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.

From another board courtesy of Mike111

I took the opportunity to make contact with ASM today, to clarify why GE had not presented at the Piper Jaffray conference on Friday and as I had suspected there was nothing sinister to this. It was a late change to his schedule which prevented him from being there and had he presented he would have gone through the same presentation delivered recently at the Rodman & Renshaw conference.

This did then allow me to address some other points which I have summarised below:

Since releasing the updated trial data on November 8th the company have witnessed sustained / increasing interest from potential licensees for AS1404
They are benefiting from the pipeline challenges faced by the major pharmas and in particular interest from those companies who have had recent issues with their own clinical trial programs
They continue to make excellent progress with negotiations for AS1404 and closure of a deal in 2006 does remain a very real possibility
Given that they have multiple options i.e. more than one interested partner, they remain committed to securing the best overall deal and will ensure that what is signed is in the best interests of all shareholders even if this takes a little longer
Comment was made that whilst ASM have always understood the value of AS1404, potential partners have now come to appreciate and accept this as well
In terms of recent trading in the stock, the company are aware that there has been increased institutional activity, as witnessed by the multitude of larger trades
At this time, they are not aware of any new notifiable interests being taken up
In particular, they have seen an increase in institutional interest from the specialist healthcare funds both in Europe and in the US. Apparently these fund managers have commented to ASM that they perceive the current share price to be low in relation to the value attaching to the companies assets i.e. primarily the value attaching to the trial data for AS1404

The bottom line is that ASM are now very close to closing the deal and at current levels this IMHO rates as a very strong buy no advice intended and DYOR.

London, UK, and Orlando, FL, 11 December 2006 - Antisoma today
announces that it is advancing AS1411 into a phase II

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20061211070000H2446.html

Very big volume today also in the Smallcap Index as of today.

Holding(s) in Company
http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20061212084800H2736.html

Antisoma raises 26.3 mln stg in placing
AFX

LONDON (AFX) - Antisoma PLC has raised 26.3 mln stg in a share placing, to fund continuing ongoing research into its portfolio of experimental cancer drugs.

The company said a placing of almost 74 mln new shares with new and existing shareholders, at 35.5 pence each, was oversubscribed.

The price is a slight discount to yesterday's closing share price of 39 pence.

amy.brown@afxnews.com

ab/slm

Nice bit of money raised, and oversubscribed all good news for ASM.

From the FT today:

Back in good health after Roche move upsets market
By Salamander Davoudi

Published: December 16 2006 02:00 | Last updated: December 16 2006 02:00

Shares in Antisoma, one of the oldest UK biotechnology companies, have had their ups and downs this year but during the past three months have skyrocketed more than 150 per cent. Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical company, last June handed back its purchase rights to Antisoma's key lung cancer drug, AS1404, and the rights to a drug for breast cancer. The markets reacted badly fearing the company would have to raise more funding to continue drug development. But the shares have since recovered on the back of positive data from a Phase II trial of AS1404. Glyn Edwards, Antisoma chief executive, has boosted confidence by indicating he is near to completing an agreement to replace Roche in order to fund the Phase III trials for AS1404. Given the high demand for cancer drugs, the future of the company could be very rosy if the drug is successful. Analysts have forecast that peak sales of AS1404 could be as high as $1bn. The company yesterday raised 26.3m in a placing with European and US institutions. The news sent the shares down 3.8 per cent to 37p - a small irritant for investors who have seen the stock come good. Salamander Davoudi

Topped up today it looks like we have hopefully hit bottom.

Some very big trades today 250k and 800k

A lot of buying today 3m, ASM is looking very strong for the next leg up.

sp regaining strength long term chart looking good break out at about 41p could come soon.

Breaking out news iminent? may be on AS1404

Tuesday January 16, 07:49 AM
Antisoma "buy," target price raised
LONDON, January 16 (newratings.com) - Analyst Mark Clark of ING Financial Markets reiterates his "buy" rating on Antisoma Plc (ticker: ASM (Milan: ASM.MI - news)

The 12-month target price has been raised from 45p to 58p.


