...and take a look at Merck Sharp Dohme's latest Clinical Trials...

...and take a look at Merck Sharp Dohme's latest Clinical Trials update (on 9 June 2014).

They have commenced Phase 1 recruiting with their candidate RV16UB:

"Study to Evaluate the Safety and Use of Human Rhinovirus in Healthy and Asthmatic Participants"

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01866306?term=rhinovirus&rank=10&submit_fld_opt=

Vapendavir is (as discussed) ahead of the pack and has passed all tests with flying colours.

At Phase III ready, I would suggest that RP and JP should be 'playing it again Sam' in door-knocking the big pharmas.  The last time they did this, they achieved a bonanza in selling Inhibitex.

Now the wild card - consider Merck further - quite an interesting story unfolding with them.  They have just acquired Idenix for almost $US4 Bn to access their Hep C candidates...

...anyone remember Idenix?  They were pitched as one of the possible Biota merger partners a few years back.

Now we have Merck buying into the HCV space via a company Biota was referenced to a few years back.  We also have Merck initiating a Phase 1 HRV trial (while Biota sits on Vapendavir at Phase III ready).

Idenix - 1st April 2014 $5.51 and now 12 June 2014 $23.60

Err - hello Russ.  Have you spoken to Roger Perlmutter lately?  (President of Merck)