3SOF

why not reentering VPHM Aussie, chart looks very strong imho ?! 

VPHM: Short Interest DN 15.0% to 8.7M in Mid Aug 2008
Tuesday , August 26, 2008 16:23ET

According to new short interest data from NASDAQ, short interest for Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM) DECREASED 15.0% to 8,684,007 shares as reported in mid-August, 2008.
Based on VPHM's 20-day average daily share volume of 1,450,295, it would require approximately 6 day(s) of buying to cover this short interest.

ViroPharma (VPHM) NewsBite - VPHM Hits 52-Week High
Friday , August 29, 2008 03:19ET

Aug 29, 2008 (Fresh Brewed Media via COMTEX) -- ViroPharma (NasdaqNM: VPHM) hit a new 52-Week high of $14.98 so far today. Currently the stock is down $0.12 (-0.81%) to $14.74 on 316,845 shares traded. Today's high is up $7.63 from a 52-Week Low of $7.11. ViroPharma stock has been showing support around $14.50 and resistance in the $15.10 range. Technical indicators for the stock are bullish and S&P does not currently have a STARS rating for VPHM. If you are looking for a hedged play on VPHM the stock seems like it could be a candidate for a November out-of-the-money bear-call credit spread above the 17.50 range.

 
Oliver

ViroPharma and Lev Receive Hart-Scott-Rodino Clearance from the Federal Trade Commission
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 09:16ET

EXTON, Pa., Sep 03, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: LEVP) today announced that the waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act has expired in connection with ViroPharma's proposed acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals.

Completion of the transaction, expected by the end of 2008, is subject to satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, including approval of the stockholders of Lev.

JMP INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS:

· PDUFA date for Berinert pushed back; reiterate Market Outperform rating on ViroPharma.
On Friday, ViroPharma management confirmed that the FDA has extended the PDUFA date for a
decision regarding the potential approval of CSL Behring's Berinert for the treatment of acute
hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks for 90 days. The new PDUFA date is December 6, 2008.

As such, we now believe that Cinryze, Lev Pharmaceutical's product candidate for the prophylaxis of HAE, will likely be the first product approved for the treatment of this disease in the US. The PDUFA date for Cinryze remains October 14, 2008, and we believe that the product will receive approval on or around that date given the positive outcome of the advisory committee meeting, which took place last May. Recall that in late July, ViroPharma announced plans to acquire Lev Pharmaceuticals. We expect the deal to close in 4Q. In our view, while the delay increases the likelihood of the ultimate approval of Berinert, we continue to lean toward the opinion that the product will not be approved in December.

Reiterate our Market Outperform rating and $18 price target. Our price target is derived by an
EPS valuation methodology and a sum-of-the-parts analysis.

&

Cowen:
Quick Take: IMS Reports July Sales For Vancocin

IMS reported Vancocin sales of $20M for the month of July, modestly down from
$20.6M-$20.8M in May and June. Assuming flat inventories and flat sales for the
remainder of the quarter, IMS sales are tracking towards $65M for 3Q08. Taking into
account that IMS typically over-estimates reported Vancocin sales, reported net
sales are tracking in the range of$58M to $64M, above our $57M estimate. However,
3Q is a seasonally weaker quarter relative to 2Q; therefore, we will wait for August
IMS sales data before making any changes to our estimates.

 VPHM: Jumps +3.36%; Vol +62%; Last 90 Min of Trading
Tuesday , September 16, 2008 16:22ET

During the last 90 minutes of today's session, shares of Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM) demonstrated a strong UPWARD close relative to its 13:30 ET statistics. "Strong Closers" are determined by proprietary Knobias calculations performed during the last segment of each trading day.

sym: VPHM      @13:30 ET        @CLOSE      % CHANGE
----------   -----------   -----------  ------------
PRICE             $13.40        $13.85        +3.36%
VOLUME           877,566     1,423,550       +62.22%
#TRADES            5,191         7,880       +51.80%
DAY-HI            $13.77        $14.08       LATE-HI
DAY-LO            $12.50        $12.50           N/A

 
sounds good for VPHM

LEVP: Susquehanna Ups to Positive from Neutral; Analyst Notes
Friday , September 19, 2008 09:38ET
Issuer: Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc (OTCBB: LEVP)
Analyst Firm:  Susquehanna
Ratings Action: UPGRADE
Current Rating: Positive (from Neutral)
Analyst Comments: The firm believes the acquisition by ViroPharma will go through.

from zacks.com:

.......
Sounds like something investors should definitely look into. What's the other idea you've got in mid-cap biotech?

