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.

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.

Out of these and into SKP