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Biotech / Medical : GUMM - Eliminate the Common Cold -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DanZ who wrote (3941)	9/10/2001 10:35:39 PM
From: Mad2	Respond to of 5582

Hi Dan. What do dietary supplements have to do with Gum Tech? As I read TS's post The Senate hearing focused largely on the marketing practices and advertising claims of Braswell and his GB Data Systems Inc., the holding company for at least 10 businesses selling a wide range of dietary supplements. The former chief financial officer of GB Data, Michael O'Neil, told the committee that Braswell's products -- which claim to treat everything from constipation to anxiety -- "could not possibly deliver what is promised in the advertising." The process used to recruit customers, O'Neil added, was "flawed and laden with lies and deception." The Senate panel had subpoenaed Braswell, who allegedly paid Clinton's brother-in-law to press for his pardon, to testify along with Ron Tepper, editor of the Journal of Longevity. Committee aides allege that the journal is used as a "marketing and advertising tool" for Braswell's products. Both were sworn in by Breaux, but they refused to answer questions. Committee aides said they were urged by counsel to invoke their Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination in light of an ongoing investigation by federal prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). "These are clearly cases of 21st century snake oil salesmen," Breaux said. "They sell slick-looking advertisements that look like medical journals but take advantage of the elderly by putting both their health and their finances at risk. It is clearly fraudulent and it simply will not stand." Breaux was critical of existing laws that put the "burden" on the FDA to prove that products are unsafe before they can be removed from the market. That contrasts to the drug market where manufacturers must establish safety and long-term effects to get FDA approval. "It seems to me we have a serious problem which needs to be addressed," he said. While Breaux said legislative changes appeared necessary, other senators said the onus was largely on the FBI, the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies to crack down on abuse using existing laws. "Clearly we must enforce the law, remove the threat of dangerous products from the market, and bring to justice criminals who prey on the frightened and hopeless," said Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, the ranking Republican on the committee. "At the same time, we should remain wary of calls for expansive regulations that may restrict an individual's freedom to make his or her own health decisions." Clearly the article aims critism upon products where claims are difficult to substantiate. This type of attention towards a "unregulated" market of "bioactive" suppliments, nutrients and the like can create collateral dammage in the consumers mind with products from other companies, if not from regulatory agencys themselves. You may recall Reynolds yanked Premire (under threat from anti-tobacco forces) in 1989. The issue then (and now......as Reynolds seeks to market Eclipse) is if its a cigarette, than how safe is it? If it isn't a cigarette......what is it? Ergo a "drug delivery devices" which would take it out of the realm of a consumer product and into the hands of the FDA. From GUMM's 7/20/01 news release At Thursday's Special Shareholders Meeting, Gum Tech announced that it expects to use the proceeds from the asset sale to enhance its marketing and promotional efforts with respect to its Zicam(TM) products, pursue other potential opportunities in the market for innovative nutrient and drug delivery systems, or provide financial support, if necessary, to the Company's joint ventures with Zensano, Inc. and Swedish Match AB. Gum Tech International, Inc. is an innovative nutrient and drug delivery technology company engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of delivery systems for bioactive compounds. Gum Tech is the majority owner of Gel Tech LLC that markets Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy, a patented, revolutionary homeopathic remedy, and Zicam(TM) Allergy Relief, a homeopathic remedy designed to provide relief to allergy sufferers. In a study published in the October 2000 issue of the ENT - Ear, Nose & Throat Journal, Zicam(TM) Cold Remedy was shown to reduce the duration of the common cold by an average of 75% when taken at the onset of symptoms. If you don't see the relevance with TS's post than you being myopic mad2