BTG's upbeat close period update (imo) further confirms the turnaround.
With recurring royalty revenues expected to be up by about 5% and R&D spend in line, and a product pipeline to die for, i believe they are cheap, and a real growth stock for the future.
Any comments.

+++and the new co is up 5%
(incidently I did start a new thread for the New Company - "Happy New Year", so we could refer to the new (enlarged) business, without getting historical references to the separate businesses - they are all ONE, now.)
Also, I suspect PTI directors were not quite as open as one might like on the matter of cash to push forward, as I wasn't sure Crofab income was more than petty-cash, being a limitied market with little expansion prospect ( but with a small risk of a competitor, or improved snake-management, etc.).

Hangon,

Yes, nice rise. Also thanks re the new thread. Did not know it referred to BTG.
Any chance of changing it to BTG 2 or something as newbies may not know where to go.

If not, no prob, I will help spread the word.

Good trading update.

As many on here know I was strongly against PTI selling out (as I put it) to BTG. Whilst not ready yet to change my opinion, it is beginning to look like it was a good deal after all. Does not matter the price level paid for PTI shares, which at the time I thought was too low, if the end product means that the deal brings better and bigger profits to the share holder.

Hopefully within the next 12 months or sooner I will be able to hold my hands up and say I was wrong, it was a good deal.

Nice of you to say greekman, I'm still holding; I guess we're still on this thread.
The Update was onwards and upwards, without any back-bighting that can come from a joining of businesses, with their internal "empires".
However, I didn't get the impression they were slimming-down Management, probably best to see how things pan out and where Execs can expand into newer roles....so it's still looking good, IMHO. I did have shares in both so it looked good to me, esp as they might secure better deals in US - and "now" is probably a good time to be getting stuck-in.(ie before any really valuable drugs are approved).
Noticed some price-slipping, but I guess folks really want Exceptional News, which is a little unrealistic since Approvals take time. Essential to be "in" than watching, eh?

Good sp action Friday may be worth a go.

Big article in Sunday Telegraph re the big push for larger companies, such as Glaxo, Astra, Pfizer etc to go further along the acquisition trail due to the increasing loss of patents and the increase of generic drugs. Almost every week we see these articles and with the last 12 months seeing the highest rate of such moves for many years, who knows what the next 12 months holds.
I expect many smaller companies to become prey to these big boys.
Not saying BTG will be a target, but will any companies of BTG's size be safe.
Could be an interesting year.

Hi, greekman - I think the story behind the article is THE REASON our company acted when it did - fortunately the CEO was the same-man, so that made it easier. Also Big-Pharma has much empire-building with huge research budgets and staff that cannot be discarded "at a stroke". . . . . . so whilst outsiders think Big-Pharma are looking to do deals, in reality they are like dinosaurs - very slow and likely to be attacked from their rear-quarters.

I think Big-Pharma needs an intermediary - maybe an opportunity for a new business? - someone that can act without ramping prices, and yet who has enough 8understanding of the "fit" - yet thius is such a difficult area - - - etc. - - - and that's why no big pharma has really cornered the Market in small-pharma, which they could do for a fraction of their own (relatively ineffective) internal research Budgets.
Remember ( well, it's MHO) that Big-Pharma is not a Pharma ---(!) - - -it is a Marketing Machine and could be better described as Big-Advertiser!

Did you have any money in Evolutec?
[There was a basically sound idea, but it weent wrong ( probably iinexperience?) and they didn't have the big-funds to keep going - once the Public sensed woes, the sp was ruined! Yet I thought they had something there, at the lower sp of 17p ( not 1++ the Market pushed it!)...
BUT I lost, because the Co didn't have the Cash to keep it going. . . . . pity...].

I see the buyers are active with BTG - good thing too; I'm holding until the price is much higher....there is plenty of time for the News to push it further, er IMHO.

Morning Hangon and all,

As a long time PTI holder and a new comer to BTG it is good to see a sensible debate. Hopefully I will become as conversant with the working and fundamentals of BTG as I was with those of PTI.
Posts on here are helpful and informative. Keep them coming.

