Anybody have any thoughts on GSK - GlaxoSmithKline?

[rykarde]

Anybody have any thoughts on GSK? GlaxoSmithKline.

Thanks

[deepinwonder]

I guess I am a bit worried about all those pharm companies because I think that eventually it's going to come out that a lot of their studies are rigged to downplay side effects and one of the guys in the FDA is in trouble right now. I don't know if this one is doing it or not.

[helk]

I would like to check it out a little more, but taking a quick look I like the stock. Looks like it has good potential over the next few years.

[englishman26]

deepinwonder - that just sounds paranoid!

The fact is that approval of a drug is a ridiculously complicated affair and in the end it will always come down to a level of tolerance for potential side effects. Ths is because it's impossible to prove that something doesn't happen - which is essentially what the public/politicians want from the FDA/drug companies. This is different from covering something up. The problem is that lawyers get paid more by twisting people's perception of this.

Sorry - this is a sore point for me! (from a scientific and political, not a finincial, point of view.)

[deepinwonder]

There have been quite a few news stories about it, already, I didn't make it up out of paranoia, englishman. Also have a mother who had two strokes on PremPro, so if you are offended by my statements, tough. I'm just glad she wasn't killed.

[deepinwonder]

Rykarde, I had shares of Merck, but their Vioxx problems got the best of the stock prices and I dumped it on its way down. It’s something to consider, when getting involved with pharmaceuticals, and there have been instances where patients with side effects or death were eliminated from final study results, in various trials of other drugs… just mentioning the possibilities, in case you are considering investing real money in any of these stocks.

Also, my brother in law is a surgeon (personal info deleted), not a politician. He’s married to my sister who had liver damage from (a prescription) in her twenties. My husband's father was just released from the hospital from severe side effects from a drug he took for shingles. Nobody is suing, either, I am just telling you how common it is.

This is disregarding the great fundamentals helk was talking about, it's just about what could happen to the stock if they have any drugs that have those same types problems. I really don't know. I managed to get out of Merck in time (I had invested because of the new herpes vaccine they're working on) so if something happens to this compnay, there may be a way you can get your money out of it, too. I actually made $4 a share.

[englishman26]

Sorry - I didn't mean to sound offended. It's just that for me, rare side-effects are something which is totally normal and possible with any drug. Sometimes I get upset when the public, who see fallibility in every other part of life, somehow expect doctors and scientists to be infallible, able to prove the impossible and generally work miracles. When they don't they get sued.

Having said that I'm sorry about your family that was affected in those ways.

[deepinwonder]

Well, I'm sorry, too, for saying "tough." I didn't mean to offend anyone. :) It's just how common it is, englishman, they are not rare instances at all.

[englishman26]

lol - we just want to make money right! :wink:

[deepinwonder]

Well, we sure don't want to lose any! There are just certain kinds of stocks I am personally avoiding, like ones prone to lawsuits or investigations, but that doesn't mean someone else can't make money off them.

[stockviper]

Investment wise, I saw an article where U.S. Government may want to purchase 4 Billion dollars of bird flu vaccine. There are 2 suppliers and Glaxo was the U.S. manuacturer of the vaccine.

[deepinwonder]

That sounds good! Vaccines are why I tried investing in MRK in the first place and the chicken flu was why I've been avoiding such a great company like Tyson.

[rykarde]

One more note .. I worked for GSK for about 10 years, about 10 years ago. Actually I worked for SmithKline. The 401k they offered was a 6% match in their stock. So, after the merger I have about 130 shares. Just wanted an opinion as I am trying to decide to either hold or sell.

Thanks