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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2173)	6/16/1999 1:22:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

Celebrex gaining market share: Monsanto's (MTC) Celebrex total prescription market share for arthritis drugs was 20.4% versus 20.1% a week ago. It looks like the strong Merck (MRK) Vioxx launch is so far taking share from the older NSAID products and not from Celebrex. Stay tuned as two strong sales forces (MRK versus MTC & PFE) are battling for supremacy. From Will's Pharmaceutical Commentary (June 15): labpuppy.com

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (2173)	6/16/1999 6:55:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2539

Protestors Destroy Gene Beet At British Farm Show Updated 2:30 PM ET June 16, 1999 By Peter Blackburn ROYSTON, England (Reuters) - Protestors destroyed a trial plot of genetically modified (GM) sugar beet at an agricultural show in eastern England. The attack was the latest in a series on genetically modified crops, both at the show and at some 300 trial sites in Britain. "A small number of protestors in white suits walked through our stand and started to destroy the GM beet plants," Colin Merritt, Monsanto PLC biotechnology development manager, told Reuters. Merritt said the site demonstrated the environmental benefits of using Monsanto Co.'s Roundup Ready herbicide, which he claimed encouraged wildlife by allowing weeds to grow longer and provide a source of food. Environmental campaigners say gene modified crops harm the environment and threaten food safety. "We wanted to show farmers that if they planted genetically modified plants they will be ripped up," Martin Shaw, campaigner for Manchester-based environmental group GenetiX Snowball, told Reuters. Shaw said the demonstration by four activists was peaceful and no arrests were made. "While Monsanto demonstrate their genetically modified plants, we demonstrated responsible action by removing the plants for disposal as a bio-hazard," the group said in a statement. Other plots at the show have been attacked in recent weeks, including a non-GM rapeseed demonstration site set up by Switzerland's Novartis AG. "Farming must be allowed to evaluate new technologies free from the threat of anti-democratic behavior," said Steven Smith, Novartis Seeds chief executive officer. A non-GM rapeseed demonstration plots set up by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) has also recently been damaged. "This mindless vandalism is preventing data being collected for deciding on whether to proceed with GM crops," said NIAB marketing director Simon Draper. Monsanto's Merritt said GM trials would continue despite the mounting campaign against them. "It won't stop the GM program," Merritt said. "But it will force us to do valuable research in other parts of Europe." British farmers would have to wait longer before being able to use the new technology, which would make them less competitive. Plant breeders say farmers will achieve higher yields and lower costs by using gene modified crops. The United States is already marketing GM maize and soybeans and plans to bring GM sugar beet onto the market next year. news.excite.com