New CF drug!

In my research today, there was an article just published regarding a new research drug that attacks and targets the faulty CFTR gene in patients with CF. I thought it was pretty cool that this company is in the news on thestreet.com announcing the findings for this new drug. I'm definitely researching this company from top to bottom to see if it meets my investing criteria. I put the article on our blog as I know a lot of my fellow cf'ers read it.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals(VRTX - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) said Thursday that its compound targeting the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis was successful in increasing lung function in the interim analysis of a small midstage study.

The company plans to move forward with developing the drug, marking new territory for Vertex, long known as a developer of Hepatitis C treatments. Shares recently were jumping $1.61, or 9%, to $19.44.

Vertex said its VX-770 significantly improved lung function in patients with a genetic mutation specific to cystic fibrosis in a 14-day study.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by a genetic mutation that results in a malfunctioning or missing protein on cell surfaces, which in turn results in an imbalance of salt and water.

Current therapies treat the disease by managing symptoms caused by the salt-to-water imbalance, such as restricted airflow. But Vertex's compound, VX-770, directly targets the missing or defective protein, the underlying mechanism of the disease.

CF patients typically have a 1%-2% decline in lung function each year, according to a standard measurement. By the same measurement, patients in the VX-770 arm of Vertex's phase II-a study saw a statistically significant 10% increase. Patients in the placebo arm, in contrast, had a 1% increase.

The compound also affected other hallmark indicators for the disease, such as sweat chloride levels, which decreased in patients who were treated with VX-770.

"While these are early data, it is unprecedented for an investigational oral compound for the treatment of CF to have such a marked effect on multiple measures of CF disease activity," said Frank Accurso, director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, in the Vertex release.

The company said the drug was well tolerated and adverse events were similar between the arm taking VX-770 and placebo.

In a note to investors, Summer Street Research's Tony Caserta called the data very positive, although the timelines and market potential are unclear. "Nevertheless [it's] a scientific and clinical breakthrough that could treat the underlying gene defect. No approved CF medications do that."

The company now plans a second part of the phase II trial, which will enroll about 16 patients for 28 days, beginning in the second quarter. Vertex said it will also meet with regulatory authorities and cystic fibrosis investigators to find the most rapid path forward for the compound.

It will present the details of the 20-patient study at an upcoming medical meeting. Summer Street's Caserta noted that while the big cystic fibrosis meeting is in the fall, he believes the company will want to get the data out earlier.

Know What You Own: VRTX operates in the drug manufacturers industry, and some of the other stocks in its field include Abbott Laboratories(ABT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Bristol-Myers Squibb(BMY - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Merck(MRK - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Sanofi-Aventis(SNY - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr), Eli Lilly(LLY - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and Pfizer(PFE - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr). These stocks were recently trading at ($53.99, -0.07%), ($21.41, +0.99%), ($44.63, -0.16%), ($37.06, +0.76%), ($50.66, +0.94%) and ($20.68, -0.05%) respectively. For more on the value of knowing what you own, visit TheStreet.com's Investing A-to-Z section.

Down goes the DVD

Jenn started her new Photoshop class tonight. Mads and I were just hanging out around the house, so I decided to take her to the library. We had fun reading books, playing on the bean bags, chasing the other kids around and playing with Lego's.

Since she goes down at 7 pm, I wanted to check out a movie to watch after I got home. We looked around and finally found the new Die Hard movie with Bruce Willis. It wasn't rated R, so I thought it was a nice find. I gave it to Mady to hold on to...she likes to feel needed. Anyways, I wanted to check on a book on the second floor, so I pushed her stroller over to the elevator and pushed up. The elevator opened, and we went in, and right as we passed over the threshold, Mady dropped the movie...it bounced once, and fell straight through the opening for the elevator door...down into the shaft. We both looked at each other and giggled. What's the likely hood of doing that if you wanted to?

I caroused a security guard (if a library can have a "security guard" with no gun), and I told him our quandry. He told me he doesn't have access to the elevator shaft (hmpf, some security guard you are...what if a man with a gun was in there...what would you do then?). He asked me if I had already checked it out. I said "no" and then I realized that would have been a really bad situation. (scenario: "You owe $78 over due fees on a new movie you checked out last year." Me: "No, you don't understand...I never took it home...it's right over there in the elevator shaft...honestly!) May not go over so well...especially since there's no security guard that can fish it out.