Personally I don't have a clue whether such a move (Glaxo, Astra etc) is on the cards or not, and have no idea whether such a move would be beneficial to these bigger companies especially in the present climate. Be interesting to see the massive figures that would be thrown about if such a move did start. I am very happy with BTG's present situation present added to the direction it appears to be heading re future planning.

Note... Did not hold any Evo shares.

Greek.

SNOW! =half a day off work, so I'm at the keyboard and just got round to BTG -
FWIW, I can't imagine the takeover price would be less that twice today's....but then it would be a sell-out with no L-T value, so I'm guessing we'd want some shares as well, maybe 1 for five . . . or abt. 3.5x today's sp if pushed... i might look like a shade under 5, say 4.30 - or more if there was a "claw-back" clause in the event theproducts failed to achieve Approval.

I think there is a real issue that the likes of Glaxo are ignoring - at least until the present Management manages to retire on a whacky pension....ie they don't want to show up the deficiencies, not for the benefit of shareholders, but prpobably Pension Funds and the like that buy "Big Co's" regardless of their future earnings.

There are so many Generic manufacturers, that prioces will be slashed and that means if Glaxo ( for example) were to "match". their customers for on-patent might querey why they are expected to pay over the odds...etc.
The old chestnut was "prices pay for the research" is fairly hollow, since no real breakthoughs have been made in recent years. Viagra was "by chance" and is being milked for all its worth... no wonder there are worthless "copy" pills on the Market with the genuine thing nearly 10 a go.

A trade of 2 618,323 came in at 09.58.20. It registered as unknown but looking at the sp just prior and after looks more likely to be a buy than a sell. Anyone agree/disagree.

Today sales were 3/4 of Buys, yet MM's managed to drop the sp 1%

Is it surprising the sp has held so long - or is it true that holders are patiently waiting for the good news - knowing the merger was a reasonable success ( and cheap!). . . . . . . and there is plenty of cash, so no deep-discounts like so many Bigger FTSE's - - - - anyone holding BT?. . . . Arrgh!

Nice move up today.

Asterand's partner BTG to initiate Phase IIa migraine studies
Published:09-April-2009
By Datamonitor staff writer.

http://drugdiscovery.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/news/asterands_partner_btg_to_initiate_phase_iia_migraine_studies_090409

BGC is mentioned.....
Proximagen is raising 50 million pounds ($80.5 million) in what it said was one of the biggest fundraisings in the UK biotech sector in the past 10 years.
It will use the cash to buy drugs, and possibly companies, in the central nervous system area, treating conditions such as Alzheimers as well as Parkinsons disease where it already has expertise.
BTG (BGC.L) have assets the company might be interested in.

Whilst I feel BGC are progressing nicely, we are in a time of more takeovers/acquisitions involving drug/bio companies than any other time for many years.

http://www.pehub.com/41562/proximagen-raises-50-million/

Any views!

Looks like the business model is paying off. Cash in the bank with a good portfolio of revenue earning products, plus a good few products progressing nicely toward adding to the revenue stream.
The next 12 months looks interesting.

From The Mail.

By Geoff Foster
Last updated at 10:26 PM on 17th July 2009

BTG firmed 3.25p to 168p on speculation that partner AstraZeneca will soon announce its intention to extend its Phase IIb development plan for CytoFab, a treatment for severe sepsis. AZ has already chosen Rhode Island Hospital and St Luc hospital in Brussels to coordinate Phase IIb. Edison Research's fair value price target is 325p.

Wondered why the rise.

Not a great believer in Research Notes, since they are at odds with the Market ( which by definition is usually right), and Edison Research is no better than another, er, IMHO.
Until these products are being Marketed and there is Product-income it's very difficult to put a value on any stock; esp. since a small slip can spell disaster. However, you have to be "in" to win (they say) and this is one of mine. Sure, a higher sp would contribute to "feel-good" - but I suspect we have more than a year to wait ( 2013, even?) before L-T shareholders will have anything to get excited about.

