Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly) Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly)

PFE 24.67

-0.9%

10:53 AM EST

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (431)	6/29/1998 6:31:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) of 1722

London Telegraph: Ministers move to stop Viagra becoming a 'fun' drug By Jon Hibbs, Political Correspondent June 29, 1998 THE Government is to intervene to prevent the anti-impotence drug Viagra from becoming a "pleasure pill" freely available on prescription. Ministers have decided that if the tablets are licensed for use by the National Health Service later this year their distribution must be strictly controlled. The move follows a strong warning about the potential health risks of the product from the Medicines Control Agency, which is examining whether Viagra should go on sale. Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary, signalled his concern yesterday that Viagra in America was being promoted as a recreational aid. "I didn't think it was a relaxation drug really - quite the reverse," he told BBC1's Breakfast with Frost. "Its up to the official body to check whether it is safe. If they decide that it is safe, then the advice we will offer to the NHS is that it should be available providing there are good, sound clinical reasons for it. But if people just go rushing round to their doctor and say, 'can I have some Viagra', because they've lost a bit of their zeal, I don't think they're likely to succeed." Viagra is available on private prescription in limited circumstances. Doctors who recommend it as part of a course of clinical treatment can supply it only to a named patient. Similar restrictions would be imposed to ensure that NHS doctors take personal responsibility for prescribing the drug if it is licensed by the MCA, which is due to report in the autumn. Pending the official investigation, which is taking place in parallel with a similar evaluation by the European medicines agency, it remains illegal to sell Viagra in Britain and even advertising it is a criminal offence. "Viagra is a powerful medical product and should be used only in accordance with the directions of a doctor," the MCA said in a statement this weekend. "People run very real risks with their health if they obtain it from other sources such as mail order or the Internet and take it without the direction of a doctor. We strongly advice against buying Viagra this way." telegraph.co.uk

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next