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 : PFE (Pfizer) How high will it go? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mkilloran who wrote (5623)	9/19/1998 11:02:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9523

With this Muse, erections are a pill away SEP 19 1998 The Straits Times By LEA WEE A NEW way to deliver a drug to help impotent men get an erection will be launched officially today at the Asian Congress of Urology. Muse (Medicated Urethral System For Erection) involves inserting a pellet containing the drug alprostadil into the urethra in the penis. Previously, doctors had to use a syringe to inject the drug into the penis. Muse has been tried by about 100 impotent men in Singapore in an ongoing trial that started in January this year. Early results show that six out of every 10 men had an erection within minutes. The erection would last for about 30 minutes to an hour. About 3 per cent of the men had minor side effects. They included aching in the penis and groin, dizziness, flushing and minor bleeding due to improper administration. These results are comparable to those elsewhere, said National University Hospital urologist Li Man Kay, who will present the findings at the congress today. The men studied are from the Singapore General Hospital, NUH, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the New Changi Hospital. The drug alprostadil is similar to a naturally-occurring substance in human semen which opens up blood vessels to increase the blood flow to the penis to cause an erection. It has been used to treat impotence for the last six to seven years and is safe and effective, said urologist Peter Lim from the Changi General Hospital. Dr Li added that unlike Viagra, alprostadil can be used for patients with heart problems, renal or liver failure. While Viagra causes an erection only when a man is stimulated sexually, alprostadil does not require any mental stimulation for the blood to rush to the penis. Said Dr Lim: "Thus, it works better for patients with very bad blood flow, for instance, patients with severe diabetes, or paraplegics." But the doctors cautioned that Muse was not suitable for all impotent men. Such men would include those who are hypersensitive to alprostadil, have an abnormally-formed penis, or who have conditions that might result in long-lasting erections, such as sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia or tumour of the bone marrow. straitstimes.asia1.com.sg

To: Mkilloran who wrote (5623)	9/19/1998 11:06:00 AM
From: Sonki	Respond to of 9523

Re: death of a man who is NOT taking nitrates and PFE's response. ------------------------------------------------ A Dutch man suffered a heart attack 30 minutes after taking the PFIZER INC's anti-impotence pill Viagra even though he had no medical condition that could cause adverse reactions to the drug, doctors said. The doctors, from the Inspectorate of Health Care in the Netherlands, reported the incident in a letter in The Lancet medical journal published three days after the pill was approved for use in Europe. The 65-year-old man was not taking nitrates, had no history of heart or liver problems, high blood pressure or diabetes, never smoked and was a moderate drinker. _____ Pfizer response PFIZER INC. said there was no evidence that its impotence drug Viagra caused heart attacks or strokes. In response to a letter sent by doctors to the Lancet magazine outlining the case of a 65-year-old Dutch man who died 30 minutes after taking the drug, Pfizer said: "To date over three mln men have been prescribed approximately 35 mln Viagra tablets. This experience provides a consistent picture of the safety of Viagra when used appropriately." Pfizer noted the doctors writing in the Lancet stated it was unclear to what extent pre-existing coronary artery disease may have contributed to the onset of a heart attack in the patient. (Reuters 07:07 AM ET 09/18/98)

To: Mkilloran who wrote (5623)	9/19/1998 11:06:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 9523

Asian task force to tackle impotence The Straits Times, SEP 19 1998 A NEW all-Asian task force was announced yesterday to tackle erectile dysfunction. The problem is estimated to affect about half the men in Asia aged 40 to 70. The Erectile Dysfunction Advisory Council and Training (Edact) is made up of doctors from hospitals and clinics in 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It will develop programmes to help improve public awareness and doctors' understanding and management of impotence. The Edact chairman, Professor Hyung-Ki Choi from South Korea, said that it is "a tragedy that many men suffer in silence because they are too embarrassed to seek help". He said about nine out of 10 men with erectile problems do not see the doctor. He added: "Many cases remain undiagnosed because both doctors and patients are reluctant to discuss sexual function." Also, awareness among doctors is generally low on what to look for and how to treat impotence. An Asian Edact website, (http://www.asianedact.org.hk) was also launched yesterday. It provides information on impotence for both doctors and patients. Meanwhile, the Singapore Urological Association here has submitted guidelines on Viagra to the Health Ministry for circulation to general practitioners, said Dr Christopher Cheng, urologist at the Singapore General Hospital. The guidelines advise doctors on the correct use of the drug. For instance, it gives a checklist of conditions which are not suitable for Viagra use. These include heart patients on nitrates and those with serious heart problem. straitstimes.asia1.com.sg