Is the Edison Research's Note available on-line, I wonder?
...Maybe they want a fee...

I'm hoping the price will be 4-5x higher by 2013, so I'm curious to know what timeframe Edison Research's Note is suggesting . . . . have you read it, Greekman...?
I'm hoping BTG does go "to Market" thereby getting big-income over several years....I think this would make an attractive stock to hold and some big-Institutional holding (currently only 30%-DYOR) would have a big effect on sp....
I doubt we'll see a 10-bagger from this level, but sub-10 would still be very nice once the income stream is seen to be repetitive. The currency-effect might help slightly, as well.

On another matter, now the Merger-dust has settled, it seems they are taking-out costs, including a move to less fancy offices and some slimming of the combined-operation where there is duplication, I'm guessing about 10m pa would be nice if shareholders got this, eh?

I agree with your comments re research notes, mainly as to predicted future sp pricing, but the comment, 'partner AstraZeneca will soon announce its intention to extend its Phase IIb development plan for CytoFab' rings true. Speculation, yes, but most indicators re this look good.

I have not read the notes. Lke you I always find that if they are not news published they want a fee, often of several hundred pounds.

Thanks for that Greekman, I suspect the cost (of the Research Notes) is greater than the value - For this "news" ( about AZ), was already Public by virtue of the AGM ( er, and maybe well before) . . . but what is not certain is which areas AZ will be hanging their hat upon. If for example going forwards with this product means they need new Offices, new salesmen etc, they need to see what other products these costly purchases will be able to handle, er, without upsetting their existing salesforce/image/etc. ( this includes "AZ Directors" who will want exciting technologies, so as to grow their own Empires!).

So, IMHO it matters not if the BTG-product is good and will turn in profits, - rather it matters how it fits with AZ's future Plans and they won't say until it's a done-deal.

Compare-contrast . . . . . with OXB's situation . . .
- There, Sanofi changed horses mid-race, just recently. Fortunately Sanofi invested yet more in a realted-technology but it applies to a different field, I understand. - DYOR -

I don't suppose BTG would want to lose AZ as their partner; but it depends on the "deal" they can achieve - er, if BTG believes in the "value" of the product.....that BTG is amassing their own US-salesforce (for Crofab and Varisolve I understand when they come on-stream ), so this puts BTG is a stronger position - but AZ-plans are crucial . . . although after they've been with the product there could be a "Corporate Change" ( as suggested above)....which would force BTG to find a new partner....and Markets don't like uncertainty...much preferring AZ to take the product forward. BUT not at ANY-price, therein lies the Risk, although it's small IMHO and will take its Course under BTG management.

Morning,

I think it's more a bit of both, if the BTG-product is good and will turn in profits and if it fits with AZ's future Plans.

As to Directors empire building, I presume you are inferring that some directors put their own little empires before those of the company they work for and also their shareholders. You will be saying next that all bankers, politicians and the like are only concerned about feathering their own nest (or pension pots) often at our expense.

Note... The last time I looked into obtaining a research note, (can't remember the company) but I was quoted a sum of just over 300, well beyond moneys worth for my holdings and I presume those of anyone not either very money rich or an institution.

Greekman, I'm not sure if you are agreeing with me - that Dir of BigPharma are so detatched from the laboratory they are really interested in being the TopDog ( er, that's Empire-building in my Book), rather than what's best for their shareholders. Of course, many will argue that if every Dir is doing this, then it must be good for shareholders. Sadly IMHO, it means that many decisions are taken with the aim of enhancing the Department, rather than the Company as a whole. The Chairman should be reining-in the Directors, but with opportunities/Markets/human behaviour - er, I rest my case.

Human nature is at work in the City and our National Banks . . . give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile.

Nevertheless, it's looking good for BTG and that we/the Market agree.
This is my No1 holding.
EDIT-(27Jy09)- Greekman; glad we agree.