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

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (56)	12/27/1997 2:36:00 PM
From: TheSlowLane	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

FDA okays Searle arthritis drug Arthrotec SKOKIE, Ill., Dec 24 (Reuters) - G.D. Searle & Co, a unit of Monsanto Co (NYSE:MTC - news), said Wednesday it had won U.S. marketing approval for Arthrotec, a drug for arthritis patients at risk of getting ulcers from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Searle said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Arthrotec, which the company described as ''the only product indicated to relieve the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in patients at high risk for NSAID-induced ulcers and their complications.'' Searle said patients who had taken the drug in worldwide clinical trials had 65 to 80 percent lower incidence of such ulcers, compared with patients taking common NSAID therapies. Arthrotec is a combination of a commonly prescribed NSAID, diclofenac, and misoprostol, a drug marketed by Searle that reduces NSAID-induced stomach and duodenal ulcers. ''For the first time in the United States, there truly is an arthritis treatment that delivers both NSAID efficacy and improved (gastrointestinal) mucosal safety in a single tablet,'' the company said in a statement. Searle said about 25 percent of arthritis patients who take NSAIDs develop ulcers and related lesions, leading to 7,600 deaths in the United States each year. ---------------------------- I'd be interested to hear if anyone has opinions on Monsanto vs. Novartis in the GES area. I just read through this whole thread and thought it was interesting that I didn't find any references to Novartis as from what little I know, they are working in the same area (GES is just one of the many things Novartis is developing). I have been following Novartis for several months and have just started checking out Monsanto. Thanks...