I then asked the nice lady at the counter if there were any other copies of that movie. She said no, and that there were 24 people that had requested the movie in front of me and had it on hold, and that it shouldn't have been put on the rack! HA! Not only did I ruin my evening...I've made 24 other people mad too!

A Bettinger Family Easter Celebration!

Did you know that Easter this year is the earliest that it has been since 1913? The last time that it occurred on March 23 was 95 years ago!!! And did you also know that none of us alive today will be around to see it happen again... The next time Easter Sunday will come so early will be in March 2228!! Crazy huh?

Yesterday we had a wonderful Easter Celebration with family. We started off our Easter Sunday by worshiping at church. Mark was in the small drama during the service so we got to giggle at him a bit :) He did great though! Then we heard a wonderful message on the resurrection and the HOPE that we can find in it. I was deeply moved and encouraged by the message.

Then is was off to my house to eat dinner. Mark and I had invited both of our families to our house this year to have Easter dinner. I cooked a non-traditional Easter dinner consisting of:

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, with gravy
Salad with homemade poppyseed dressing
Homemade whole wheat dinner rolls
Corn
Dessert - brownies with strawberries on top, whipped cream, ice cream and chocolate syrup - yep, it was all fat free too ! ha!

It was really fun to make dinner for everyone! The last time I made a big meal like that was Thanksgiving. I kinda like cooking for big groups :)

Madalyn looked super cute in her Easter dress if I may say so myself! I had gotten some plastic eggs to hide for her but considering it was snowing when we came out of church, we nixed that idea! She played with the eggs inside. Grandma got her an "Easter basket" - consisting of books and some fruit bars. Madalyn loved the books - especially the book called "Where's my belly button?" She's obsessed with bellies and belly buttons so my mom hit the nail on the head when she got this book!

Mark and I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter this year! We sure did! We are so blessed to have a great family to spend it with and even more blessed to know Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who died for us and rose again!!! Thank you, Lord!

Life Without Mom

Well, I'm officially Mr Mom for today and tomorrow. Jenn left at 6:00 this morning for some time away at a "Hearts at Home" conference in Bloomington. She'll be back tomorrow around 5:00 pm. That means Mads and I are on our own. Oh boy. I woke her up at 6:45 this morning (she was NOT excited about this) and I took her to Jim Gould's for breakfast with the guys. I've been going to breakfast every Friday morning since before Jenn and I got married. It's become a tradition. We had scrambled eggs and pancakes. She WAS excited about this. She did splendid.

We got home and we played. The weather today has been beautiful. First really nice day of the year. She took a nap this morning and I officially took my first step into the world of Day Trading. Let me just say that this is not a small decision for me. I've really thought about it, talked it over with Jenn and considered the pros/cons. I have REALLY done my homework. In case you're curious, here's how I've prepared myself:

1.) I've read about a dozen books on economics, the stock market, budgeting and finances in the last 15 months
2.) I recently subscribed to the Investor's Business Daily newspaper. I also have a Smart Money magazine subscription.
3.) I subscribe to thestreet.com's daily updates (Jim Cramer's "Mad Money" on MSNBC helps too); I research companies and financial charts and how the market works everyday on the internet
4.) I listen to podcasts
5.) I listen to Bloomberg's daily on XM 129 radio along with the Dave Ramsey Show on XM 165 for budgeting tips when I'm on the road.
6.) I've signed up for an E-Trade online account and I signed up for the real time quotes analyzer

To be honest with you, I find this world of finances, FASCINATING. I can see Jenn rolling her eyes now. Although she has actually picked up some lingo lately. I'm cautiously optimistic that she's going to join me in my day trading fun.

I won't tell you what stocks or bonds I'm trading. I wouldn't want to be held responsible for that type of stuff. If you came to me privately I MIGHT and I stress MIGHT steer you to the particular cap and sector I'm currently focusing on. But nothing specific.

There's so much to learn. This stuff isn't rocket science though. If you read and do your homework, you can tell how things will develop. Take for instance the value of the dollar. It's devaluation in regards to the euro is stressing the economy (along with financials that are holding these sub-prime mortgages and bad creditors), so investors go with options that are secure and can compensate for the weakening buck. Look at gold for instance. It is sky rocketing up as the dollar declines. Things like that. Now, I can tell you about these things because I'm not interested in dropping $970 dollars an ounce for gold, even though it's PROJECTED to go up to $1500 an ounce by the time it's over. For $1000 worth of shares, I dare say I can do more than make $500. In less time for sure.

