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Ian, they're clearly in agreement over the water given the sp jump on Nasdaq tonight!

It's important for me, as I'm sure is the case with all LTHs, to check any story, publicly or privately, that might rock the boat. Whilst I'm very confident of the success of Iclaprim, until such time as we get FDA approval and a commercial agreement in place then I can't be 100%. I'm sure you agree.

Link might help!!!

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/at-end-a-bumper-year-for-approvals-fda-hit-by-government-shutdown?

Ian, this was in today's FierceBiotech from FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

References both drug and medical device reviews being impacted. One point worth noting, 'NDAs/BLAs/PMAs have their own product user fee. Companies that have filed and paid the fee can expect FDA to continue the review, even during a shutdown'. I don't know the relevance of this and if MTFB's NDA covered by this category. Any views appreciated

The FDA has been impacted by the US government shutdown - and a happy New Year to you too Mr President!

Around 50% of staff have been laid off but don't know what FDA departments or programmes have been affected. Worth keeping an eye on this as it may have an impact on MTFB's February FDA decision date.

Many thanks Sheltie. I'm sure it will help shift the heavy weight that's been holding the sp down for so long. It might also explain the unusual dominance of buys on Friday's!

Not long to wait now!

Merry Christmas to all MTFBers and best wishes for successful investments in 2019.......particularly around February!

.......to conclude!! If nothing happens I for one will start to get a little uneasy!!

Snaffleman, unfortunately I don't have an answer to your question other than I totally agree with your sentiments. The Nasdaq listing was a debacle and, as yet, no clue why it appeared to go so badly. A couple of observations:

- the current CFO, although interim, joined after the listing so is not to blame
- was it pressure from the US IIs - Sand Grove & BofA? Lots of speculation about the relationship, if any, between the pair but no real explanation.
- was it pressure from UK Its on the basis that if you're targeting the US market then you need a US listing?
- Nasdaq is flooded with US biotechs so difficult to raise profile - no excuse imo
- point that has been made on this board a number of times is that big pharma is not interested as Iclaprim is a short term, hopefully one-off treatment. Understandably they prefer investing in life-time drugs e.g. statins
- worth bearing in mind that a number of AIM listed biotechs have gone down the dual listing route and have seen no real benefit other than extra cost e.g. SUMM & MTPH

With regards to your once bitten position, despite the very attractive sp and imminent FDA decision it is still a risk. I would also suggest that if the sp doesn't start moving north in January then the risk is increasing. No matter how tight any negotiations are between MTFB and potential partner/s there will inevitably be leakage resulting in sp reaction. If

Thanks Ivy. No worries though as I fully recognise the need for and value of patience with MTFB. Despite the share price slump as we move towards February's FDA decision, I still have total confidence in the BoD so much so that I took advantage of the low price to add a further chunk to my holding last week.

I don't post much and when I do it's because I've found something particularly irritating or interesting about a post/s. I haven't had a problem with the recent arrival of the de-ramping crew as I'm a great believer in the freedom of speech on these boards as long as views are based on well researched facts. When the integrity of individuals is questioned, particularly when a poster is unlikely to have met the individual/s they are targeting, then I have a major issue. GL and the MTFB board have come in for a lot of unnecessary negativity recently as indeed you have on a couple of occasions. Spoils a good board for me.

The above may appear a tad self-righteous but meeting as many board members before and during an investment cycle is, for me, a vital part of my research. GL has been picked on for not being 'charismatic' whatever that means. One thing's for sure, I'd rather have some serious, dedicated, thoroughly professional individual looking after my money than a loud, back slapping, beer swilling joker of which there are too many in AIM companies (latter description slightly exaggerated but I'm sure you get the point!!).

Another key point about the MTFB BoD is the benefit of complementary skills on a team and it is teamwork rather than individual charismatic brilliance that generally leads to success. GL, JG and DH represent such a team. JG, the interim CFO, has also come in for negative commentary. I had a lengthy 1on1 with him at the last AGM (couldn't get a word with GL as you'd collared him!!) and it was well worthwhile. His contact within the Wall St investment community is exemplary. The spread of skills and contacts between the three of them is excellent and one of the reasons why MTFB has managed to get Iclaprim through to an FDA decision is because of this.

