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Biotech / Medical : Pharma News Only (pfe,mrk,wla, sgp, ahp, bmy, lly) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (116)	5/29/1998 11:46:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 1722

(AP) - Entrepreneurs Exploit Viagra Craze MAY 29, 17:10 EDT By LINDA A. JOHNSON AP Business Writer TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Manufacturers of audiotapes, herbal remedies, even sunglasses, are using the flimsiest links to Viagra to make a buck off the impotence pill craze. Las Vegas-based BluBlocker Corp. says its BluBlocker Viagra shades help mask the blue tinge Viagra adds to some users' vision. ''This is crass commercialism,'' concedes BluBlocker chairman Joseph Sugarman. ''I just couldn't resist the opportunity to tie in with that product.'' While some companies might be reaching a little far to take advantage of Viagra, others say they're merely acknowledging a link consumers have already made. Bradley Pharmaceuticals, maker of a vaginal lubricant, is using this pitch: ''What Viagra does for him, Lubrin does for her.'' Bradley executives say they have noticed a jump in sales that they attribute to Viagra - or more precisely, an increase in the number of aging women bothered by vaginal dryness who are dealing with reinvigorated Viagra users. Marketing vice president Gene Goldberg hopes to ride the trend by increasing production dramatically of the vaginal suppositories and introducing a new liquid lubricant months ahead of schedule. Some companies are clearly flouting trademark laws, and Pfizer Inc., the maker of Viagra, is fighting back. ''We expect that there will be copycats or attempts at coattail marketing,'' spokesman Andy McCormick says. ''When they step over the line in terms of the law, we will step in.'' That's already happened in three cases, says Nels Lippert, an attorney for Pfizer. Blublocker's Sugarman says he will probably give away the 200 pairs already made, after Pfizer lawyers threatened a lawsuit ''that kind of dampened our enthusiasm.'' Two other companies have run afoul of Pfizer attorneys since Viagra was approved for sale on March 27. Both sell herbal supplements over the Internet and were promoting sexual potency products with extremely similar names: Vaegra and Viagro. ''They've capitulated,'' after being hit with trademark infringement suits, Lippert says. Courts in Georgia and New York promptly issued temporary restraining orders barring businesses called the Institute of Sexual Research and Consumer Protection Services from selling the products. A maker of audiotapes with subliminal messages, HypnoVision Inc., has gotten nearly 1,000 orders for its mood-enhancing tape, newly reworked to include messages like, ''My body works perfectly during sex because my Viagra is working.'' Durex Consumer Products, the world's top condom maker, says sales began climbing slightly about five weeks ago as pharmacists started stocking Viagra. Condom Express, which distributes condoms and ''intimate lubricants'' over the Internet, says sales of both more than doubled starting in March, when hype about Viagra's anticipated arrival began. ''I don't know if it's from Viagra,'' company president Bruce Gasparre says. ''It's quite possible.'' Pharmaceutical industry analyst Hemant Shah in Warren, N.J., expects an increase in sales of the pill as younger men, and even women, experiment with Viagra.

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (116)	5/29/1998 11:48:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 1722

(AP)- Drug Cos. Work on Impotence Drug MAY 29, 21:37 EDT By EILEEN GLANTON AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) - While the frenzy for Viagra continues, drug companies are developing competitors that could work faster or eliminate some of the side effects of the impotence treatment. The market is vast and its growth has been phenomenal. More than 1 million men have filled prescriptions for Viagra, made by Pfizer Inc., since it was approved by federal regulators March 27. Analysts say Viagra could reach $1 billion in sales this year. The next impotence drug isn't likely to emerge until next year, and by then, drug makers looking to cut into Viagra's market share may fare better if their treatments work faster or last longer. ''The second or third drug on the market, as long as it's safe and effective, should also do well,'' said Hemant K. Shah, an independent industry analyst in Warren, N.J. ''But Viagra will be quite entrenched.'' Zonagen Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas, may be next in line. It recently completed clinical tests on Vasomax, which dissolves more rapidly in the stomach than Viagra. Jean Anne Mire, the company's vice president of investor relations, said a sexually stimulated patient can develop an erection within 15 to 30 minutes of taking Vasomax. Doctors recommend taking Viagra about an hour before sex. Zonagen expects to formally ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the drug by the end of June, Mire said. Tap Pharmaceuticals' apomorphine is in the final stages of clinical trials, and could be used alone or in combination with Viagra, said Dr. Harin Padma-Nathan, director of the Male Clinic in Santa Monica, Calif. Apomorphine affects the brain chemicals responsible for sexual response, whereas Viagra works directly on the penis. Pfizer itself is working on a Viagra wafer that could dissolve in the mouth in seconds, which would let patients take the drug only minutes before sex. Future impotence drugs may also be designed to eliminate some of the side effects experienced by Viagra users. Little-known Icos Corp., of Bothell, Wash., saw its stock rise 30 percent Friday after Business Week magazine reported its impotence drug causes fewer side effects than Viagra. Lacy Fitzpatrick, associate director of investor relations for Icos, said its drug, which doesn't yet have a brand name, could come to market in 2000. Like Viagra, it blocks enzymes that inhibit erections, but it targets the enzymes more selectively. Most Viagra users have experienced mild side effects, including a stuffy nose, headaches, and a blue tinge to the vision. Six Viagra users have died, three due to a combination of Viagra with nitroglycerin or related heart drugs. The other deaths have been attributed to heart attacks or strokes following sex. Pfizer warns patients not to combine Viagra with nitrates. Padma-Nathan said that given the large number of Viagra users, and the fact that most have existing health problems, the side effects have been minimal. ''This drug really is the gold standard,'' he said. ''It is exceedingly safe.'' Meanwhile, the market for Viagra appears poised to expand. A scientific advisory panel Friday gave Viagra a positive review in the European Union, improving its chances for being sold in its 15 member nations.

To: ChinuSFO who wrote (116)	5/30/1998 10:25:00 AM
From: Early Out	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

OT from news, this is my last post here unless I'm posting news. John, this is a thread of decent folks who do not engage in ridiculing the views and opinions of others Neither my post nor your original post, your response, or this response, belong on this thread, *Pharma News Only. I felt the biased VVUS post demanded a response, and yet as I was trying to respond I just found it so ridiculous, especially being on this thread, that I couldn't come up with a reply that wouldn't be completely attacking. Therefor, I didn't post it. However, you are right that it probably would have been best to say nothing. It seems that you have lost your shirt on Vivus and had the experience of "sour grapes".* I have never held a long or short position in VVUS, and never will. I don't like the company or its prospects, but I believe it is also a dangerous short, and therefor will stay completely away. However, as you can see the investors are going crazy over any ED drug, Viagra or not. Otherwise how do we explain the behavior towards ICOS. I think investors are going crazy over oral solutions to ED, hence the Viagra craze and ICOS ramping up yesterday. While it appears ICOS is more than just a one drug company, I know nothing of it and won't invest in it solely based on a drug they have that is in Level II trials. Does anyone know the percentage of drugs in Level II that make it to market? I'd bet 5%. Now that I reread your original note, I do notice your disclaimer to do your own Due Diligence. You are right, of course, and I appreciate the fact you added it. Let's keep these notes off the News thread and move them to where they belong: *Vivus: into single digits* or private mail. Good luck to you in your investments. -jsc