3SOF

fyi:
Infinium Securities downgrades ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM) to Underperform
07-18-2006 09:50:44 AM
Infinium Securities downgrades ViroPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: VPHM) from Outperform to Underperform and cuts its price target from $11 to $6.50. The firm said they have recently confirmed that Strides is developing a generic version of Vancocin, in addition to Akorn/Cipla. In addition, we believe that Sandoz will also attempt to enter the U.S. market.
link: http://www.streetinsider.com/news.php?st=p&id=1039064

VPHM UP alreday in AH 
good luck to all VPHM shareholders

have we seen the bottom  ?

 VPHM       $ 7.80
ViroPharma Inc.    0.05
Shares Short    4,072,241
Days to Cover (Short Ratio)    2.7
Short % of Float    6.00 %
Shares Short - Prior    5,950,984
Short % Increase / Decrease    -31.57 %
Squeeze Ranking™    -6
% from 52-Wk HIGH ( 24.36 )    -212.31 %
% from 52-Wk LOW ( 7.07 )    9.36 %
% from 200-Day MA ( 13.29 )    -70.38 %
% from 50-Day MA ( 8.76 )        -12.31 %
Price % Change (52-Wk)    -35.04 %
Trading Volume - Today    809,925
Trading Volume - Average    1,509,375
Trading Volume Vs. Avg.    53.66 %
Total Shares - Float    67,860,000
Total Shares - Outstanding    68,587,608
% Held by Insiders    12.02 %
% Held by Institutions    59.10 %
Market Cap    534,983,355
EPS    1.79
PE Ratio    4.30
Sector: Healthcare
Industry: Biotechnology
SI Record Date    2006-Jun
Data Provided Without Warranty

shorts and chart update 

anybody also else invested  ?

I'm still stuck here.  Thanks for the updates la-onda.

I'm still with you, Oliver.  Took profits last week but bought back in again.  Wish volume would pick up more but I'm liking the price action up to now.

chart update 

nice day for VPHM 

fyi:

1)
14-Aug-06
14:50 VPHM ViroPharma: Upcomimg catalysts in addition to HCV-796
phase Ib results - Thomas Weisel (8.62 +0.33) -Update-

Thomas Weisel says that in addition to the HCV-796 phase Ib results
this quarter, VPHM is moving its pipeline forward with the
initiation of a phase III trial for maribavir in stem cell
transplants expected in September and in solid organ transplants in
4Q06. In addition, firm says the co has continually stated that it
intends to add at least one additional value driver this year, which
could represent upside to current ests. Finally, firm believes any
positive update from the ongoing dispute with the Office of Generic
Drugs could lift a significant overhang.

2)
ViroPharma and Wyeth Announce Achievement of Proof of Concept Milestone for HCV-796

- Companies Preparing to Initiate Phase 2 Clinical Evaluation -

EXTON, Pa. and COLLEGEVILLE, Pa., Aug. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM) and Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) today announced that while the analysis of data from their Phase 1b study of HCV-796, an investigational oral non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor, in combination with pegylated interferon, is still ongoing, data analyzed to date indicate that HCV-796 has achieved a "proof of concept" milestone under the companies' agreements. The companies expect that preliminary data from the Phase 1b study will be available for release by the end of August 2006. Based upon the preliminary data reviewed to date, ViroPharma and Wyeth are preparing to initiate Phase 2 combination studies of HCV-796. The companies expect to begin dosing patients in the Phase 2 study in the fourth quarter of 2006.

In connection with meeting the proof of concept milestone, ViroPharma will issue to Wyeth 981,836 shares of ViroPharma's common stock for a purchase price of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), which represents the last of three stock purchases outlined in the companies' agreements. The price per share for the stock was based on a premium to a trailing average price.

"ViroPharma and Wyeth have been partners in hepatitis C antiviral development since 1999; through the years, our goal has been to identify, develop and eventually market drugs to treat hepatitis C patients," said Michel de Rosen, ViroPharma's president and chief executive officer. "HCV-796 is the most promising compound we have developed together to date, and we look forward to announcing the Phase 1b data later this month. The achievement of this milestone and progression toward Phase 2 clinical trials marks an exciting time for us, and a promising opportunity for patients with HCV."

