PLX is developing an alternative to Cerezyme for Gaucher's disease. The CEO made a presentation at the Needham Life Sciences Conference on June 10th. Here's some highlights from conference:

* Proteins, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, vaccines, and cytokines can be produced from Protalix's platform.

* Advantages of using plant cells include reduced cost, alternative medicines can be offered which do not infringe on current patents, mammalian viruses etc. will not be transmitted in the proteins, and scaling up is relatively easy.

* prGCD - GENZ's Cerezyme had 1.25B in annual sales in 2008. Previous data on prGCD in regards to uptake, enzymatic activity, glycosidation profile and half-life look efficacious (in some cases superior to Cerezyme). (Also see pps 8-9 of the annual report.) http://www.wsw.com/webcast/needham31/plx...

* prGCD - Phase III primary endpoint is a 20% decrease in spleen. Recent meetings with the FDA (pre-NDA meeting) and the independent Data Monitoring Committee. "No serious adverse events in the study, things are moving along." NDA toward the end of 2009. Follow on extension and switch-over studies are underway.

* Pipeline includes biodefense, Fabry's disease, and biosimilars.

* No debt, about 40 M in cash, 5 M per quarter cash burn, no taxes in Israel until 10 years after profitability.

http://www.wsw.com/webcast/needham31/plx...