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 (1207)	12/8/1998 9:04:00 AM
From: Henry Niman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

Today's Bloomberg is discussing Merger Mania in Europe and specifically mentions Astra, Novo Nordisk, Schering, and Zeneca. Details linked to the Merger Mania table at biocognizance.com

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (1207)	12/8/1998 1:26:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1722

HMOs See Rise in Patient Demand for Specific Brand-Name Drugs San Francisco, Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Americans increasingly are asking their doctors to prescribe specific brand-name drugs, led by Schering-Plough Corp.'s Claritin, Pfizer Inc.'s Viagra and Hoechst AG's Allegra, as drugmakers boost spending on direct-to-consumer advertising, a new poll shows. Some 48 percent of officials at managed-care companies surveyed said they've seen a significant increase over the past year in the number of requests for drugs not regularly covered by prescription plans, according to research by IMS Health, which tracks prescription drug sales. That's happened as drugmakers spend some $1.3 billion on direct-to-consumer advertising this year, more than triple what they shelled out in 1995, according to IMS estimates. Managed- care companies say such ads have helped push up use of expensive brand-name drugs, causing an increase in overall medical costs. ''It is troubling to us that we see drug companies that are marketing very potent drugs to improve people's quality of life. quote.bloomberg.com