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 : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John F Beule who wrote (732)	12/8/1998 12:52:00 PM
From: John F Beule	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

This bodes well for Celebrex, as Pfizer's sales force is numero uno! 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. 17:44:00 12/07/1998 Any redistribution of Bloomberg content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Bloomberg L.P. Any reference to the material must be properly attributed to Bloomberg News. The information herein was obtained from sources which Bloomberg L.P. and its suppliers believe reliable, but they do not guarantee its accuracy. Neither the information, nor any opinion expressed, constitutes a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any securities or commodities.(C) Copyright 1998 Bloomberg L.P. BLOOMBERG, Bloomberg News, Bloomberg Financial Markets, Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg News Radio are trademarks, tradenames and service marks of Bloomberg L.P.