It's a name we've talked about in the past, Mark: ViroPharma (VPHM). This is one of our favorite names right now for several reasons. Firstly, management is among the best in the business. They've done a great job in building up ViroPharma through acquiring and in-licensing products over the past few years.

The leading product is Vancocin, a powerful antibiotic used to treat a life-threatening disease resulting from the infection of C. difficile. The story with Vancocin is that the drug was previously used only as a "last resort" for C. difficile infection (CDI), but recent clinical data, at a competitor nonetheless, shows that Vancocin is superior to the first-line therapy, call metronidazole, for severely infected patients.

So now management is out there spreading the world that Vancocin should be used in a greater percentage of patients other than just last resort cases. And they're gaining traction because the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) and SHEA (Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America), two key scientific member organizations for infectious disease, are drafting guidelines that agree. So Vancocin continues to drive strong cash flow generation at ViroPharma.

And ViroPharma is profitable, if I remember correctly, right?

Correct. The second quarter 2008 was the 14th in a row of positive earnings. That's an impressive feet for a mid-cap biotechnology company. But what all that strong cash flow generation has allowed ViroPharma management to do is build an impressive late-stage pipeline around Vancocin.

There are two candidates in late-stage development, maribavir for protection against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during stem cell and solid organ transplant, and Cinryze for hereditary angioedema (HAE). Maribavir is currently in two phase III trials with data expected in 2009. The phase II data on the drug has been very impressive, with patients showing 100% protection against CMV infection and a significant decline in transplant rejection, or something called graft vs. host disease (GvHD).

We think maribavir demonstrates a significant improvement over the current standard of care, a drug called ganciclovir made by Roche. Not only is it more efficacious, but the tolerability and safety profile is also superior. It could be a real breakthrough for patients undergoing stem cell transplant (SCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT). It's also what's known as an "orphan" indication, meaning ViroPharma will have strong pricing power and an exclusive market for at least seven years in the U.S. It's a $500 million potential opportunity.

The second drug, Cinryze, also an "orphan" indication drug, is under regulatory review for HAE. HAE is a nasty inflammatory disease that results in significant swelling around the face, abdomen, hands and feet. The attacks, which could occur as often as 2-3 times per week, usually come without warning, and can be fatal if they occur inside the mouth or trachea. There's a significant unmet medical need for a drug that can treat, or even prevent, these attacks. It's another $500 million opportunity, in our view.

ViroPharma acquired the drug through the acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals earlier this year. The U.S. FDA is schedule to rule on the use of Cinryze as prophylactic (prevention) for HAE in October 2008. Given that an advisory panel previously recommended approval of the drug by a unanimous 21-0 margin in May 2008, we feel very good about the approval coming in October.

So by 2010 we think ViroPharma can have both maribavir and Cinryze, two orphan drugs each with $500 million potential, on the market. They've got an estimated $300 million in cash still even after the Lev Pharmaceuticals deal, and as of now, Vancocin remains patent protected.

Now that's a potential risk with ViroPharma, correct? There is a patent challenge to Vancocin?

Yes, that's the risk right now. But that risk has also created an opportunity to pick up ViroPharma on the cheap. A generic pharmaceutical company is looking to bring a bio-equivalent oral vancomycin to the market as soon as next year. However, ViroPharma has filed what's known as a citizen's petition, questioning the methods on which the generic company will look to prove bio-equivalence. It's a strategy that has paid off well, having delayed the generic alternative since 2006 while the FDA's Office of Generic Drug (OGD) looks into the issue.

It's inevitable that a generic oral vancomycin will eventually come to market. Our financial model assumes it happens in 2010. You should know, that will cause a hit to earnings when it happens. But we think that investors should focus more on maribavir and Cinryze than when a generic Vancocin may come to market. The company should be able to maintain its strong history of profitability assuming both maribavir and Cinryze pan out. Given what we've seen so far, we like their chances.

