Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat, what’s your investment opinion on Anadys Pharma. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, $6.25, symbol ANDS on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 28.9 million; Market cap: $180.5 million), is developing new drugs to treat hepatitis C and cancer. San Diego-based Anadys first sold shares to the public at $7 each, and began trading on the Nasdaq in March 2004. In the United States, once a new drug clears the initial testing phase, it must pass the three main stages of clinical evaluation used by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In Phase I trials, a small group of 20 to 80 healthy volunteers is selected to assess the new drug’s safety, tolerability and possible side effects. Phase II trials involve groups of 20-300 people. These assess how well the drug works and continue Phase I safety assessments. When a new drug fails, it usually occurs during Phase II. Phase III studies are the strictest scientific trials. These are conducted by two or more clinical research centres on patient groups of 300 to 3,000. They aim…