Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (214)	6/5/1998 11:43:00 AM
From: Sonki	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

WLA:is this a buy opp? Changes in NIH Diabetes Prevention Program Announced Today PR Newswire, Friday, June 05, 1998 at 10:09 MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Parke-Davis division of Warner-Lambert Company (NYSE:WLA) announced today that it has been notified by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of its decision to discontinue the troglitazone treatment arm of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The DPP is a nationwide research study conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a division of the NIH. The objective of the DPP is to determine whether type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a possible precursor to diabetes. This action by NIH pertains to the experimental use of troglitazone in a non-diabetic population. The NIH has informed Warner-Lambert that all patients in the study taking troglitazone have been informed of this change. However, it does not affect patients who take Rezulin (troglitazone) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Rezulin is an effective and safe drug when used as indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Patients currently taking Rezulin for type 2 diabetes can continue to take this therapy with confidence. The decision of the DPP's Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) was the result of one case of liver failure leading to transplantation in a troglitazone-treated individual. The patient subsequently died, apparently due to complications unrelated to the study or the medication. At the time of transplant, this patient also was found to have a serious lesion and extensive necrosis (localized death of living tissue) in the bowel, which appears to have contributed to the cause of death. This necrosis may have been related to a concurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. This bowel lesion was potentially lethal and its cause, while undetermined, can not be attributed to troglitazone or acute liver disease. This complicated case, and the DSMB's decision with respect to the study, does not change the benefit to risk relationship for Rezulin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Recent changes in Rezulin labeling, which introduced new liver monitoring guidelines, have proven effective. Since then, reported liver events have steadily decreased. Parke-Davis began marketing Rezulin in March 1997 and has extensive post-marketing experience with the drug in nearly one million patients. There is a significant difference between the type 2 diabetes population and those with IGT. IGT is not currently a recognized disease and is not treated with medication. People with IGT may or may not develop type 2 diabetes. Conversely, Rezulin is indicated for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. When type 2 diabetes is left untreated, or when treatments fail to control the disease, serious complications can arise, including cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease and central nervous system disorders. Parke-Davis, a division of Warner-Lambert Company, is devoted to discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing quality pharmaceutical products. Its central research focus is on heart disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, disorders of the central nervous system and women's health care. Warner-Lambert is a worldwide company employing more than 40,000 people and, along with Parke-Davis, is headquartered in Morris Plains, New Jersey. SOURCE Warner-Lambert Company -0- 06/05/98 /NOTE TO EDITORS: Warner-Lambert's news releases are available at no charge through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call fax service. For a menu of Warner-Lambert news releases or to retrieve a specific release, call 800-758-5804, extension 958887 or prnewswire.com /exec/menu?958887 on the Internet. A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiver or electronic darkroom (PC or MacIntosh) capable of accepting overhead transmissions. Call 214-392-0888 to retrieve logo./ /CONTACT: Stephen Mock, 973-540-6696 - Media Relations; and George Shields, 973-540-6916 or Jack Howarth, 973-540-4874 - Investor Relations, all of Warner-Lambert/ Companies or Securities discussed in this article: Symbol Name NYSE:WLA Warner Lambert Co NYSE and AMEX quotes are delayed by at least 20 minutes. All other quotes are delayed by at least

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (214)	6/5/1998 12:29:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

Bloomberg - German Drug Shares Rise Amid New Merger Speculation (Update1) Bloomberg News June 5, 1998, 8:41 a.m. PT German Drug Shares Rise Amid New Merger Speculation (Update1) (Updates with closing share prices.) Frankfurt, June 5 (Bloomberg) - Shares in German drug and chemical makers such as Bayer AG, Altana AG and Degussa AG rose as Sweden's Astra AB's plans to buy a 50-percent stake in a U.S. joint venture sparked expectations of further mergers. ''I can imagine that interest in Astra will grow because Astra is strengthening its position in the U.S. market, which will be the world's fastest-growing drug market in the next few years,'' said Christa Baehr, an analyst at Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG. ''European companies will have to be in the U.S. to be well-positioned.'' Altana rose 5.0 percent, Degussa gained 2.4 percent and Bayer rose 1.9 percent, as talks between Sweden's Astra and U.S.- based Merck and Co. revived expectations of further drug industry mergers. Astra said in March it's seeking a merger partner such as Bayer's drug arm, Zeneca Group Plc or Schering-Plough Corp. Drug makers worldwide have been seeking mergers or acquisitions to increase research and development spending as governments and health insurers demand lower drug prices. Astra, a drugmaker controlled by Sweden's Wallenberg family, is close to buying Merck & Co.'s 50 percent stake in their U.S. licensing joint venture, according to people familiar with the talks. Astra confirmed the talks are taking place without providing further details. Increased Leverage Shares in Bayer, Germany's second-largest drug and chemicals maker, rose 1.55 marks to 85.5 deutsche marks ($48.20) after rising as high as 85.60 marks. Once Astra buys out the venture, it could have more leverage to seek a merger partner, analysts said. And Bayer, which has repeatedly said it's open to mergers and acquisitions, is seen as a likely candidate. Bayer's chief executive said in March the company is open to mergers and acquisitions to boost market share though he said the company isn't in negotiations. A merger between Bayer and Astra ''would make sense,'' said Christian Faitz, an analyst at HSBC Trinkaus in Dusseldorf. ''There would be both marketing and product synergies.'' Bayer spokesman Guenter Forneck declined to comment on whether the company is interested in a merger with Astra. Altana shares closed up 7.1 marks to 148, while Degussa gained 2.75 marks to 117. Bucking the trend, Hoechst shares fell 25 pfennig to 86.5 marks. --Renee S. Cordes in the Frankfurt newsroom (49 69) 92041 200/pgc