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Biotech / Medical : Matria Healthcare (MATR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gregory Cole Brock who wrote (142)	4/23/1998 11:51:00 AM
From: GREATMOOD	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 220

Greg, I don't know the percentage, but large part of their maternity management business involves the use of terbutalene to delay labor. Doctors and high risk mothers have had success with terbutalene therapy for about 15 years. The only thing that changed is that a letter from the FDA was sent to physicians questioning the off-label use of terbutalene. Will doctors and HMOs deny their clinical experience and change their clinical procedures because of that letter? What will physicians now do to try to improve the chance of preventing the morbidity and mortality of the premature child? Will they leave themselves open to lawsuits for denying high risk patients a therapy option that can possibly improve the child's outcome? Will HMOs refuse to administer terbutalene and instead pay for more very expensive neonatal intensive care? Will the FDA be as responsive to the petition from the "Best For Baby" organization as they were to the Nation Women's Health Network? Now that the antocin option will not be available, terbutaline is still the "only game in town". The alternatives are to administer the more controversial drug ritodrine, or not manage these women at all before birth. It is my opinion that those doctors and payers that have had success with terbutalene will continue to use it when needed. IMO, Matria will continue to have a terbutalene business, but they will need revenues from outside sources if we are to see higher stock prices. GM