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Biotech / Medical : ABT - Abbott Labs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: RWReeves who wrote (259)	5/23/2000 1:02:00 PM
From: Skywatcher	Respond to of 328

SOURCE: Abbott Laboratories TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. Partners With American Gastroenterological Association for Research Initiative TAP Commits $1 Million for Gastroenterology Educational Grant LAKE FOREST, Ill., May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. announced today that it is partnering with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) to begin a research program known as the AGA-TAP Pharmaceuticals Gastroenterology Research Initiative. Through this initiative, TAP has committed a $1 million educational grant to support several gastroenterological research-related programs. The new AGA-TAP partnership also was announced by Ralph A. Giannella, M.D., President of the AGA, at the organization's Digestive Disease Week, May 21-24 in San Diego. During the first year's activities, the AGA-TAP partnership will sponsor an 18-month clinical trial examining the impact of digestive diseases in America and underwrite two Industry Research Scholar Awards, which will be presented to physicians working in the general area of gastroesophageal function and disease. Additionally, the initiative will fund a new product, a CD-ROM entitled ``AGA Posters of Distinction.'' This CD-ROM, which will allow physicians access to the year's top findings in gastroenterological research, will be available in August 2000. The AGA-TAP Gastroenterology Research Initiative will continue for three years. ``The new long-term relationship between the AGA and TAP is built on our common mission to improve the lives of the patients we serve and help increase awareness of digestive health issues,'' said Art Rice, Vice President, Marketing, TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. ``This partnership, as well our continued research of PREVACID© (lansoprazole), and additional compounds, illustrates TAP's ongoing commitment to the field of gastroenterology and our goal of providing physicians and patients with therapies for a broad range of gastrointestinal disorders.'' PREVACID, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), is one of the best-selling drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, and has played an important role in the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenal and active benign gastric ulcers, and hypersecretory conditions such as Hollinger-Ellison Syndrome. PREVACID has the greatest number of indications and more administration options of any drug in its class. Currently, PREVACID makes up approximately 41 percent of all new PPI prescriptions. Symptomatic response to therapy does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. PREVACID is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. The most commonly reported adverse events include diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea. About TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. is a joint venture between Abbott Laboratories chris

To: RWReeves who wrote (259)	5/31/2000 10:32:00 AM
From: Skywatcher	Respond to of 328

Bayer says to make rival to Viagra FRANKFURT, May 31 (Reuters) - German drug maker Bayer AG (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: BAYG.F) said on Wednesday it plans to introduce an anti-impotence pill for men in two years time which could take on U.S. competitor Pfizer's (NYSE:PFE - news) lucrative Viagra treatment. Bayer, best known for inventing aspirin, said it planned to sell its treatment for erectile dysfunction worldwide from mid-2002. Several companies across the Atlantic are also striving to develop a rival alternative to Viagra. Bayer said it expected to generate as much as 900 million euros ($838 million) in revenues a year from the drug. The compound used in the Bayer pill, which is in clinical trials, is called Vardenafil and is taken by mouth to improve blood flow. ``If we develop this (commercially) we will sell it world-wide,'' a Bayer spokeswoman said. The Leverkusen-based group was conducting tests to see if the drug had side-effects, she added. VIAGRA SUCCESS Pfizer, the second-biggest drug maker in the United States, has enjoyed blockbuster success with its diamond-shaped blue Viagra pill. It has become one of the world's fastest selling drugs and a cultural icon since it hit the market two years ago. Last year alone Pfizer rang up more than $1 billion in Viagra sales. Although more men than ever are seeking to revive their sex lives with medical treatment, Viagra does not work for everybody and comes with its own potentially dangerous side effect. Viagra can cause a deadly drop in blood pressure if used by men taking heart drugs know as nitrates. In the United States demand for treatment had helped to drive up Pfizer's sales. With treatment in high demand rivals are getting ready to challenge Viagra. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide in July whether Illinois-based TAP Pharmaceuticals' new Uprima pill can go on sale. TAP is a joint venture between Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT - news) and Japan's Takeda Pharmaceuticals . Both Schering-Plough Corp's (NYSE:SGP - news) and Zonagen Inc's (NasdaqNM:ZONA - news) Vasomax treatment and ICOS Corp (NasdaqNM:ICOS - news) and Eli Lilly and Co's (NYSE:LLY - news) IC-351 are also in tests. Although a study published in the British Medical Journal last month said Viagra was cost-effective and should be more widely available on prescription, Britain and other countries have rationed the distribution of the pill. Bayer, which is involved in chemicals, healthcare and agrochemicals, said it has not yet established what it would charge for its anti-impotence treatment. ($1 equals 1.074 Euro) chris