Jason Napodano, CFA is a senior analyst covering the pharmaceutical and biotech industries for Zacks Equity Research.

VPHM: Short Interest UP 1.8% to 9.1M in Mid Sep 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 16:22ET

According to new short interest data from NASDAQ, short interest for Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM) INCREASED 1.8% to 9,072,481 shares as reported in mid-September, 2008.

Based on VPHM's 20-day average daily share volume of 1,349,940, it would require approximately 7 day(s) of buying to cover this short interest.

holding well during todays massacre 

good news:


Cinryze Approved: A Significant Catalyst for Viropharma, Lev Pharmaceuticals
by: Dan Weiss October 12, 2008

On late Friday, it was announced that Lev Pharmaceuticals' (LEVP.OB) prophylactic treatment for the rare but life-threatening disorder known as hereditary angioedema- HAE was approved by the FDA.

This is the first treatment to be approved in the United States for HAE and will likely have an almost immediate impact on the bottom line and cash flows for Viropharma (VPHM), who is expected to close on its deal to acquire Lev Pharmaceuticals on October 23, 2008 (2 business days following Lev's shareholder vote).

The terms of the deal are that Viropharma will pay Lev Pharmaceutical shareholders $2.25 per share in cash plus approximately (0.50/share) in Viropharma shares for a total of $2.75/share.

In addition, Lev shareholders have the potential for up to $1.00 per share if additional milestone are met which are as follows: 1) $0.50 per share consideration under 2 potential scenarios: a) Cinryze is approved for acute treatment of HAE and orphan exclusivity is granted or b) orphan exclusivity for the acute treatment of HAE has not become effective for anyone for two years from the date of closing and date of FDA approval for prophylaxis, whichever is later; and 2) an additional $0.50 per share consideration when Cinryze reaches $600 million in cumulative net sales within 10 years of closing.

So what does the approval of Cinryze mean if I am a shareholder of Lev Pharmaceuticals?

Shareholders of Lev, assuming shareholder approval at the special meeting on October 21, will receive a $2.25 cash payment + approximately $0.50 per share in Viropharma stock for each share of stock that they own. They then will receive CVR's which would entitle them to up to $1.00 per share in additional payments when/if the above listed additional milestones are met. At a share price of $2.38 at Friday's close, the upfront payments would generate a greater than 15% return for shareholders from current levels with the possibility for up to 36% in additional returns if the CVR's are met.

Estimates for Cinryze sales and the affect on Viropharma's EPS

There is a high pent-up demand for Cinryze among patients who suffer from hereditary angioedema. Cinryze should be able to generate some revenue (although it will not be huge) in the fourth quarter of 2008 with revenues building to $150-200 million in 2009, $250 million in 2010 and potentially $300 million in 2011. These figures assume no acute approval for Cinryze (only prophylactic approval which was just granted). If acute approval is granted, these numbers could increase to upwards of $400-450 million in 2011. Based on these figures Cinryze could add approximately $0.50-0.60/share in earnings in 2009 and about $1.00/share in earnings to Viropharma in 2010. After the closing of this deal, Viropharma will still have approximately $270 million in cash which will equal $3.43 to $3.57 per share (depending on the total share count after the deal is closed which will range from 75.6-78.7 million shares) and not including any cash build in the most recent quarter from Vancocin. Viropharma is trading at an extremely compelling valuation of just about 6x enterprise value(after merger close)/earnings just from Cinryze in 2010 with Vancocin still likely to also contribute to the bottom line and other potential revenue streams in the same period. I continue to be a strong buyer of the stock and will continue to add to positions with a intermediate term goal of $20 per share.

Rams, please provide some details!

VPHM: Stanford Group Ups to Buy from Hold; Sets Tgt @ $13; Analyst Notes
Monday , October 13, 2008 08:09ET
Issuer: Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM)
Analyst Firm:  Stanford Group
Ratings Action: UPGRADE
Current Rating: Buy (from Hold)
Target Price: $13.00
Analyst Comments: Stanford upgraded shares on valuation as they view the recent weakness as a buying opportunity. Target $13.

