PharmAthene, Inc. (AMEX:PIP)

First, let it be clear I am no expert and only have a lay view of the PIP v SIGA issues as an investor at one point in both firms. IMO your article is written in rather broad strokes - shooting from the hip as it were - clearly indicating your writer as a voice for MF has not looked into this case with an unbiased eye into the legal depth it deserves relative to Delaware law. For one, the LATS, written by PIP, was on paper marked by PIP as "non-binding" and had no final required approval by the relevant others of either company. What seems apparent is that PIP pursued the case in 2006, only after Siga experiments showed the drug's significant efficacy and after Siga paid back an earlier loan (at rather suitable interest) simply to stay afloat, whereas PIP has done no scientific work on the drug - only the loan and a LATS. PIP it seems tried to tie this loan to a LATS - arguing that the loan made the LATS binding; but, the bottom line appears to be that the firms only agreed to agree, without necessary formalization the LATS - I think this is the key issue for the judge to rule given Delaware law. Several other issues it seems the judge must render opinion on may result in a consequence that his ruling(s) could send this case into a virtually never ending appeal by either company, which may by law put the judge "between a rock and a hard place." The game by PIP it seems is 'dialing for dollars,' and the game recently has included chase by a private firm that has a purported smallpox antiviral drug. Coincidentally, the firm has by some opinions evoked an appearance of conflict via purported collusion with Rep Issa (GOP-CA) because the private firm and the Rep use the same lobbying firm. It seems also the firm's goal is to slow down Siga to try to get their own drug to a competitive point, given there is a 2Bil+ potential US and international market estimate raised in a now modified contract between the US/DHHS/BARDA for the Siga drug after FDA approval, an approval said to be within months. Again, I am no expert and claim only a layman's opinion, which may paint in whole or in part an imperfect picture, thus I claim shelter under my constitutional freedoms.

Increasing health care needs and pharmaceutical sales as US population ages.