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: LaVerne E. Olney who wrote (7628)	5/7/1999 9:06:00 PM
From: BigKNY3	Respond to of 9523

UK Govt Widens Access To Viagra; Drug-Maker Unimpressed By Michael Reid LONDON (Dow Jones)--The U.K. government Friday widened patient access to Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) anti-impotence drug, Viagra, prescribed by phsyicians to British men through the stated-funded National Health Service. U.K. Health Secretary Frank Dobson extended the list of eligible patients who can get free Viagra treatment following a public consultation on the issue. Dobson has come under intense pressure to widen access from both campaigners and the makers of the drug, U.S. company Pfizer. Dobson has granted access to men treated for prostate cancer, kidney failure, polio, spina bifida, Parkinson's disease and severe pelvic injury to the previously approved groupings of spinal cord injury, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and single gene neurological disease. But he's asking doctors not to prescribe more than one treatment a week for patients. Critics of the policy said the new guidelines will still only allow about 17% of British men suffering impotence to get free treatment on the NHS. Pfizer, the U.S. drugs giant which makes Viagra, said the policy is "strange and bizarre" and will create a two-tier system for victims falling outside the approved groups - those who can bankroll treatment and those who will have to live with impotence. "It's good news that there is a decision - yes there are more conditions included, but there are still a lot of patients who won't have access to Viagra, or to any impotence treatments for that matter," said Pfizer spokesman Andy Burrows. He said men suffering impotence through cardiovascular problems, for example, will have to pay privately for treatment, yet these men have been shown to often be among society's poorest. Finding Treatment, Funding Balance Dobson said his move was in spite of the fact that three-quarters of those who made submissions during the two-month consultation period wanted the prescription of Viagra by general practitioners restricted. "Indeed," he said, "some 10% thought it should be banned altogether." More than half thought all impotence prescriptions should be restricted or banned. "I have also decided that GPs can prescribe impotence treatments to those men not included in the above categories but who were receiving drug treatment for impotence from their GP on 14 September 1998," Dobson said. The changes are scheduled to take effect from July 1. Dobson said he had to find a balance between "treating men with the distressing condition of impotence, and protecting the resources of the NHS to deal with other patients, for example those with cancer, heart disease and mental health problems." But Pfizer's Burrows said that until last year, the impotence treatments were fully available on the NHS. One of the reasons for the government's clampdown is the fear that the provision of full access to NHS prescriptions for impotence sufferers would cost the state-funded system a fortune - somewhere in the tune of GBP50 million. As it stands, the new policy will cost about GBP14 million, up from and estimated GBP12 million for the previous guidelines. Pfizer wouldn't be drawn on what value and proportion of Viagra's global sales come from the U.K., but Burrows said the effect of the U.K. government's interim ban was "to limit prescribing" - which means less revenue. One British company which would benefit from an increase in Pfizer's sales of Viagra is fine chemicals group BTP PLC (U.BTP) which makes half the molecule for Viagra. However, analysts have said the contribution to BTP's revenues isn't sufficient to lead to a share price markup if Viagra sales increase. At 1550 GMT, BTP shares were down 4.5 pence, or 1.1%, at 414 pence. Pfizer shares were up 1 at 117. -By Michael Reid; 44-171-842-9292; Michael.Reid@dowjones.com