"With HCV-796, we now have for the first time in our collaboration a unique compound with a novel mechanism of action that has achieved proof of concept in combination with pegylated interferon," commented Robert Ruffolo, Ph.D., Wyeth Pharmaceutical's president of research. "We are excited to reach this milestone and to be collaborating with ViroPharma to move this promising compound toward Phase 2 trials."

In December 1999, ViroPharma and Wyeth entered into an alliance to develop and commercialize ViroPharma's lead small molecule antiviral drug candidates for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to discover, develop and commercialize additional novel inhibitors of HCV. In this agreement, Wyeth agreed to purchase shares of ViroPharma's common stock at the time of completion of certain product development milestones. Under rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, ViroPharma is required to publicly file, via Form 8-K, the fact that common stock is being issued in connection with the achievement of the proof of concept milestone.

 
awesome....

well, the bulls seems to have starteted to take the control again................

quotation from yahoo board (thanks alimovstock!):

I was very pleased with todays price action after yesterdays rally. First of all the price still closed above the top bollenger band again today. The top of the bollenger band today was at $9.41. This is a sign of great strength, since typically the PPS normally tries to find itself within the parameters of the Bol' band. This also assure that tomorrow's bollenger band will continue to expand. Todays volume for the most part was also very light compared to yesterday. That always a good sign of some slight profit taking. I am not sure what to make of the AH's info because its is contradictory from different sources. I do see on my streamer chart that there were some significant transactions. Today also marks the first day that MACD completely crossed over the centerline. The fast on the MACD had for two day, but it has completely cleared into positive territory. The MACD histogram also made a higher peak than yesterdays bar. Todays slight decline also did help relief some pressure from the fast stochastics. Yesterday this indicator was showing that it was fairly overbought, I think it was in the high 90's. With todays price action we were able to bring it down to 83. The MFI also increased today. It was at 63 yesterday, and now we are at 68. This would definately be considered bullish once it is over 50. Now the million dollar question is whats next. It hard to say if there will be a further pullback. One thing to keep in mind is that tomorrow is options expiration. I believe the MAX Pain PPS is set at 10. Under options expirations, there is some mysterious magnetism to draw the PPS to that threshold. I am not sure if it is manipulation because the option writers benefit the most at that PPS. So don't be suprised if thats were we end up tomorrow. Bottom line, I am not worried about the next few days. It is quite apparent the trend has changed, and the trend is now the longs friend. Here is the chart from yesterday, you can refer these comments to that. I will probably make an updated chart for the weekend tomorrow. The weekly chart also has shown some nice improvements.

http://stockcharts.com/h-sc/ui?s=VPHM&p=D&yr=0&mn=6&dy=0&id=p09497766618&a=81924447&listNum=1

Hey, La -Honda and fellowholders:

Good news for VPHM.
Upgraded by Cowens & Co. from neutral to outperform.
Today's opening left a gap between 10.09 and 10.70
On the other hand , gone up over 11, closing a previous gap left on May 3rd.

jorgegr

  thanks Jorgegr 

24-Aug-06
08:35 VPHM ViroPharma upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Cowen
and Co (10.09 )

Cowen and Co upgrades VPHM to Outperform from Neutral saying they
underestimated VPHM's ability to sustain L.T profitability. The firm
says VPHM has made a compelling case against dissolution studies for
Vancocin ANDAs, and they believe Vancocin's decline will be slower
than they initially anticipated. The firm says Maribavir is likely
to become standard of care for C.M.V prevention in transplant
patients starting in 2009. In addition, they believe investors
receive the added benefits of HCV796 data expected within the next
couple of weeks. The firm expects VPHM shares to outperform the
market by 30%+ over the next 12 months.

next weeks will be wonderful don´t miss the train IMO 

Dear Board members, now it is time for invest IMO.
All the reasons are posted already.....

is anybody else still invested ??


cheers
Oliver

ViroPharma Benefits From Viral Marketing

ViroPharma (VPHM: Nasdaq)
By Cowen & Co. ($10.09, Aug. 24, 2006)

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE UNDERESTIMATED ViroPharma's ability to sustain
long-term profitability and are upgrading to Outperform from Neutral.

ViroPharma is a pharmaceutical company with a product portfolio and
pipeline focused on infectious diseases.

While considerable interest once lay in its program with Sanofi and
Aventis for Picovir to treat viral infections such as the common
cold, safety concerns resulted in a nonapprovable letter from the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2002, leaving the company
struggling. However, ViroPharma vaulted to profitability with the
acquisition of oral Vancocin from Eli Lilly in November 2004.

