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

To: Jay McGranahan who wrote (7759)	5/28/1999 1:50:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 9523

Japan pickup lifts world drug sales in yr to March LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical sales in the world's leading markets rose eight percent in the 12 months to March 1999, buoyed by a pickup in Japan, global healthcare information company IMS Health said on Friday. Sales growth in the U.S, the world's largest market, continued at a stable 11 percent while Europe's five largest markets sustained steady seven percent aggregate growth. But Japan, reversing a longterm downward trend, showed growth of four percent after just two percent growth in the year to February. The revival in Japan, the world's second largest market, was the main driver behind a one percentage point increase in world growth in the period, IMS said. Drug sales in leading markets had increased by seven percent in the 12 months to February. The highest rate of increase in Japanese growth was experienced by respiratory products which, together with genito-urinary drugs, were the fastest growing markets at eight percent. The fastest growing therapy class in the U.S. was musculoskelatal medicine, which increased by 21 percent following the launch of arthritis treatment Celebrex, co-marketed by Searle <MTC.N> and Pfizer <PFE.N>. South American sales eased slightly, with positive growth in Mexico and Argentina offset by a decline in Brazil. IMS detailed retail pharmacy sales as follows, in billion dollars, with growth rates in local currency terms - 12 months 12 months Pct growth to Mar'99 to Mar'98 (local currency) U.S. 76.573 68.675 11 Canada 4.322 4.169 11 Germany 16.074 14.686 7 France 14.434 13.402 5 Italy 9.395 8.551 8 UK 8.531 7.874 8 Spain 5.520 4.913 11 Japan 40.570 40.379 4 Brazil 6.111 6.788 down 10 Argentina 3.629 3.361 8 Mexico 3.400 3.078 10 Australia/NZ 2.529 2.666 10 SELECTED WORLD 191.088 178.542 8

To: Jay McGranahan who wrote (7759)	5/28/1999 1:57:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9523

Drug maker, psychiatrist sued in Hartman case May 28, 1999 LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The executor of Phil Hartman's estate is suing the makers of the antidepressant Zoloft and Brynn Hartman's psychiatrist, claiming she suffered side effects from the drug that caused her to shoot the comedian and then kill herself. Gregory Omdahl, Brynn Hartman's brother and the executor of the couple's estate, contends his sister's psychiatrist prescribed Zoloft to her without properly diagnosing her condition. "Zoloft is an antidepressant that in some people causes violent and suicidal side effects," said Karen Barth, lawyer for Omdahl. Tests conducted after Brynn Hartman's death showed she had Zoloft, alcohol and cocaine in her system at the time of the shootings. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed Wednesday, names as defendants New York-based Pfizer Inc. and Los Angeles psychiatrist Arthur Sorosky. Hartman, 49, star of the television sitcom NewsRadio, was shot to death May 28, 1998, by his wife in the couple's home. Brynn Hartman, 40, then killed herself. A spokesperson for Pfizer could not be reached after business hours Thursday. Sorosky declined comment. A Reuters article on the same subject: Lawsuits Filed In Hartman Case news.excite.com

To: Jay McGranahan who wrote (7759)	5/28/1999 2:06:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9523

BBC: Health - New Viagra challenge Thursday, May 27, 1999 Published at 09:55 GMT 10:55 UK The company that makes Viagra has said it will definitely challenge the government's long-term guidelines on NHS prescriptions of the anti-impotence drug. The company has not yet decided whether this would involve a fresh legal action or taking part in the regular reviews Mr Dobson promised when he placed the drug on a restricted list. Success in any challenge could lead to further embarrassment for the government. On Wednesday the company won a High Court action declaring Health Secretary Frank Dobson's interim guidance on the drug unlawful. A senior Pfizer figure confirmed on Thursday that the company would seek to have the permanent restrictions on NHS use of the drug relaxed. The High Court ruling also meant that Pfizer could now sue the government for millions of pounds worth of damages in lost profits. Guidance restricts drug Mr Dobson first restricted the drug when it was licensed for use in September 1998. He wrote to doctors asking them only to prescribe the drug on the NHS in "exceptional circumstances". Mr Justice Collins ruled on Wednesday that the letter interfered with doctors' legal duty to prescribe what they saw as the best treatment for a patient's condition, and as such broke both UK and European law. However, before the case came to court, the Department of Health introduced specific guidelines for NHS prescribing of the drug. Subject to Parliament's approval, these will become law in July. The full guidance placed Viagra on the so-called Schedule 11 - a list of drugs restricted on the NHS. Although this increased the number of patients eligible for Viagra from 15% to 17% of the impotence sufferers in the UK, Pfizer argues this is still too restrictive. 'Discriminatory and unfair' Andy Burrowes, marketing manager for Pfizer, said: " As far as we are concerned on the Schedule 11 issue, we do believe the proposals are discriminatory and unfair. "We will seek to have the situation changed so every man with erectile dysfunction can get Viagra." The company would make a "relatively quick" decision on whether or not to sue for damages, he said. "At the moment we are still considering the full judgement line by line. We're not ruling anything out." 'The situation has changed' Following the ruling, Mr Dobson said: "This judgement was about the interim guidance to GPs. "The judgement has made it clear that life has moved on and doesn't relate to what we have been doing since then. "The procedure we have followed in developing the new criteria for Viagra on the NHS announced on 7 May is in line with the judgement." But a spokeswoman for the Impotence Association said: "The government's proposals still remain discriminatory and restrictive with only 17% of sufferers able to get treatment on the NHS." First impotence treatment restricted Until Viagra was licensed, the NHS funded all impotence treatments where clinically necessary. However, restrictions on other anti-impotence treatments will come into force on 1 July if Parliament approves the new guidelines. The following men will qualify for anti-impotence treatments on the NHS: Men with diabetes Men treated for prostate cancer or who have had their prostate gland removed Men treated for kidney failure, by transplantation and dialysis Men with multiple sclerosis or other single gene neurological diseases that cause impotence Men who have had polio Men who have had polio Men with spina bifida Men with spinal cord injuries Men with Parkinson's disease Men with severe pelvic injury or who have undergone radical pelvic surgery Men who were receiving impotence treatments on the NHS before 14 September 1998 will also qualify. Mr Dobson has said GPs should be restricted to prescribing one pill a week. news.bbc.co.uk