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Biotech / Medical : Ribapharm Inc. - RNA -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: REH who wrote (33)	5/14/2003 2:20:45 PM
From: Don Green	Respond to of 60

US cracks down on Net SARS scams 14 May 2003 AFP - US regulators have launched a crackdown against website operators offering bogus prevention or treatment for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement Friday they found 48 sites touting a wide variety of treatment or prevention products and told them to remove any such claims from the internet or face prosecution. "The two agencies sent warnings to website operators and e-mail solicitors, cautioning that it is against the law to make claims about SARS protection or treatment, or any other health benefit, without rigorous scientific support," a joint statement by the regulators said. "The FTC and FDA staff will follow up by revisiting the targeted sites to determine whether the Web site operators have deleted or revised unproven claims." The effort by US regulators was coordinated with the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services in Canada. Some sites that promised consumers would be protected from the pneumonia variant if they purchased such items as personal air purifiers, disinfectant sprays or wipes, respirator masks, latex gloves, dietary supplements or other SARS "prevention kits." "Scam artists follow the headlines, trying to make a fast buck with products that play off off the news," said FTC consumer protection chief Howard Beales. "Our message to e-marketers making deceptive claims is 'change your site to comply with the law.' At the same time, our message to consumers is 'hold on to your money.' No products have been found effective in preventing, treating, or curing SARS." "Doctors and health care experts around the world are working hard to find treatments for SARS. Until they succeed, there any common sense actions people can take to protect themselves from SARS and other respiratory infections," said FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan. "Bogus products from questionable Web sites do no good, and can actually make matters worse by providing a false sense of protection."

To: REH who wrote (33)	5/14/2003 2:24:37 PM
From: REH	Respond to of 60

Ribapharm Director Buys 10,000 Common Shares DOW JONES NEWSWIRES WASHINGTON -- Ribapharm Inc. (RNA ) director James Pieczynski bought 10,000 common shares, according to a filing Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pieczynski purchased the stock last Friday for $4.66 a share and held 10,000 shares after the transaction. Shares of pharmaceutical developer Ribapharm recently traded at $4.59, down 11 cents. -Robert L. Grant; Dow Jones Corporate Filings Alert; 202-393-7851 robert.grant@dowjones.com Updated May 13, 2003 3:49 p.m.