In a research note published this morning, the analyst mentions that Antisoma (LSE: ASM.L - news) 's recent equity placement has raised 26.3 million before expenses, which has improved the company's risk profile. The placement has lowered time pressures on Antisoma for entering into a partnership for the AS1404 drug, ING Financial Markets says. The upward revision in the target price also reflects a shift in the base year, the analyst adds.

Antisoma to present at the BIO CEO conference

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20070207120000H2999.html

A bit old but explains the sp rise.

From The Business Magazine...

SANOFI-AVENTIS and AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giants, have opened talks with Antisoma, a British biotech firm, to license its revolutionary new cancer treatment.

Pfizer is also thought to be potentially interested in Antisomas product, which is being tested for use in the treatment of lung, prostate and ovarian cancer and could generate sales of $1.6bn (E1.23bn, 812m) a year.

The drug, currently known as AS1404, is in the third and final stages of clinical trials for lung cancer. Third stage trials for ovarian and prostate cancer will begin this year.

It works in combination with chemotherapy drugs by cutting off the blood supply to tumours, ensuring that they stop growing. This enables doctors to use lower doses of chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin and Bristol-Myers Squibbs Taxol. The treatment has the advantage of leaving the area surrounding the tumour untouched, and will hopefully reduce the negative side effects of chemotherapy.

In the second phase of trials, patients being treated with AS1404 and chemotherapy drugs survived for over five months longer than those only using chemotherapy. Long term survival rates are not yet known.

Interest in the drug intensified after the announcement of positive data on the second stage of clinical trials. At one point the company was speaking to around 40 partners.

Glyn Edwards, Antisomas chief executive, confirmed that the company was in talks with a number of potential partners. He said: Until a deal is done, I cant name any names. AstraZeneca declined to comment. A Sanofi-Aventis spokesperson said: At this stage we cant comment.

The company is likely to receive an upfront deal of around $80m, a $200m plus sum on successful delivery of the drug to market, and between 20% and 25% of the drugs royalties.

A nice 339k buy today some things going down.

Webcast 12/02/2007 presentation. AS1404 With block buster prudential

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/VirtualPlayerFST.zhtml?c=133673&EventId=1466859&WebCastId=618261&StreamId=849066&id=&IndexId=&EID_TIK=&RGT=&RGS=1&CTID=

ASM; USOTC: ATSMY) announces its interim financial information for
the period ended 31 December 2006.

Highlights

AS1404
* Positive data from phase II trials
o Median survival extended by 5 months in lung cancer
o Positive initial findings in ovarian and prostate
cancers
* Preparations ongoing for phase III trial in lung cancer
* Good progress in talks with potential marketing partners

AS1411
* Progressing to phase II trials in renal cancer and acute
myeloid leukaemia (AML)
o Phase I trial shows promising activity in renal cancer
o Phase I trial provides further evidence for favourable
safety profile
o AS1411 demonstrates potency against cancer cells from
AML patients

AS1409

* Renal cancer and melanoma selected as initial indications for
phase I testing


Financial highlights

* 24.8 million net of expenses raised in oversubscribed placing
* Cash and liquid resources at 31 December 2006 of 33.6 million
(31 December 2005: 23.6 million, 30 June 2006: 14.9 million)
* Operating loss for the six months ended 31 December 2006 of 7.8
million (six months ended 31 December 2005: 9.6 million)

Dr Barry Price, Chairman of Antisoma, said: "Antisoma ended 2006 on a
high, having announced positive data from three phase II trials of
AS1404 and completed an oversubscribed placing. In 2007 we look
forward to further trial data, progression of four drugs to the next
phase of development and the conclusion of a major licensing deal for
AS1404."

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20070215070100H5255.html

50p reached break out time.

1.1m trade at 50p some things going down.

Antisoma says Phase II trial of prostate cancer drug shows 'promising' results

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/20070223070000H7337.html