&

VPHM: Rodman/Renshaw Ups to Outperform from Market Perform; Sets Tgt @ $18; Analyst Notes
Monday , October 13, 2008 08:37ET
Issuer: Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM)
Analyst Firm:  Rodman & Renshaw
Ratings Action: UPGRADE
Current Rating: Outperform (from Market Perform)
target Price: $18.00
Analyst Comments: Rodman and Renshaw upgraded VPHM following the FDA's approval of Cinryze for the treatment of hereditary angioedema Target $18.

The street.com:

For ViroPharma, Acquisition Plan Is Paying Off
Elizabeth Trotta
10/14/08 - 05:37 PM EDT

Thanks to the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve the first U.S. treatment for hereditary angiodema, ViroPharma (VPHM Quote - Cramer on VPHM - Stock Picks) has become the early leader in the race to sell a product for the rare genetic disorder to the domestic market.

That's because a company ViroPharma is planning to acquire -- Lev Pharmaceuticals -- received news Friday that U.S. regulators have cleared Cinryze to prevent painful attacks that occur in patients with the disease, which is also known as HAE.

Earlier this year, ViroPharma said it would spend at least $443 million to buy Lev, whose lead product is Cinryze. HAE treatments have been marketed in Europe for more than 30 years, but the U.S. has remained an untapped commercial opportunity.

HAE is caused by a defect in the gene C1 INH. The condition causes periodic acute episodes of painful swelling in a patient's extremities, gastrointestinal tract and, most dangerously, the air passages, which can lead to death by suffocation.

Treatments for rare diseases, such as HAE, can lead to big profits for their makers because they often carry high price tags. Cinryze could be launched at a price of $3,500 a dose, according to Rodman and Renshaw's Michael King and Stanford Research's Berin Amin.

An HAE drug approved in the preventive setting means substantially more revenue per patient -- $250,000 to $350,000 a year -- compared with an acute-treatment drug, which may cost about $25,000 a year per patient, said Susequehanna's Jason Kolbert earlier this year.

Cinryze's revenue potential will depend heavily on how many eligible patients actually exist in the U.S., and estimates regarding the number of cases of HAE vary. England's Shire (SHPGY Quote - Cramer on SHPGY - Stock Picks), which gained access to a competing HAE treatment by way of the acquisition Germany's Jerini this year, believes North America has only 7,000 patients. Lev, meanwhile, suspects the U.S. alone has 10,000 cases.

Another disparity surrounds revenue estimates. Rodman and Renshaw's King, who upgraded ViroPharma to outperform from market perform on Monday, estimates that Cinryze will bring in $125 million in U.S. sales in 2009. Stanford's Amin, who has a buy rating on ViroPharma, expects the drug to deliver $46 million in sales next year.

Longer term, Susquehanna's Kolbert, who has a neutral rating for the stock, projects that Cinryze will generate roughly $127 million in peak annual sales. King is projecting that sales could reach $420 million in 2015.

Aside from the difficulty in accurately assessing the HAE population, there is the matter of competition. Lev and ViroPharma are the first in the U.S. market with an HAE drug, but they might not be alone for long. Dyax(DYAX Quote - Cramer on DYAX - Stock Picks) and CSL Behring, part of Australia's CSL Ltd., could both have approved HAE drugs in the U.S. within the next year.

Because Cinryze has "orphan drug" status, ViroPharma is likely to get seven years of marketing exclusivity following the U.S. approval. Lev's original regulatory application sought clearance for both preventing HAE attacks and for treating them as they occur, but after holding talks with the FDA the company opted to pursue only the former indication. However, Lev plans to seek the additional use "as soon as possible" once it has further data from ongoing studies.

CSL Behring's drug, Berinert, is under review for acute attacks. The FDA was set to make a decision on Berinert in September, but the ruling was delayed until December. If Berinert is approved before Cinryze to treat the actual onset of HAE, then it could be granted the same seven-year exclusivity.

Even so, Cinryze and Berinert are both C1 inhibitors that are administered intravenously and are essentially the same, according to Kolbert. As a result, if both receive the nod from the FDA, some doctors may decide to use them interchangeably for preventing and treating HAE, regardless of their specified indications.

Meanwhile, Dyax and Shire are developing HAE drugs that can be given to patients with a simple injection under the skin, instead of intravenously, which may make them more convenient for patients and stronger competitors once they are available.

