, and as you can see from my gastly dream, it doesn't suit this flying marsupial too well. But returning now to what I know best.

Initial results pending. Your guess is as good as mine. As for my personal research into the latest science, it is proceeding slowly. But I will say this: there is significant early evidence that viroporin activity plays a critical role in the cytokine process. That's all for now.