Yet more on the meeting with managementThere was some discussion around the financing issue. They know they need to assure the market they can handle the possible redemption of the convert in order to attract investors to the stock. So, some sort of financing is going to happen sometime soon. It sure sounded like the debt option is still the main one on the table but I really do not have a firm idea of what they might be up to here. Maybe there is something quite creative on the financing front but it more likely just going to be a sizable debt deal so the market can see they have the funds to redeem the convert if needed in June 2023. They are not burning through much cash and still have enough to run the cancer trial plus some extra. But, biotechs need to have a healthy cash balance to be treated right by investors. I asked if they were to do a debt deal would they also get analyst coverage along with that and I got a very confident affirmative reply. So, maybe the calvary will finally arrive on the analyst front.
On the China partnership deal front, it seems both TH and the Chinese companies are now more interested in waiting for the preliminary efficacy data before moving forward since it is so close at hand. TH is interested in waiting as they want to attract top tier Chinese biotechs to the deal and preliminary efficacy signals will help with that. It will be interesting to see what amount of cash upfront payment might be realized from this potential source. Paul said the interest in a partnership is "as good as it gets" but I suspect the salesman in him was coming out (like when Italy's pricing decision for Trogarzo was a good indicator for the rest of Europe or that there was partnership interest in NASH - CEO's have to say such things but they are half truths at best). Hopefully, anything they might be able to structure on this front will not ultimately come back to bite them.
On NASH, the revised protocol is almost done and they expect no surprises there, so it should be as they have already talked about. Of course, NASH is still temporarily mothballed due to t he water issue (the one plant that produces this water is in India and run by Pfizer) He indicated they are still committed to NASH but one has to wonder how strong the committment is at this point. He is still counting on good MDGL results late this year to stir up interest in NASH among potential financial partners again. I will believe that when I see it. He said TH had done an market study for Egrifta in NASH and got good results from the field about the potential interest in Egrifta for NASH.
Paul again stated that Egrifta sales are rebounding nicely post covid and post the sales force internalization. I will be amazed if they meet their guidance for fiscal 2022 but they are at least off to a good start. Not much was said about Trogarzo sales in the US.
That's about it - hope that helps.