Dyax is expected to file for approval of DX-88 to treat HAE symptoms by the end of the year, meaning a decision could come in mid-2009. While the HAE market is the most important to Lev and now ViroPharma, analysts say the real profit potential for Dyax's DX-88 is in further indications, such as treating other angiodemas.

"There is also potential for DX-88 to address reperfusion injuries (post-stroke), post-operative swelling (brain, other organs), and even chemotherapeutic-induced edema," writes Susquehanna's Kolbert. "These opportunities are much more significant than the HAE marketplace, which is the first hurdle for DX-88 to pass."

Zacks.com

ViroPharma Makes the Right Moves
Tuesday October 14, 2:55 pm ET
By Jason Napodano, CFA

Cinryze should launch later this year after ViroPharma (NasdaqGS: VPHM - News) completes the acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals and finalizes patient support and reimbursement programs. On October 10, 2008, the U.S. FDA approved Cinryze, a C1 inhibitor, for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). The label is consistent with our expectations, and allows for dosing as frequent as every 3 or 4 days. We expect rapid uptake from the women and adolescent market given the lack of treatment options previously available to these groups.

Additionally, there are 150+ participants still taking Cinryze from the phase III open-label follow-up programs that will be transitioned to the commercialized product once available. ViroPharma management believes that the product has peak sales of $250 to $300 million in the prophylaxis setting, with gross margins in the 65-70% range.

The move to acquire Lev works to greatly diversify the product portfolio and ease investor concern of generic Vancocin. Phase III candidate, maribavir, is progressing nicely, and could be on the market in 2010. Couple these two new drugs, Cinryze and maribavir, with an estimated $300 million in cash, solid Vancocin sales, and the companies fundamental position is rock solid. We are maintaining our Buy rating with a price target of $16.

ViroPharma to Release 2008 Third Quarter Financial Results on October 29, 2008
Tuesday , October 14, 2008 13:30ET

EXTON, Pa., Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated's (Nasdaq: VPHM) third quarter financial results for 2008 are expected to be released on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 before the open of the U.S. financial markets.

The company will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day. During the conference call, ViroPharma management will discuss the third quarter financial results for 2008 and other business.

The press release and the live webcast of the conference call will be accessible via ViroPharma's corporate website at http://www.viropharma.com. An audio archive will be available at the same address until November 15, 2008. To participate in the conference call, please dial 877-366-0713 (domestic) and 302-607-2000 (international). After placing the call, please tell the operator you wish to join the ViroPharma investor conference call.

ViroPharma Incorporated Completes Acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals
Tuesday , October 21, 2008 15:03ET

EXTON, Pa., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) today announced it has completed its acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals (OTC Bulletin Board: LEVP) following the approval earlier today of the transaction by Lev stockholders. Lev stockholders will receive $2.25 in cash, 0.042146 shares of ViroPharma common stock and one non- transferable contingent value right which entitles the holder to receive up to two contingent payments of $0.50 each in cash, payable upon the achievement of certain regulatory and commercial milestones, for each share of Lev common stock that they own. The total number of ViroPharma shares to be issued as part of the merger consideration is 7,286,286.

With the acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals, ViroPharma takes a significant step in broadening its portfolio of treatments for significant unmet medical needs, by acquiring Cinryze C1 esterase inhibitor (human), which recently received marketing approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Hereditary angioedema, or C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency, is a dangerous and potentially deadly inflammatory disease affecting up to 10,000 patients in the United States, caused by a genetic deficiency in an essential protein called C1 esterase inhibitor. Clinical studies have shown that prophylactic use of Cinryze, which increases the levels of C1 esterase inhibitor in the bloodstream, can significantly reduce the severity, duration and frequency of HAE attacks.

Separately, ViroPharma announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted seven years of marketing exclusivity to Cinryze C1 inhibitor (human) for routine prophylaxis of hereditary angioedema (HAE) pursuant to the Orphan Drug Act. Lev originally received orphan drug designation for Cinryze by the Office of Orphan Products Development on July 16, 2004.

