niman knows more than who, page-4

Here is just a small part of the actual report from Norway Public Health....dated 4th March, 2010. See at very bottom...(my brief comments immediately follow, and copy of email to Biota):

11 out of 61 cases of severe and fatal influenza analysed in Norway...contain 222G mutation, and therefore do not respond to Tamiflu...ref: WHO and CDC.

And this from Norway, in the report:

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19498
------
" A specific mutation in the viral haemagglutinin (D222G) was found with considerable frequency in fatal and severe cases in Norway,..."
------

How many more severe cases were not tested in Norway or countless other countries?....what of the future for spread of the mutation?

Biota management sitting on a wonderful (and to a large degree proven new drug - LANI )that would avoid the situation for these very sick people.

Biota taking some time indeed to close a LANI license, hoping no doubt to close a great commercial deal for its stakeholders.

.....well as a significant shareholder (and part owner) in Biota, am somewhat uncomfortable here....in view of what has happened in Norway for starters.

-----------------
Its easy to be cynical of ones motives here:...but see copy of my email to Biota mgment, and will leave it at that.
____________________________________________________

Attn Mr P Cook

I own .....shares in Biota.

As a shareholder, and significant part owner of Biota, I have concerns about the time its taking for the commercial rollout of LANI.ie finding a partner and further western trials.

See very recent copy of a link from Norway government detailng 222 mutations, which as you are aware resist the anti viral drug Tamiflu. You would also be aware of World Health discussions on the development of this mutations......albeit currently at a slow rate, but other independant noteworthy research, suggesting potential for more future wide spread 222 mutation.

Biota has previously advised that some degree of discussion has taken place with the CDC. re LANI. I am concerned that Biota has not done enough, with regard to having the drug go to market and to a large degree, help to avoid the Norway situation. Inadequate information has been provided by the company, to form any balanced views on tis matter.

I would suggest to you that the company has responsibilities here, as I feel in contacting you here. It is obvious to all, wat the drug offers.

I do not understand if Biota is acting quickly enough to get the product into the market, and indeed if commercial considerations are being put disproportionately ahead of its health benefits.

I will await your advice.

Regards

NAME
PHONE

_____________________________________________________


Eurosurveillance, Volume 15, Issue 9, 04 March 2010
Rapid communications
Observed association between the HA1 mutation D222G in the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus and severe clinical outcome, Norway 2009-2010
A Kilander1, R Rykkvin1, S G Dudman1, O Hungnes ()1
1.Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway






Infection with the recently emerged pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus causes mild disease in the vast majority of cases, but sporadically also very severe disease. A specific mutation in the viral haemagglutinin (D222G) was found with considerable frequency in fatal and severe cases in Norway, but was virtually absent among clinically mild cases. This difference was statistically significant and our data are consistent with a possible causal relationship between this mutation and the clinical outcome.


The 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic has been characterised by mild and self-limiting disease in the overwhelming majority of cases. However, severe and fatal cases, many of them with primary viral pneumonia, have been occurring in age groups where such clinical outcomes are very rarely seen in seasonal influenza [1,2]. It is important to better understand what viral and host-related factors determine this dichotomy.