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

PFE 25.08

-2.7%

Nov 14 9:30 AM EST

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To: Anthony Wong who wrote (793)	9/14/1998 5:01:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) of 1722

09/14 13:27 FOCUS-Doctors regret UK postpones Viagra on NHS (Updates with reaction from doctors, hospitals, Pfizer) By Patricia Reaney LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - British hospitals and health authorities called it a bold step but doctors criticised the government's decision on Monday to delay providing the impotence drug Viagra on the National Health Service. Health Secretary Frank Dobson told doctors not to prescribe Pfizer Inc's <PFE.N> wonder drug to patients through the state-funded medical service until further notice. He said massive interest in the drug whipped up by frenzied media coverage could put a further drain on the cash-strapped NHS and some patients could be denied treatment. Some doctors have predicted the drug, which is likely to be approved by the European Union on Tuesday, could cost more than a billion pounds ($1.68 billion) a year if it is available on demand. "This is a bold step considering all the media hype there has been over this particular drug. At last we know where we stand," said Stephen Thornton, the chief executive of The NHS Confederation. The group, which represents hospitals and health authorities in Britain, said in a statement that it was right for Dobson to issue guidelines about how the best-selling drug of all time should be rationed. He praised the government's openness in recognising that its ready availability would have led to "huge financial problems and organisational chaos" for the health service. But the British Medical Association had a different view. "There has been an enormous amount of publicity about Viagra and this will have increased the expectations of patients with erectile dysfunction. Therefore I regret the postponement of a decision about the use of Viagra in the NHS," said BMA chairman Dr Ian Bogle. The BMA, which represents tens of thousands of doctors, called for a "clear decision from ministers" as soon as possible about Viagra. Pfizer described the decision as "perverse" and said it would deprive thousands of men in Britain with a serious medical condition from receiving treatment. "The government has had two years to decide what to do about it and still hasn't made up its mind. We're very disappointed that the government has chosen to do this considering that Viagra is the most convenient and cheapest available treatment for erectile dysfunction," a spokeswoman told Reuters. The decision "seem to be entirely based on cost and the patient comes last", she added. Contrary to predictions that the pill could cost one billion pounds a year, Pfizer estimates that after five years the bill to the NHS would be 50 million pounds if it was freely available. Pfizer claims about 150,000 men will probably be prescribed the pill on a regular basis. Each blue tablet is expect to sell for 4.84 pounds. The European Commission is expected to approve Viagra for sale in 15 countries in Europe on Tuesday. It could be available within days of EU Industry Commissioner Martin Bangemann signing the authorisation. Britain is Pfizer's largest market outside the United States and Japan. The drug, originally designed for patients with heart conditions, is expected to earn more than $1 billion for its New York-based manufacturers. ($1=.5971 British Pound) moneynet.com@NEWS-P1&Index=1&HeadlineURL=../News/NewsHeadlines.asp&DISABLE_FORM=&NAVSVC=News\Company

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