Dicerna is about to hold its annual R&D day tonight and, for
the first time, reveal the status of their version of GalNAc-RNAi trigger
conjugates. To wit, when Dicerna
licensed LNP technology from Tekmira for their primary hyperoxaluria
development candidate, it concurrently announced that future development
candidates will be based on GalNAc conjugate technology.
For stock market investors, the big question is whether the
data suggest sufficient maturity and competitiveness compared to the more
famous GalNAc-siRNAs by Alnylam. If
Dicerna can show tonight robust and prolonged knockdowns in non-human primates,
e.g. in the form of an ~80% PCSK9 knockdown after 30 days with less than 10mg/kg, Dicerna could
be viewed as a great Alnylam catch-up investment. This is because such maturity would allow
Dicerna, which sports a market cap just 1/30 that of Alnylam, to rapidly expand
its liver-directed pipeline.
Scientifically, this should be possible although the
requirement for prior Dicer processing of Dicerna’s, but not Alnylam’s RNAi
triggers could impose limitations as to the extent of nucleic acid
modifications. It is a high degree of stability and consequently
modifications that has been key to Alnylam’s recent technology progress.
On the other hand, an unanticipated upside would be if Dicerna could reveal
advantages over Alnylam’s technology that are a direct reflection of it using a
slightly longer RNAi trigger.
Disclosure: long DRNA.
Disclosure: long DRNA.
5 comments:
Rossi was the founder of DRNA at the time he was on the SAB of Benitec. The question to ask is how much of Benitec know how and technology is incorporated in to what DRNA do?
If substantial, then Dirk is unwittingly giving BLT kudos by talking up DRNA's book.
Voyager may yet have to pay that licence to little ol' Benny if Kay et. al. want to sit at the same table as DRNA, BLUE etc.
BLT were due to receive data on their HCV trial over the Xmas break.
On Xmas Eve, they apparently filed notice of something. If the post is to be believed it could be a takeover bid and no short selling is allowed.
It could easily be the HCV data set, FDA authority to continue or heavens forbid, authority to fast track to market or a combination thereof.
Whatever it is, the market response will be interesting.
Oh please.... Get your silly facts right. The six weeks was only up on Xmas Day. The data is to be assessed and reported on in due course. IE; at LEAST a week, probably two. Notice was received late on the 23rd. Read announcements and you will find the data and dosing will be announced simultaneously. No wonder Benitec get a ribbing here..... Holders ramping away without due diligence. There is no new notice.
Every mention of Benitec is the beginning of amateur hour.
There is not a single thing they can get right in their communications and most of the board have already quit and moved on without saying as much.
But my question is, if the sophisticated North American investors like R.A. Capital are in control of the company then why is it every erroneous document has Yuk-Ching Chung as its author? Regardless of whether or not it has been signed off by the secretary, the CEO or contracted PR company.
Add to that, even the CSIRO have yielded on holding its equity stake. Soon, post takeover I expect, they will relinquish IP prosecution rights as well.
I guess this is why Voyager can operate with so much confidence without taking a licence.
Plastic .... err, Rubra, you just can't let BLT go can you? Benitec's press releases have exactly what to do with the science. ddRNAi is the most elegant platform in gene therapy. Hopefully they will silence you as well.
Post a Comment