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

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (2116)	6/3/1999 12:15:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

The Boom in Medications Brings Rise in Fatal Risks nytimes.com Excerpts: The arthritis drug Celebrex, which was approved by the F.D.A. in January and has already been prescribed to more than two million people, is repeatedly being confused by doctors and pharmacists with two other drugs: Cerebyx, an anti-seizure medication, and Celexa, an antidepressant. The agency has already received 41 reports of the wrong prescription being filled; in one, an 81-year-old woman wound up taking two antidepressants for a month. "We haven't had any serious injuries, thank goodness," said Dr. Jerry Phillips, the F.D.A. official who keeps tabs on medication errors, referring to Celebrex. He is trying to persuade the Monsanto Company, which manufactures the drug, to change Celebrex's name, a difficult task given that the company has spent tens of millions of dollars advertising and promoting the medication. At the same time, Dr. Phillips said, the food and drug agency is planning to install computer software that will analyze proposed drug names to avoid such confusion in the future. But at least one expert, Dr. Leape of Harvard, said it should have taken that step years ago. "The F.D.A. has essentially focused on the safety of the product, whereas the major threat has to do with safety of use and misuse," Dr. Leape said. "Their point of view has been that it is safe and effective when used as directed, and the directions are on the label, so read it. We have come to them repeatedly and said; 'That is not enough. People make mistakes, even when it is all there.' "

To: Anthony Wong who wrote (2116)	6/3/1999 12:31:00 PM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

ConAgra to Accept Biotech Corn PR Wire June 3, 1999, 11:03 a.m. ET OMAHA, Neb., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- ConAgra Grain Companies today announced a joint marketing agreement with Monsanto Company for ConAgra to accept from U.S. producers, until further notice, corn that has been developed using biotechnology. For no additional handling fee, ConAgra Grain will separate, or "identity preserve," this corn for sale in markets that have approved the use or import of corn with traits developed through biotechnology. ConAgra will provide identity preservation for unapproved export corn with the understanding that the producer will identify the delivered corn as genetically enhanced. "ConAgra Grain Companies wants all producers to have a choice in the kinds of crops they grow," said Jim Anderson, president, ConAgra Grain Companies. "Growers should have the freedom to plant hybrids which give them the highest quality and maximum yields for the lowest costs. Further, this will help growers have the widest range of options for effectively controlling weeds and pests." U.S. growers will now have the potential of gaining a competitive edge by using products like Roundup Ready Corn and other genetically enhanced corn, knowing ConAgra Grain will work to effectively market this corn at the best available market price. "Since nearly 80 percent of the corn grown in the U.S. is used in the U.S., we want to work closely with the American producers who are helping increase the efficiency and effectiveness of agriculture with new products like Roundup Ready Corn," said Anderson. ConAgra Grain Companies, part of ConAgra Trade Group, is a global grain merchandiser with more than 100 U.S. elevators located in major grain production states. ConAgra Trade Group and ConAgra Grain are part of ConAgra, Inc., a diversified international food company headquartered in Omaha. ConAgra Trade Group and ConAgra Grain Companies also are headquartered in Omaha. SOURCE ConAgra -0- 06/03/99 /CONTACT: Lynn Phares, Vice President, Corporate Relations of ConAgra, Inc., 402-595-4153/ /Web site: conagra.com (CAG) CO: ConAgra; Monsanto Company ST: Nebraska IN: FOD SU: JVN -0- Jun/03/1999 10:48 EOS (PRN) Jun/03/99 10:48 86 -0- (PRN) Jun/03/1999 11:03