OK so you thought the title of the other thread was out of date BUT unfortunately there is no way to edit thread titles.

So here is a new title

This one has got the charts at the top again & has a link to the old one.
http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=5021

is there any news about another merger with a big company?????????? has anyone one got news??????

Probable reason for the increase in sp:

BOSTON (AFX) -- Biotechnology and pharmaceutical issues scored modest gains Wednesday after a series of brokerage upgrades and gains in the broader market.

The Amex Biotechnology Index edged up 0.5 percent to 509.12 and the Amex Pharmaceutical Index added 0.2 percent to 314.79.

Human Genome Sciences advanced 1.3 percent to $11.15 after the genomics firm said it had completed enrollment for a Phase II clinical trial for its drug candidate HGS-ETR1, a treatment for advanced colorectal cancer.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals was the biggest winner among biotech issues, shooting up more than 9 percent at one point before resting at $30.08, up 7.4 percent. Analysts at Morgan Stanley upped their rating of the stock to 'overweight.'

Progenics Pharmaceuticals was upgraded by CIBC to 'outperform,' and the stock rose 4.6 percent to $22.04.

ImClone Systems shares inched up 1.8 percent to $42.57 after analysts at Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of the stock with an 'overweight' rating.

Gilead Sciences gained 1.9 percent to $33.77 in early afternoon on news that its HIV treatment Truvada had been approved by European regulators.

This story was supplied by MarketWatch. For further information see www.marketwatch.com.

Is still moving north - any reason known out there or is it speculation that agin a merger or aquisition is back in play

Thanks for the above info guys.

We are on the up again, looks like I was right last week when I thought that it had reached buying level again, I just about caught the bottom again when I bought some more with the profits from the last big rise.

Two interesting articles in the 'Guardian' and 'The Independent' newspapers
today concerning OXB. Nice to see the colour blue again on the PC Screen.

Anyone notice that Vernalis sp was up this morning as well. Co-incidence
or what?

1704

what was written in the articles???

Guardian Newspaper (Article Title 'WPP rises above FTSE
doldrums'by Neil Hume dated 24/02/05)

'In the smaller companies world, biotech group Oxford Biomedica
gained 1p to 20p on hopes that trial results for its
cancer vaccine Trovax in colorectal cancer will impress and
pave the way for a licensing deal with a large drug company.
OXB recently terminated takeover talks with a mystery bidder'.


The Independent Newspaper (Market Report by Stephen Foley,
dated 24/02/05)

'Amid the small-caps, there were rumours of contract wins
for Retail Decisions, the computer data security firm. And
OXB, where merger talks collapsed this month, ticked a
penny higher to 20p on hopes for receipt of another bid'.

I feel more bullish about OXB everyday 'ya get me'.

1704 - not Vernalis. See below for reason that it rose today:

Vernalis attracted support, rising 3p to 77p after the company revealed plans to raise 30.3m via a fully underwritten placing and open offer of 43.2m new ordinary shares at 70p each.

The UK biotech group will use the proceeds to strengthen its financial position prior to receipt of a milestone payment of $40m from Endo Pharmaceuticals, on the expected approval of frovatriptan for menstrually related migraine in the first half of 2007.

Vernalis also announced that it intends to establish a US commercial infrastructure through the exercise of its option with Endo Pharmaceuticals to co-promote frovatriptan in the US. Vernalis licensed exclusive North American sales and marketing rights to frovatriptan (marketed as Frova in the US) to Endo last July.

1704: i thank you

Accord-No problem! I should have provided the information
when I made the post.

Pachandl-Thanks for your info which does provide clear
reasons why the sp of Vernalis rose yesterday.

Anyone a subscriber to the FT website? If so could they
verify or not whether this was written in the FT Small
Caps section yesterday.

'Vernalis, maker of migraine drug Frovatriptan, raised
30.3m after placing 43m shares at 70p each. It could
use the cash for acquisitions'....

Pachandl (OXB/ADVFN Post 3706 last night). I hope
someone can verify this because if they can it would
support my theory that Vernalis are very much in the
picture and now intend to bid for OXB and not seek a
merger as they previously did.

Once again, thanks for the info.

Good to see the sp continuing to tick up slightly.
Hoping to read some articles about OXB in the
financial press over the weekend. A few articles
about takeover bids, liscening deals and OXB 'Buy'
recommendations would be nice.

Hopefully that will ensure the sp continues its
upward momentum next week ahead of the Trovax results
and preliminary results (possibly 3/03/05)

Sincere appologies for hogging this BB again.

Just clicked onto the Investors Chronicle
website (www.investorschronicle.co.uk/sections)

Under the company news section they have an
article titled
'Headache coming to an Endo for Vernalis'.

You've guessed it I'm not a subscriber. If anyone
reads the article and it mentions OXB please
share the comments here.

Thanks and good weekend to all.

1704 - I will check the IC this evening and post a summary.

Vernalis need the money to keep going - it would not be enough to buy OXB.

Thanks Pachandl!

Your wish is my command!
*********************************************
Headaches coming to an* Endo for Vernalis

Analysts are concerned that sales of Vernalis' migraine drug, Frovatriptan, have declined under new US marketing partner Endo.

Endo admitted this week* that fourth-quarter sales fell to $6.4m from $10m last year due to wholesaler destocking. However, the company says that until recently there has been *little active promotion but, with a new marketing campaign, prescriptions should pick up. Vernalis bought back the rights for Frovatriptan last year from Elan, relicensing it to Endo.


The sales decline is a** concern but approval of Frovatriptan for menstrually associated migraine could provide a boost. Fairly priced.
***********************************************

*****************************************

Cheers Fred - provides me with some extra drinking time.

Fred-Thanks for that much appreciated.

Penny Share Prophet renews its "speculative buy" rating for OXB. Nothing much added. Does not expect another bid (assumed it was Vernalis). Repeats expected news from Trovax trials, Prosavin entering trials, and confidence that "one big deal" will be pulled off this year.

thats all they need????????? lets hope they get there bid?