Oral Vancocin is approved for the treatment of antibiotic-associated
pseudomembranous colitis [inflammation of the large intestine] due
to Clostridium difficile [intestinal bacteria] and for enterocolitis
[bacterial infection of the lining of the small intestine] caused by
Staphylococcus aureus [bacterial soft-tissue infection].

Shortly after the product acquisition, oral Vancocin prescriptions
began to demonstrate impressive growth, and ViroPharma implemented
successive price increases, raising the price by 47%. Additional
prescription growth and price increases should transform Vancocin
from a $40 million product in 2003 to one with $200 million peak
sales potential.

The FDA's Office of Generic Drugs recently suggested a path for
generic Vancocin entrants that would include a waiver of
bioequivalence for Vancocin ANDA, which implies that lengthy head-to-
head noninferiority studies may not be required.

However, ViroPharma has made a compelling case against dissolution
studies for Vancocin abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs), and
we believe Vancocin's decline will be slower than we initially
anticipated.

Maribavir is likely to become standard of care for CMV [the
cytomegalovirus infects allogeneic bone marrow and solid organ-
transplant patients] prevention in transplant patients starting in
2009.

Additionally, we believe investors receive a free call option on
HCV796 data expected within the next couple of weeks. [HCV796 is a
non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitor being co-developed with Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals to treat chronic hepatitis C infection.]

Top-line results from the Phase Ib study of HCV796 plus PEG-IFN are
expected shortly. [Pegylated interferon, or PEG-IFN, reduces viral
load and is the standard of care for treating hepatitis C.] For the
first time, our HCV consultants have pointed to HCV796 as a
promising drug for HCV.

ViroPharma's scientific arguments against the Office of Generic
Drugs' decision to permit Vancocin ANDAs on the basis of dissolution
data are compelling to us, former OGD staff and dissolution experts.
We conclude that dissolution science is not yet sufficient to allow
a waiver of bioequivalence and bioavailability for any drug, let
alone one as complex as Vancocin.

We expect the dissolution issue to remain in a state of limbo for a
couple of years at the FDA, which would prolong Vancocin's market
exclusivity, and we are therefore raising our outer-year Vancocin
estimates.

Stem-cell-transplant experts were impressed by the strength of the
Phase II maribavir data, and expect that it will be replicated in
the upcoming Phase III trials. They believe maribavir has the
potential to become the new standard of care for CMV prevention,
which we estimate to be a $200 million opportunity in the U.S.
alone. We are adding maribavir to our ViroPharma model.

HCV-796 for HCV is being developed in collaboration with Wyeth, and
pleconoril, for treatment of the common cold, is licensed to
Schering-Plough. With strong cash flow, and profitability that
should be sustained over the long term by a promising pipeline, we
recommend purchase of ViroPharma.

Trading at just 10 times our near-term and outer-year earnings-per-
share estimates, we expect ViroPharma shares to outperform the
market by 30% or more over the next 12 months.

-- Joshua Schimmer, M.D.

yippiieeeee; up 10% aftermarket 
ViroPharma Announces Positive Data from Phase 1b Combination Study of HCV-796 and Pegylated Interferon in Hepatitis C Patients
Monday August 28, 5:30 pm ET
- Combination Therapy Produces Significant Reductions in Virus Levels -
- Company to Host Conference Call to Discuss Clinical Results at 9:00 A.M. ET Tomorrow -

EXTON, Pa., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated (Nasdaq: VPHM - News) today announced preliminary data from a Phase 1b study of HCV-796, a unique, orally dosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor being co-developed with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE - News). Preliminary antiviral data are available in the dose range of 100 mg BID to 1,000 mg BID of HCV-796 dosed over a 14-day period in combination with pegylated interferon alfa-2b.

These combination data demonstrate antiviral effects of HCV-796 across multiple genotypes of hepatitis C virus, in treatment-naive adult subjects with chronic hepatitis C infection. Across all dose groups, the combination of HCV-796 and pegylated interferon produced a mean viral reduction of between 3.3 and 3.5 log10 (99.95 percent to 99.97 percent) after 14 days of treatment compared to 1.7 log10 with pegylated interferon alone. During the treatment period, there was no evidence of viral rebound with the combination therapy relative to pegylated interferon alone. No dose-limiting toxicities were seen and although safety data remain blinded, tolerability was consistent with that expected from pegylated interferon.

