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 (295)	6/12/1998 12:52:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

Merck, Monsanto Drugs May Show Promise in Cancer, Alzheimer's Bloomberg News June 11, 1998, 5:53 p.m. ET Merck, Monsanto Drugs May Show Promise in Cancer, Alzheimer's Washington, June 11 (Bloomberg) -- Monsanto Co. and Merck & Co.'s developmental painkilling drugs, already shown to be potent in treating arthritis, may also hold potential for staving off life threatening diseases such as colon cancer and Alzheimer's, according to an article in The New Yorker. Studies in mice have shown Monsanto's so-called COX-2 drug Celebra's anti-inflammatory effect suppresses the growth of polyps which are the first stage of colon cancer; human trials have begun to see if the drug has cancer prevention effects in people too, The New Yorker said. An ongoing study of the brain benefit of a related group of pain drugs called NSAIDS in Alzheimer's patients could point to an even greater benefit with the super COX-2 painkillers, according to Clifford Saper, a Harvard University neuroscience professor quoted by the magazine. The Merck and Monsanto drugs, the first of the COX-2 class which work to suppress inflammation and pain without the stomach and digestive side effects carried by traditional anti- inflammatory drugs, are in the final stages of development and could be on the U.S. market as early as 1999. (The New Yorker 6/15 p. 32) --Kristin Reed in Washington (202) 624-1858 /mfr