Antisoma (LSE: ASM.L - news) shares could double if the ovarian cancer drug, R1549, is successful, and halve if it is not says the Independent. Given the probability of success, reckoned to be about 65%, that looks a gamble worth taking says the paper.

Had a small dabble with ASM again, interesting 2008 ahead.
3 brokers rate as a strong buy.

Looking good.

RPT Antisoma H1 pretax profit 4.1 mln stg vs 7.5 mln loss UPDATE
AFX


(Repeating to amend currency in Novartis deal from stg to usd)

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Cancer specialist Antisoma PLC, which today unveiled a swing to profits at the half-way stage, said it has the means to invest in its pipeline and sees 2008 as a 'significant' year with cash resources at the end of December of 50.4 mln stg, up from 33.6 mln a year earlier.

The funds come from a 75 mln usd payment from Novartis from a global licensing deal for its vascular disrupting agent ASA404 which Antisoma is booking as revenue on a time-apportioned basis between April 2007 and June 2008, with 25 mln usd still to come.

In the first half, the UK-based company booked a pretax profit of 4.1 mln stg against a loss of 7.5 mln stg last time, on revenues of 16.5 mln stg vs 0.3 mln last time.

In a separate announcement, the company, which specialises in buying in early stage drug candidates and progressing them into clinical development to commercialise or partner with a major company, also reported that it had entered a Phase I trial of AS1409 in renal cancer and melanoma.

AS1409 becomes the fourth drug that the company has entered into clinical trials, on top of ASA404, which is partnered with Novartis and set to enter late-stage trials for lung cancer, the leukaemia drug AS1411, which is in mid-stage trials, and the breast cancer drug AS1402 which is set to enter mid-stage trials later this year.

Chairman Barry Price said in the earnings statement this morning: '2008 promises to be a significant year for Antisoma, with ASA404 progressing to phase III and other drugs advancing through development.

'With a strong balance sheet, we are well placed to invest in and add value to our current pipeline and to add further promising drugs to our portfolio when opportunities arise.'

Up 13% this should now head back to 50p+

Still on the up 21.4% at midday.

was too cheap at 24p before christmas, too much going on and possible take-over target

with Dow weak this evening (at the mo) it is likely that ASM will be on offer cheaper tomorrow

ING has reviewed the European Biotechs which includes a buy recommendation on Antisoma (LSE: ASM.L - news) (62p price target) and says hold Vernalis (11p price target)

Initiation triggers USD 25 million milestone payment from Novartis

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20080411063000H8407.html

Antisoma unveils pre-clinical data supporting AS1411
AFX


LONDON (Thomson Financial) - UK smallcap cancer drug developer Antisoma Plc. unveiled pre-clinical data of its anti-nucleolin aptamer drug AS1411.

At a presentation to the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), the company said AS1411 killed cells of blood cancer cell lines, including leukaemias, lymphomas and a myeloma, of which three were Burkitt's lymphoma lines.

Also, the AS1411-doxorubicin combination produced synergistic killing of the lymphoma cells.

Research director Dr Fiona McLaughlin said: 'These new data provide further support for our AS1411-cytarabine combination trial in AML, and also illustrate the broader potential of AS1411 against a range of haematological malignancies.'

TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com

London, UK, and Boston, MA: 16 May 2008 Cancer-focused biotechnology
company Antisoma plc (LSE: ASM; US OTC: ATSMY) today announces that
it has entered into an agreement to acquire private US oncology
company Xanthus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in an all-share deal valued at
GBP 26.8 million (USD 52.2 million). Simultaneously, Antisoma has
executed a fundraising that will provide an additional GBP 20.9
million before expenses to the Enlarged Group.

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20080516080900H0000.html

Antisoma now gaining critical mass in its field, looking very good for the future now.

what on earth happened today??

Dread to think! Luckily don't hold currently but this has been a promising-looking company. AZM looked as though it might follow at one point, but then regained its composure somewhat

Been holding since before Christmas and will continue to hold, so much going with ASM, it seems to move around from 22p-28p at moment but no apparent reason for fall today, very strange.

Particularly strange in view of today's news:

"London, UK, 29 May 2008 - Antisoma (LSE:ASM; USOTC:ATSMY) announces
that it has received a milestone payment of USD 25 million from
Novartis. This was triggered by the recent initiation of a phase III
trial of ASA404 in non-small cell lung cancer."

I thought I was the only one here more the merrier.

London, UK, 30 May 2008 - Antisoma (LSE:ASM; USOTC:ATSMY) announces
today details of two presentations on ASA404 that will be made at the
upcoming 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO):

Abstract no. 8072 (poster) Comparison of safety and efficacy between
squamous and non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
in phase II studies of DMXAA (ASA404); M. J. McKeage, M. B. Jameson,
AS1404-201 Study Group Investigators; on Sunday 1 June, 2-6pm - Board
45c, in S Hall A1.

Abstract no. 5007 (oral presentation) Addition of DMXAA (ASA404) to
docetaxel in patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate
cancer (HRMPC): update from a randomized, phase II study; R. Pili, M.
Rosenthal, AS1404-203 study group investigators; on Monday 2 June,
11.30-11.45am in Clinical Science Symposium on 'Novel antiangiogenic
mechanisms' in Room W375a.

Investor`s Chronicle - 2 June 2008

Antisoma announced that it has further data supporting its lung cancer treatment in an indication that represents just under half of sufferers, giving it a big competitive edge over the existing lung cancer treatment, Genentech's Avastin.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women, and is responsible for about 1.3 million deaths annually. Antisoma is developing a lung cancer vaccine alongside partner Novartis that treats both squamous and non-squamous indications. In contrast, Genentech's Avastin only treats less severe non-squamous sufferers, who represent just over half of all sufferers.

Antisoma's shares rose just over 6 per cent to 23p in response to the positive
news, but it has been a bumpy ride; its shares have more than halved in the past 12 months.

In a rare move in the depressed UK biotech sector, two weeks ago Antisoma announced the 27m share based acquisition of US late stage vaccine developer Xanthus. KBC Peel Hunt analyst, Paul Cuddon, said that the transaction was "very positive" for Antisoma because of the strength of Xanthus' portfolio, with one drug at the marketing approval stage by the US Food and Drug Administration. He increased his valuation from 40p to 46p.


SHARE TIP UPDATE :

We advised buying Antisoma shares at 27p (11 April 2008). Antisoma still has high cash holdings, and with the result of its leukaemia treatment (AS1411) trial also due this quarter, we maintain our buy recommendation.

Antisoma plc

Directors' Share Dealing

9 June 2008, London, UK: Antisoma plc ("Antisoma" or the "Company")
(LSE: ASM; USOTC: ATSMY), the cancer drug developer, announces that
both Dr Barry Price, Chairman and Glyn Edwards, CEO, have purchased
ordinary shares of 1p each in the Company as follows:


+------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Director |Date of |Amount |Price |Total amount |% of Company |
| |transaction |of shares |(p) |of |held |
| | |purchased | |shares held |following the|
| | | | |in the |transaction |
| | | | |Company | |
| | | | |following | |
| | | | |the | |
| | | | |transaction | |
|----------+-------------+-----------+-------+-------------+-------------|
|Dr Barry |06.06.2008 |100,000 |22.25 |743,077 |0.17% |
|Price | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
|----------+-------------+-----------+-------+-------------+-------------|
|Glyn |06.06.2008 |470,000 |21.25 |2,140,000 |0.48% |
|Edwards | | | | | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Have actually got back into this - looking good again.