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 (673)	8/24/1998 10:15:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 1722

08/24 09:49 Monsanto <MTC.N> says Celebra gets priority status ST. LOUIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Monsanto's G.D. Searle & Co. said Monday that its Celebra arthritis drug has received priority review designation from the Food and Drug administration. Celebra's submitted indication is for acute or chronic use in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and for pain management. Searle and Pfizer Inc. <PFE.N> will develop and sell Celebra in all areas of the world except Japan. moneynet.com@NEWS-P2&Index=0&HeadlineURL=../News/NewsHeadlines.asp&DISABLE_FORM=

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (673)	8/24/1998 10:25:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1722

Monsanto's Cox-2 Painkiller Drug to Get Expedited FDA Review Bloomberg News August 24, 1998, 9:43 a.m. ET Monsanto's Cox-2 Painkiller Drug to Get Expedited FDA Review Washington, Aug. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Monsanto Co. said its experimental painkilling drug, one of a new class of drugs with multibillion-dollar sales potential, will get a faster-than-usual review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The so-called priority review designation generally means that the FDA will decide whether to approve the drug within six months instead of a year. If all goes well, that could mean the drug will be on the market in early 1999, said Lori Fisher, a spokeswoman for St. Louis-based Monsanto, one of the world's leading agricultural biotechnology companies. If it wins approval, the drug will be sold with a partner, New York-based Pfizer Inc., maker of Viagra. Monsanto shares rose 1 1/2 to 59. Monsanto's G.D. Searle & Co. unit is seeking approval for Celebra to treat two forms of arthritis and to treat pain. The company won't say when it filed the application. The priority review designation is more good news for Searle, which is racing with Merck & Co., the biggest U.S. drugmaker, to market a Cox-2 drug. The drugs, known as Cox-2 inhibitors, work by interfering with production of an enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2, linked to pain and swelling. Cox-2 also plays a role in other diseases, according to researchers. Analysts are already saying the Cox-2 inhibitors have multibillion dollar potential, based mainly on expected sales in treating arthritis. Other uses for the drugs could help sales skyrocket. Unlike existing painkillers, a Cox-2 inhibitor doesn't suppress a related enzyme, Cox-1, that triggers production of the stomach's natural protective lining. That could reduce the gastrointestinal side-effects existing painkillers cause. --Kristin Jensen in the Washington newsroom (202) 624-1843 /mfr