Theratechnologies Inc T.TH

Partnerships

[SPCEO1]

On both of TH's pipeline assets, they suffer from a lack of respect from the medical and investment community. With NASH, TH came in through the back door of Dr. Grinspoon's NIH funded phase II on HIV NASH patients so no one saw them as a player in NASH and still don't. On cancer, they get a little more respect but the PDC approach is new and no one other than TH evidently showed much interest in it when Katanna was up for sale. Also, TH is a small Quebec based company and does not spend a fortune on medical research. So, they don't get much respect for cancer either, although Soleus' presence as the largest shareholder indicates that may be changing.

One thing that could quickly change the respect level for TH's pipeline are partnerships. Given the platform nature of TH-1902, it would seem like the most logical place for partnerships to arise since TH could easily hive off certain cancers to a partner while retaining others for itself. It still seems a bit early for that as more value in any partnership could be obtained after phase I was completed. But given how many potential cancer types Sort 1+ technology could be chasing in the years ahead, I could imagine some larger pharma compnay might be interested in establishing a foothold with TH by doing an early partnership just to have an option to be in the pole position for any future opportunities for an expanded partnership or takeover that may arise. I still think a takeover is likely if the cancer phase I looks promising as TH really does not have the R&D manpower to undertake the latter stage testing on what would then be a very important potential cancer drug.

But a NASH partnership makes more sense to do now. We already know that TH does not have the capability to market Egrifta to tens of thousands of US NASH specialist doctors. So, they are going to need to do a deal with someone just to market it if Egrifta does eventually get approved for NASH. Clearly, however, there are also many research aspects to any NASH partnership that could be interesting as well. A partner could take over the research completely or there could be a variety of gradations about what each partner might be responsible for. A partnership could also be set up to test a combination therapy. And it makes a lot of sense for TH to do a NASH partnership as they really don't have much internal R&D capability on NASH since Dr. Grinspoon actually did most of the work and for Christian, cancer is much more in his personal wheelhouse. 

So, there seems to be good potential for partnerships in both cancer and NASH but I suspect NASH is the most likely initial target. Cancer is just too early and the upside is gigantic. The commpany also seems to feel like its propsects in cancer are pretty good. NASH prospects are also quite large but there is more competition, the IP situation is not as strong as cancer and they really don't have a ton of internal expertise in NASH. Moreover, the cost of a NASH trial is considerable and that cost is only going to go higher as a result of any positive interaction on the pahse III with the FDA and EMA. 

If I were TH, I would be looking hard at partnerring in NASH sooner rather than later. I imagine we would need to have the FDA protocol in place before anythign can happen on that front but we should have that soon. And any partnership would bring instant credibility to their NASH program and I would hope the stock would reflect that increased credibility as well.

[scarlet1967]

I think as you said the partnership will bring much needed funds add more credibility to the programs /whole company and de-risk the trials so great idea. That's another reason why the company should start marketing the programs yesterday. Sometimes deals like this takes months to finalize so get out there and send a loud and clear message what your science is worth. 

[SPCEO1]

Well, TH has been looking for a person to help them put together partnerships for at least a couple of months now, so chances are they started the process some time ago. 

[qwerty22]

I mostly want to believe NASH has been challenging that's why it has taken so long. A small part of me wants to hope they've been treading water, waiting for a partner. Mitigating the cost risk of NASH would be great.

[canadapiet]

Wow,  now we are talking here about "a partner"....... Something i mentioned over and over years ago when talking with Mr. T. and recently Mrs. G. !!! They want to keep it "inside" the company because that will reward the shareholders the most.............!!! Hilarious, isn't it??? Good luck

[scarlet1967]

The possible collaboration with other pharmas has been addressed here sines the Stone Age

[qwerty22]

They'll take what's good for them or whatever they can get, whichever is the highest. Think OO.  

[Wino115]

Getting any upfront payments could be an interesting negotiation since any meaningful number the partner could turn around and just say that amount is worth 20% of your company, why should I pay so much more than the market?  (as a hypothetical).   Another reason you need to have both further pipeline development to crystalize your science and a larger market cap to bolster your ability