Pfizer Now Forced To Play Catch Up -- In Burgeoning "New Order" Oncology Wards... [Power Alley, Again.]

It is no secret that I've long been a critic of the departing Mr. Read's penchant for "financial engineering" in deal-making, and in R&D. It seems his sole legacy will turn out to be. . . failing. . . in actual drug discovery. Pfizer is a financial juggernaut, so it can now spend -- and spend pretty wildly -- to buy its way back into the global oncology wars.

Real leadership, in immuno-oncology, at least -- may be a good distance off for Mr. Bourla, the new Pfizer leader -- since that area is increasingly dominated by Merck and BMS. We shall see -- but it is crystal clear that Mr. Read's failed $120 billion gambit in the UK for AZ. . . was both a wasted opportunity, and the distraction of his mega-sized financial trickery. . . caused this multinational pharma to largely miss out, on the "next big thing".

Here is a bit, from the presser, in any event:

. . . .Array’s portfolio includes the approved combined use of BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI® (binimetinib) for the treatment of BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The combination therapy has significant potential for long-term growth via expansion into additional areas of unmet need and is currently being investigated in over 30 clinical trials across several solid tumor indications, including the Phase 3 BEACON trial in BRAF-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women. An estimated 140,250 patients were diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum in 2018, and approximately 50,000 are estimated to die of their disease each year. . . .

Here's to hoping that Mr. Bourla values real discovery more than Mr. Read did -- that he will in time, find at least some of the wisdom. . . of Mr. Frazier. Onward, into the clearing morning fogs. . . . grinning.

नमस्ते