Any ideas anyone?

Broker T&G initiating coverage with buy and price target of........120p . Should get the share back to above 50p even in these markets

Here comes the move , some sniffy buying after report digested ??

55p bid --- nice 23% return --- moving to LRL for similar

From Boxing Day's Independent:

Cactus that promises to curb the appetite


By Cahal Milmo


Published:26 December 2006








A multi-million pound race between the world's biggest food companies is under way to tackle the global obesity epidemic by producing the first clinically-tested "satiety pill".


Three conglomerates - the Anglo-Dutch firm Unilever, France's Danone and Kraft in America - are researching compounds to achieve the hallowed goal of inducing people to eat less by suppressing their appetite.


With 300 million people worldwide rated as overweight or obese, the annual global cost of treatment and economic loss from the epidemic is now 100bn.


Scientists are increasingly placing their hopes in a range of natural substances which have the effect of duping the brain into "satiety" - the feeling of a full stomach. In the last 12 months, patents have been given appetite-suppressing extracts including Korean pine nuts and chicory roots. But at the head of the race to cash in on the 3bn worldwide market for dietary control products is Hoodia gordonii - a spiny cactus, which takes five years to mature in the Kalahari desert.


Hoodia contains a secret weapon - a compound known as P57 which has been isolated by a British bio-technology company, Phytopharm, and is now at the heart of a 21m research scheme funded by Unilever.


Phytopharm announced last month that it was making good progress in clinical trials of P57. The cucumber-like core of the Hoodia has been used for centuries by indigenous San tribesmen to stave off hunger pangs. They eat it on long hunting trips.


Unilever has struck a deal with the San to pay the tribe a royalty from the sales of any product containing P57 to be used in a social programme.


Phytopharm, which will also receive a royalty on sales of all products containing its Hoodia extract, warned last month that it was talking with authorities to curtail the sale of "Hoodia" products on the internet which claim to cause weight loss. Unilever is working to launch a range of "hunger buster" products based on Hoodia in 2009.


Phytopharm found that the compound closely mimics a natural substance in the body which sends a satiety message to the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls appetite.


Trials have shown that those taking P57 can cut their consumption by as much as 1,000 calories per day. The recommended calorie total for an adult man is 2,500 per day and for a woman, 2,000. A Unilever spokesman said: "We don't want to put our name to something that is not backed 100 per cent by the science behind it. We are now satisfied that the product works and has the potential to help with weight management."


The cash and energy being pumped into Unilever's project is mirrored by its rivals. Danone has patented new types of dietary fibre which slow the passage of food through the digestive system, making people feel full for longer. Kraft is working on a special form of starch which resists being broken down by the body, again designed to create the sense that the stomach is full.


But a senior executive with one conglomerate told The Independent: "Satiety has the potential to be one of the biggest earners of the next five years."


Many of the substances, including P57, work by affecting a mechanism in the ileum, part of the lower intestine, where the presence of fat triggers a response of satiety to the brain.


This "ileal brake" is triggered or mimicked by the compounds by disguising the fat molecules until they reach the ileum. In one case, the body is convinced it has consumed 500 calories when in reality it has had just 190.


However, according to Gary Frost, professor of nutrition and dietetics at Surrey University, humans have a "squirreling" instinct which encourages them to eat to excess in preparation for times of food scarcity. "There is a sense that for the company or companies that can isolate a proven appetite suppressant, there is a market waiting that would entail the vast majority of the population," he said. "It is a glittering prize but a controversial one - can you confidently say that one food will halt your desire for another?"


Neville Rigby, spokesman for the International Obesity Task Force, said: "The key to tackling obesity is eating decent food and balancing your calorie intake with the amount of energy you burn. There is no magic bullet."

Moving up over last few days, is this because more good news is likely? I suspect not, since the co just ann. their canine product is going World-wide (soon), but it might be anticipation of income towards the end of 2007.

The previous wrier is dismissing the appetite suppressant by sugesting humans will resist any attempt...etc.
It is a "magic bullet" IF you can find that part of us that says we are full - but I suspect we may see a situation where our appetite is "remapped" so that the hunger is overcome at lower levels of satisfaction. The problem fat people have is that they have stretched their stomachs - so more food is needed to reach the point of satisfaction....by allowing the satisfaction to come sooner (the amount based on their intake of this replacement food) they will be able to let the stomach reduce in size so they can find goodness in "healthier" foods. Presently they crave fats because these produce the "satisfaction" that we humans crave. It is this "remapping" that I'm hoping is at the foundation of the hoodia commercial product.
(That product has to have a balance of nutrients so anyone that switches to it will remain "balanced" at least until they can eat normally.)
Of course the key to obesity is ...to eat less (to match your exercise, etc), -but this is the goal...not the route. Without help, the route would be extremely painful as few of us can reduce our intake ( say by one third), .....even though it would "probably" be good for us.
The key, IMHO for normal people is alway to keep a little bit of hunger present, that way you know you haven't overdone it. However, what served past generations (the storing of fats for winter) is not needed, since we have food in the shops all-year.
I hold PYM and hope their products are successful, but the market over-hyped the SP until 2005, since when its been under 1 (and often under 50p) which is right IMHO for a co. with no turnover.
I suspect the "biggie" is a few years away, but now might be the time to tuck away.