Anybody with any doubts about the BoD do check their CVs on the MTFB website but just as a starter. Then use that information to do some further digging. I'm confident you will be surprised/pleased at what you learn.

Ian B - spot on!

Perhaps it's time for a few of the malcontents on this board to follow the good example of the BoD, as suggested in the last couple of lines of your post, 'all the talking to get it here has been done, so now they wait and stay quiet a few more weeks and rightly so imo.'

Despite the increasing criticism of the BoD, and GL in particular, they have, imo, done an excellent job in bringing Iclaprim through to the point of approval. Furthermore, anyone with even the vaguest knowledge of negotiations should appreciate that you don't publicise progress until the paper is signed - even to satisfy a few disgruntled PIs!!

Many thanks Parob. You do a brilliant job updating and collating the information on Opti's business streams. Presented like this makes it so easy to appreciate the great progress that is being made.

According to the ClinicalTrials.gov website the estimated completion date for the trial entitled 'Harvest of CTCs From MBC Patients Using the Parsortix™ PC1 System' is 31st March 2019. I'm unfamiliar with the process that then follows for medical device approval. For drugs an NDA is then required which takes 6 months followed by an FDA assessment which takes a further 3 months before approval/rejection advised.

There must be the equivalent of an NDA for medical devices. Does anybody know what that is and timescales for such an exercise? With that information it should possible to be more specific about an FDA approval date and then check back with Angle. Still a tad vague for me!

Now now dear, don't get shirty! Probably worthwhile reading your own posts before posting!!

Jolli, you can forget the conspiracy theory!!

A perfectly straightforward explanation in that a broker's letter was issued today to all shareholders (unfortunately I still have a small holding!) covering the appointment of a new nomad and what would happen if one wasn't found by the 1st Feb 2019. Key extract from my letter dated today, 'If a replacement Nominated Adviser has not been appointed by 1 February 2019 then it is expected that trading in the Company’s Shares will be suspended on that date.'

Well said Ivy!

Today's ST Business section has an interview with Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings, the fund that manages the investments for the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Assets amount to £46.2b.

In the body of the interview he talks about the critical shortage of new antibiotics and the number of big pharmas that have closed R&D programmes. However, Novo has launched a fund of £165m to invest in early stage companies developing ABs because of this desperate shortage of new drugs.

Whilst it won't be plain sailing it does highlight yet again the opportunity for MTFB and Iclaprim.

I'd post a link but I'm old school enough to enjoy dipping in and out of the paper during the week!!

Ivy, one thought that supports your view that MTFB won't be going it alone which, by the way, I agree with. If they planned to or were in the process of setting up their own sales team then they would need to appoint a head of sales, at the very minimum VP level. Given timescales that should have already happened. However, an appointment of that level in a company this size would have prompted an RNS of some description. Nothing!

Thanks FLT and Ivy for posting the links. Both new to me and very interesting. The one following Ivy's link, 12th June, talks a lot towards the end about the increasing problems with Vancomycin and how dosage is having to be increased to be effective. Not clear whether that's down to resistance to SoC norm or an effort by hospitals to speed recovery and move patients through faster. Either way it surely increases the peripheral risks and, as a consequence, plays to the strengths of Iclaprim

Sheltie, many thanks. I'm not a particular active poster as you can see by the small number against my name and restrict myself to those boards that only have posters making considered, facts based contributions. Certainly the case here led very effectively by Mr Ivy.

Too many of my other AIM biotechs have boards infested with malicious, spiteful and extremely ignorant rampers/de-rampers completely disinterested in considering another viewpoint. Can't be doing with it. I've been out of circulation for a few days and catching up here see a major increase in posts but thankfully still quality and the ramping, so far, is minimal and readily countered! Long may it last!

Risky, an excellent, balanced and well thought through post. Completely agree with your review