"These data are clearly very promising as HCV-796 in combination with pegylated interferon appears highly potent with substantial antiviral activity across all doses tested," commented Colin Broom, ViroPharma's chief scientific officer. "To date we have not identified any dose-limiting toxicities with HCV-796 and plan to initiate Phase 2 with the 500 mg BID dose, to be followed by further evaluation of the dose response."

Phase 1b Clinical Trial Description

This 14-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, sequential-group study of ascending multiple doses enrolled subjects with chronic HCV infection who were naive to treatment. Subjects were enrolled in sequential, ascending dose cohorts with a target of 16 subjects (12 subjects receiving HCV-796 and 4 receiving placebo in each cohort). The first cohorts assessed the effect of HCV-796 as monotherapy compared to placebo (data from which were released on November 10, 2005). Subsequent cohorts were comprised of subjects who received pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron; 1.5 ug/kg/dose) on days -1 and 7 in combination with either placebo or HCV-796 (100 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg or 1000 mg) every 12 hours, from days 1 to 14. Sixty-four percent of patients in the combination therapy cohorts were infected with HCV genotype 1. The mean viral load for each treatment group at study entry was >6.0 log10 IU/ml HCV RNA.

Phase 1b Preliminary Antiviral Data

Preliminary data are available through treatment day 14 from subjects in four combination treatment groups (n= 9-11 subjects per group) and on 15 subjects who received pegylated interferon alone.

    *  Across all combination groups, the mean reduction from baseline in
       plasma HCV RNA ranged from 2.1 to 2.7 log10 on day 7 and 3.3 to 3.5
       log10 on day 14.  This compared to a reduction of 1.1 log10 on day 7
       and 1.7 log10 on day 14 with pegylated interferon alone.  Consistent
       with known effects of pegylated interferon, response varied by HCV
       genotype:
         - For genotype 1, mean reduction from baseline ranged from 1.5 to 2.3
           log10 on day 7 and from 2.6 to 3.2 log10 on day 14 in the
           combination therapy groups compared to 0.9 log10 on day 7 and 1.3
           log10 on day 14 for pegylated interferon alone.
    *  Viral reduction greater or equal to 2 log10 at day 14 was achieved in
       70 to 90 percent of subjects in all combination groups compared to 43
       percent on pegylated interferon alone.
    *  At day 14, 30 to 33 percent of patients in the combination groups
       receiving greater than or equal to 250 mg BID of HCV-796 achieved viral
       levels below the quantification limit of 50 IU/mL HCV RNA.

    Conference Call and Webcast

ViroPharma is hosting a live teleconference and webcast with senior management to discuss the clinical results on August 29, 2006 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 391-2548 (domestic) and (302) 709-8328 (international). After placing the call, please tell the operator you wish to join the ViroPharma investor conference call.

Alternatively, the live webcast of the conference call can be accessed via ViroPharma's website at http://www.viropharma.com. Windows Media or RealPlayer will be needed to access the webcast. An audio archive will be available at the same address until September 15, 2006.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus recognized as a major cause of chronic hepatitis worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that 170 million persons worldwide are chronically infected with HCV, and three to four million persons are newly infected globally each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about four million people in the U.S., or 1.8 percent of the population, are infected with HCV.

Currently, there is no specific antiviral agent directed against HCV that is commercially available, and no vaccine for prevention of HCV infection. Several interferon (IFN) products are available worldwide, but there are substantial limitations to the use of these products when given as monotherapy or in conjunction with ribavirin in the treatment of chronic HCV infection. In addition to the relatively poor treatment response in patients infected with genotype 1 HCV, the most common strain in the U.S., Western Europe and Japan, the considerable side effects frequently associated with the use of IFN can lead to discontinuation of therapy in approximately 20 percent of patients.

&


Test-Maker May Be Answer to Recession Fears
By Justin Ferayorni
RealMoney.com Contributor
8/28/2006 2:30 PM EDT
URL: http://www.thestreet.com/p/rmoney/biotech/10306061.html

Fears of a recession got you down? Feeling overinvested in real
estate? Join the club. If you get sick over it, there's a chance
you'll end up needing one of Meridian Biosciences' (VIVO) diagnostic
tests.

I can't reliably predict the future of the stock market, so I'm
focusing my energy on finding great recession-resistant businesses
that provide shareholder value. Meridian fits the mold.