For whatever reason this has moved up 20% in two days on relatively low volume.
Nearly bought at 40p (bugger!!) but will keep an eye on this, maybe another milestone payment is due or announcement about a product launch?

No need to worry - you can pick them up far lower (32p today) - it seems that late October has brought on the Spectre of Options - - - laughingly said to be part of the incentive-plan - - - So where is mine? - all I recall is the sp slipping and prior promises left hanging in the air.
This sp was well over 1 not that long ago. Promises of a cure for obesity looked good, but they were reluctant to sell anything, preferring to do a deal with Big Pharma - ah yes, but I suspect BP found the stuff was too expensive, so they had to do a deal with a "foodie" - - and as far as I know that has been very silent.
Grr.

EDIT. Dec.'07:-
I read that things are progressing, but there seems to be little interest here/elsewhere, as this is a long-time event. The dog-treatment is doing OK and the Food additive looks to be undergoing trials, still.

Not much to report beyond the EDIT of Dec 07.....
-Apart from a fundraising at 22p - quite dilutive! (March 2008).

-and within two months we are seeing the sp matching the Discounted Rights Issue......Oh no, is this another bad investment?

MM's push the sp up 3% on zero volume - 17p to buy - Will I?

Hey-Ho and up they go,
Ho-Hum and Down they come.

Hello, PYM,...
Let's know what you are doing with this( Rights issue at 22p), money - is it holiday-break time, I wonder?

PYM received notice of termination of employment contract
from Daryl Rees, Chief Executive Officer,
and Piers Morgan, Chief Financial Officer.
(sp is down 15% on zero volume - MM's playing with us.)


- FWIW - To lose one Director is carelessness, but TWO is a disaster.
CEO and FD both walk - could this be the beginning of a real bust-up at this serial-loser?
+They had 22p(Rights) from shareholders and this is now 9p - Grr.
EDIT (17Nov08)- 7.5p to Buy today after a sale of 3k, it falls 25% - then, later Buys=3k qnd it's up to +30% - How can this Full-Mkt stock move so much on just 3k deals?I Guess at these levels this is a Bargain, but I'm fearful this Management has been smoking the stuff (-oops!).
EDIT(19Nov08)- up 25% on zero trades -Huh!
EDIT(9Dec08)- down 20% on Sales just over 1k.
EDIT(10Dec08)- up 13% on zero volume, [4.5--6.5p]
EDIT (30Jan09) - down 14% on zero-volume (3.75p,mid. what a Shower!)
EDIT(20May09) - up on general Market rise; then down today - losses increase - isn't this a hopeless business (despite the Fido-treatment.).
EDIT-(12Jn09)- Recent results look pertty dire - in effect a tiny turnover and a mildly staggering loss! Yikes! What it is saying is that for the last 10-years we've been asleep, hoping something would turn up. What I continue to wonder about is why Hoodia isn't a stonking success... does it taste really foul? - - - or is it easy to "overdose" on it? - - What would be the OD effect? - surely any medicine causes difficulties if you take all the tablets in one hit?
EDIT(8Jy09)-a Buy of 225(plus charges) pushes the sp 11% - Oh deary.
EDIT (13Oct09)-rise of 22% on No News, yet Buys are 8x Sells, for a change.
EDIT(14Oct09)- Ah yes, Drug success, which we only know today.[=up 330%!!! on Buys barely 2x Sells, IMHO this is MM's ...making Hay].#
EDIT (15Oct09)-oddly the sp is marked down, yet the Buys are nearly 1/3 more than Sells...Odd.
EDIT (19Oct09)-Buys?Sells evens, yet MM's push sp 11%, prob on Broker 50p assumption . . . er? [ 24p today]

Studies offer hope for Phytopharm Parkinson's treatment

KBC Peel Hunt doubles Phytopharm TP to 50p on Cogane results, keeps buy

WOW---who was lucky enough to be holding this one today! Looks as though all pxs fans have found another star and it can go into your isa. I'm in for a few before the US open. It might fall back but the treatment/success looks good.

Its the first 'doubler' in a day I've had since those heady tech days!

UPDATE: Phytopharm Shares Soar On Early Cogane Promise





(Adds detail on drug's potential, analyst comment, stock rating)


By Jason Douglas
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Shares in drug maker Phytopharm PLC (PYM.LN) more than quadrupled Wednesday after it said its experimental Parkinson's disease treatment Cogane showed promise in two early-stage studies.

Phytopharm said a study funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a Parkinson's research charity founded by the Hollywood actor, showed use of Cogane led to a 43% reduction in Parkinson's symptoms among monkeys given a drug to replicate those symptoms.