So, I guess you are curious as to how I did today. Well, I decided not to sell off at the peak share price (I would have pulled in a little over 9%), I believe next week some of the stuff I'm holding will peak way higher than today's peak. These companies have immense projected earnings, especially on the international front, which is important considering the market in the US. All told, I made 2.56% today. Not bad for a day's work. And, not bad considering our ANNUAL interest in our online savings account is 3.00%!

I'm having a blast. Now, I know there is a real ebb and flow with the market, but I have to start somewhere and I think I'm stepping out on the right foot.

Mads and I went for a walk in our neighborhood this afternoon. Found a mini fridge for free on the corner. Took the truck out when we got home and I picked it up. It's really nice and clean. Still trying to decide if I want to put it down by Fred or sell it on craigslist.com. I think I can fetch $20 bucks for it. Still deciding...

My little Mommy

Mady has always liked dolls and bears. When she was younger and I would ask "Do you love the bear?" she would wrap her arms around the bear (or doll) and move her torso back and forth as if she was hugging it. Then she progressed to giving them kisses and "real" hugs, and then this morning we hit a new milestone with the dolls...

I didn't hear her making any noise so I came out of the bedroom to see what she was up to (or in to!) I found her sitting in the middle of the living room floor with her legs out in front of her and the smallest of her babies between her legs. She had gotten a diaper out of her room, grabbed the package of wipes, and was attempting to "change" her baby's diaper. She would open the diaper very meticulously (which is funny because every time I change her I open the diaper up before I start so that it's ready) and either lay the baby on the diaper or lay the diaper on the baby. She was concentrating on what she was doing and was making sure that everything was just how she wanted it! It was the STINKIN' CUTEST THING ever and I got it on video!!!! She sat there for nearly 20 minutes and played. I eventually opened the wipes package and gave her a wipe. She knew exactly what to do with it - she cleaned the baby's diaper area (and even cleaned the baby's eyes and the floor while she was at it!) Here's two of the videos that I took : the first one is Madalyn putting the diaper on and the second is her using the wipe. You can play both at the same time.

(I'm wondering if this isn't our sign to have another baby? ... Madalyn can change all the diapers then! Ha!)

Communication at its best!

Let me just say that I'm really glad that Mark is home from his 2nd hospital stay. It definitely was a long week without Dad!

Madalyn is really trying to talk now. It's almost as if she figures out something new everyday. Here's a really funny conversation that took place earlier this week. Let me preface by saying that Daddy was really tired so he was still sleeping when Mady and I woke up. I got her changed and got her milk for her. She heard him stirring in the bedroom and this is what was "said" :

Mady. "Mom-meee!" (in a very to-the-point type of way)
Me. "yes, baby?"
Mady. (as she's pointing to the bedroom) "DAD!"

It was just really cute to hear her talking and it was even more amazing that she was actually communicating with me. She knew what she was doing and what she was trying to "say." She was letting me know that her daddy was awake!

It's been really cute to hear her when she talks to Mark and I. I'm always "Mom-mee" now (as opposed to the ole "ma ma ma") and Mark is usually "DAD." She calls for mom when she's wanting something or when she's tired or not feeling well. She calls for Dad when she wants to play. I think all kids are like this :) Sometimes she'll even speak to me from across the room or even another room and she'll say "Mom-mee" to which I answer "yes baby?" Then she usually just points to something or jabbers or signs if she can. It's just neat that she understands how to get my attention by calling for me.

She's also said her version of "Amen." We pray with her every night before bed and during mealtimes so she's definitely heard the word amen. Once she said it plain as day and then another time she was saying "men" back to me over and over.

Another one of Madalyn's latest new things is making animal noises. We were reading her zoo book one night and she pointed at the lion. I said that the lion says "roar." The rest of the night she was "roaring." And the funny things was that the next morning when I went in to get her up, she "roared" at me out of the blue! Definitely cute. It's always unexpected too.. in the car, in a store... she never "roars" when you ask her too. Ha! She can "honk" like a goose and today she started to "ooh ooh ooh" like a monkey. It's definitely a riot!!! She's our little animal.

I've not been teaching her very many new signs lately so I was surprised when she signed "drink" at the dinner table tonight. I checked out a couple of board books at the library on signs for babies and she loves to look at them. Yesterday she kept turning to the drink page and I would say "drink" and do the sign. Tonight at dinner I asked her if she wanted a drink and the little scoot signed it. It just goes to show that babies pick up on everything whether you think they do or not!

It's fun to be able to start communicating with Mady. I'm looking forward to some exciting times ahead!!!