The company sells a variety of diagnostic test kits in the U.S. and
Europe for a wide range of infectious diseases such as influenza and
the potentially harmful bacteria C. difficile and H. pylori. Its
success over the last few years has been driven by broad-based product
growth.

Meridian's C. difficile test has been the belle of the ball recently,
delivering impressive revenue growth. By my estimates, its C.
difficile products will account for roughly 25% of its worldwide
diagnostic revenue in fiscal 2006, growing roughly 40% from fiscal
2005. C. difficile can cause severe diarrhea and more serious
intestinal problems such as colitis, and it is easily spread among
hospital patients. Infections can force many patients to remain in the
hospital and undergo surgery for intestinal perforations, and can even
lead to death. The bacteria have become more resistant and virulent as
well, and breakouts over the last couple of years in the Midwest and
Canada have made headlines.

Meridian has developed a rapid diagnostic test that is highly accurate
and delivers results within 15 minutes. Because it sells for three
times the price of its batch diagnostic test, it has reaped strong
revenue growth from existing customers who have migrated to using the
rapid diagnostic. The increasing incidence of C. difficile infections
and a strong marketing push by Viropharma (VPHM) for its antibiotic
treatment have set up a perfect storm to drive demand for Meridian's
C. difficile franchise.

Meridian's C. difficile test has had a halo effect on sales of its
other hospital-based diagnostics. I estimate that its revenue from
these products in the U.S. has had midteens percentage growth over
2005 year to date.

The company has drivers that will keep revenue growth rolling as the
benefits from the shift of sales to its rapid C. diff. test begin to
wane over the next couple of years.

I believe that the company will do well with products to test for H.
pylori, a bacterium that has been implicated in causing acid reflux.
Every year, doctors prescribe billions of dollars' worth of drugs
called proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium, Prilosec and Protonix,
to treat acid reflux without running a diagnostic to determine if acid
reflux is really the source of patients' problems. In reality, many of
these patients have been infected with H. pylori and should be treated
with antibiotics, not proton pump inhibitors.

Meridian hopes to make some nice profits while saving the health care
system money. A small amount of the company's U.S. sales come from H.
pylori products today, but the company has recently hired a national
account manager to help it land more meaningful managed-care accounts.
Any substantial contracts should have a meaningful impact on a small
company like Meridian.

Meridian is in solid shape financially, and I believe it's a
reasonable value at its current price. It holds over $1.25 a share in
net cash and turns all of its net income into free cash flow. While
the company wants to make some strategic acquisitions to complement
its franchises, it continues to return a solid portion of its free
cash flow to investors through dividends. Its current dividend yield
is about 2%, and I expect that if it follows past practices, it will
increase its dividend in early 2007, which should push the yield to
nearly 2.5% at current prices.

Earlier this month, it raised sales guidance for fiscal 2007 to
between $118 million and $123 million, 10% to 15% higher than the $107
million consensus estimate. It also said it expects earnings per share
between 83 cents and 87 cents, which would be a 24% to 30% advance
over the 67 cent consensus estimate for fiscal 2006.

The company has historically been reasonably conservative, and I
believe its guidance is very achievable.

The stock has surged recently along with the market. I feel
comfortable buying Meridian's stock in the low $20s per share,
considering its growth outlook, healthy dividend and commitment to
shareholder value.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the time of publication, Ferayorni was long Meridian Biosciences,
although positions may change at any time.

Justin Ferayorni, CFA, is the founder and principal of Tamarack
Capital Management and was an analyst and portfolio manager at
Bricoleur Capital. Under no circumstances does the information in this
column represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. Ferayorni
appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email.


There's a new test to detect C.Diff so Vaco = prescriptions will go up even more!!
update from IRC:
For the week ending 8/19/05, the prescriptions totaled 2,062. The
prior year, prior week, 8/12/05 the prescriptions totaled 2287,
which was also the highest total for any week in July or Aughust of
last year. This year's number for the comparable weeks are 497 and
244 higher! The average of the weekly prescription numbers for the second
quarter is 2,503.85. So far in the third quarter, the weekly average
is 2524.29. From the weekly prescription numbers for the first 7
weeks of the third quarter, it appears there is no fall off in
demand!

this will be a nice run back to the 20 $ area !!
3SoF, will you take a position offically  ?[/u][/color]

cheers
Oliver