This type of study in monkeys is considered the gold-standard model for assessing experimental Parkinson's medicines before testing them on humans, according to Jonathan Brochtie, a senior scientist at Toronto West Hospital who conducted the study.

"Cogane holds the promise to be the first in a new class of treatments," he said.

A second study in a small number of healthy human volunteers showed Cogane was safe and also demonstrated some evidence of pharmacological activity, Phytopharm said.

The firm now plans a phase II clinical study of Cogane in patients next year.

At 1435 GMT, shares in Phytopharm were 18.87 pence higher at 25 pence, making it the biggest riser in a 0.5% higher FTSE Fledging index.

Cogane is far from starting the big human trials needed to win regulatory approval. But Paul Cuddon, an analyst at Phytopharm's broker KBC Peel Hunt, said the results of these trials show real promise because this type of primate trial has been shown to be "highly predictive" of a similar response in humans. He rates the stock "buy" and Wednesday upped his price target to 50 pence from 25 pence.

It has been a tough year for Phytopharm. The stock has languished ever since a planned collaboration with Unilever NV (UNA.AE) to develop a Slim Fast diet drink based on the hoodia plant was called off last November.

Robin Davison, an analyst at Edison Investment Research, said Wednesday's share price rise shows investors are still interested in Phytopharm.

"The company has shown it still has a drug, where previously people had written them off," said Davison.

It might also signal renewed interest in the U.K. small-cap drug sector, which has suffered from a dearth of funds and several company failures, he added.

Company Web site: www.phytopharm.com

IMHO, ....you can forget the 4x jump in sp - it was the ONLY good news (any ?) we've had since the shares were 1....way back when they thought their product would cure obesity....can anyone remember how many years that was ago..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clearly rubbish, it limps on . . . . . . . . . . . .

Now they have the nerve to build-up prospects of untold wealth on the basis of a phI result (ie it doen't kill you).....and this fundraising will be hugely dilutive.....

I really wonder if this isn't "...more of the same..." - - - I really object to phrases like "...potentially addresses a large and as of yet unmet medical need..." - this adds nothing to the effacy of their product, it is IMHO mere puff, or at worse it's ramping, - even before the Trials are mid-way. Not the expected PR from a full-list company.
=Grr.
FWIW, I note the Co says the money will be used for various operational uses as well as PhII trials - and the risk of failure is huge even from the start of PhII.
Maybe wait for the documents . . . .
DYOR

pym despite its problems in the past has huge potential for cognane - potential market of billions - so far trials gone well - also has other products - just need some more patience - personally i am going to give pym to end 2010 to improve sp with hopefully decent rns throughout the year - should reach 50p imo easily - slow share clinical trials etc take time - more patience needed - sorry for anyone who bought in 30p+ - i will be taking my 8 for 3 placement / open offer

gibby, are you sure - for there is "no evidence" ( ie "yet") that their product works.
However, there is evidence the sp has been pushed up prior to the RNS - and I don't like this - just review the volume from a week prior....

I accept yr timescale - "end-of2010" - in a year there should be some "news" - but it won't be very much to impress current holders who have been massivly diluted by this Offer.

Furthermore, I recall reading that when a stock is "hot" the City can raise all the funds req'd. Only when it might "stick" are the investors asked....

Maybe we'll have to Agree to Disagree; as I'm tempted to ignore this Attractive Offer.....and maybe put the money to a nice present to Me, like a 12MP digital Camera......and a nice holiday into the sun, before I can't move for Carbon-Permits.

hangon - i agree its a risk but arent all shares - i am actually only trading with pym from other share profits so if it goes belly up the worst i will do is off set the loss against my cgt - trust me i know pyms history so aware of risk, but invesco for as an example have taken up their full entitlement through their iaml vechicle & if its good enough for them + my research its good enough for me - they have also guaranteed to take up any oo shares not taken up by pi's i believe - but will see how 2010 goes - i am very confident but happy to eat huge slice of humble pie if i am wrong - any how i hope your dealing goes well and profitable where ever you may invest - pym are not my only investment - lots of opportunities out there as i am sure you are aware - GL

Presents data at XVIII WFN World Congress


GODMANCHESTER, Cambridgeshire, U.K. (14 December 2009) - Phytopharm plc (LSE: PYM) ("Phytopharm" or the "Company") announces that Dr Jonathan Brotchie will present data from a "gold-standard" non-clinical study of Cogane, a promising novel oral treatment for Parkinson's disease, at the 50th WFN World Congress on Parkinson's Disease and Related Disorders, which is taking place in Miami from 13 - 16 December.


The outcome of this study, an overall 43% decrease in parkinsonian symptoms over 18 weeks administration of Cogane, was first reported by Phytopharm on 14 October 2009 along with the results of a successful safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic trial in healthy volunteers and patients with Parkinson's disease.


Dr Brotchie, a senior scientist at Toronto Western Hospital, who conducted the trials, is a recognised expert in the field of Parkinson's disease and runs one of the world's premier research laboratories for the identification of novel treatments, diagnostics and cures for Parkinson's disease and related disorders.