"We are extremely excited to receive the grant of seven years of market exclusivity for Cinryze in prophylaxis against HAE, and to complete this acquisition; we now turn our attention to finalizing a robust patient access program and launching Cinryze into the HAE prophylaxis market," commented Vincent Milano, ViroPharma's president and chief executive officer. "Cinryze is not only a life-saving therapy treating a very dangerous disease, but also a product capable of significantly improving the everyday lives of patients. We are committed to the launch, and to ensuring that patients around the country suffering from this debilitating disease have access to the drug."

"We are pleased that we have completed this acquisition by ViroPharma and are confident in their commitment to ensuring that all patients who need access to Cinryze will have access to this life-saving therapy," commented Judson Cooper, Lev's former chairman of the board. "This transaction provides our stockholders with attractive financial terms, through the upfront payment and the opportunity to continue to share in the success of the drug through the ownership of ViroPharma shares and the contingent value rights."

Share exchange information and a letter of transmittal will be emailed to Lev stockholders shortly. If you have any questions, please contact ViroPharma's exchange agent, StockTrans, at (800) 733-1121.

&

VIROPHARMA INC SAYS FDA GRANTS 7 YEARS MARKETING EXCLUSIVITY OF CINRYZE
Tuesday , October 21, 2008 15:11ET

NEW YORK, Oct 22, 2008 (Thomson Financial via COMTEX) -- VIROPHARMA INC SAYS FDA GRANTS 7 YEARS MARKETING EXCLUSIVITY OF CINRYZE Chuck Mikolajczak cm

fyi from Zacks:
ViroPharma will report next Wednesday, Oct 29. Ahead of the report, 3 of the 9 covering brokerage analysts have raised their third-quarter forecasts. The revisions, however, were not large enough to move the consensus earnings estimate, which continues to sit at 23 cents per share.

As part of its earnings release, VPHM could provide an update on Cinryze, which treats angioedema attacks (swelling underneath the skin). The company received FDA approval 2 weeks ago and is expected to launch the drug this quarter. Cinryze could achieve sales of $250 million to $300 million, which would have a significant impact on overall revenues and earnings.

VPHM: Short Interest DN 12.4% to 8.2M in Mid Oct 2008
Friday , October 24, 2008 16:22ET

According to new short interest data from NASDAQ, short interest for Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM) DECREASED 12.4% to 8,164,877 shares as reported in mid-October, 2008.
Based on VPHM's 20-day average daily share volume of 1,412,660, it would require approximately 6 day(s) of buying to cover this short interest.

ViroPharma: Rodman & Renshaw previews 3Q08 results; looking for details on Cinryze launch (10.06 )

Rodman & Renshaw note VPHM will report 3Q08 financial results on Wed, Oct 29. Firm expects EPS to be in line with their est of $0.24, which is just above the Street consensus of $0.23. Firm believes the most important near term focus for investors is the recently completed acquisition of Lev Pharmaceuticals (LEVP) and the anticipated launch of Cinryze in 4Q08. Firm currently expects that Cinryze will be launched in 4Q08 with patients currently receiving Cinryze in an open label trial being transferred onto commercial product. Following this, in early 2009, they anticipate that the newly assembled Cinryze sales force will begin the full roll out of Cinryze. Firm believes key to a successful launch will be much of the work that Lev Pharmaceuticals completed prior to approval working to establish relationships with payors and specialty pharmacies as well making efforts to educate physicians and patients. Firm expects ViroPharma to provide further details on the launch plans for Cinryze during the 3Q08 conference call.

&

VPHM: Jumps +6.44%; Vol +62%; Last 90 Min of Trading
Tuesday , October 28, 2008 16:23ET

During the last 90 minutes of today's session, shares of Viropharma, Incorporated (NasdaqNM: VPHM) demonstrated a strong UPWARD close relative to its 13:30 ET statistics. "Strong Closers" are determined by proprietary Knobias calculations performed during the last segment of each trading day.

sym: VPHM      @13:30 ET        @CLOSE      % CHANGE
----------   -----------   -----------  ------------
PRICE             $10.40        $11.07        +6.44%
VOLUME           701,225     1,134,549       +61.80%
#TRADES            4,322         7,153       +65.50%
DAY-HI            $10.84        $11.09       LATE-HI
DAY-LO            $10.09        $10.09           N/A