Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 08-25-2003
	Quote of the day: Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. Rodin (1840 - 1917)

Good morning! The Minnesota State Fair has started. Prized pickles, quilts, heifers, sewing, leatherwork, wood work, painting, bee keeping, swine, birch bark weaving, dancing, singing, concerts, dogs, petting zoo, acrobats, and rides all for your enjoyment. And we haven't even started talking about food-on-a-stick yet! This is all courtesy of people who actually HAVE a reality instead of one on TV. As Rodin says "use the experience wisely". (So just how ARE you going to use those hours in front of the TV to your advantage?) Get out… DO something…and cut the bonds to the "one-eyed monster". See you out there… with about 100,000 of my closest friends on any given day! Excuse me but I hear a Pronto Pup (corn dog) calling me by name…..

1) New generic antidepressant approved…. I'm so happy!

Paxil now has an approved generic rival. The FDA granted the AB rating so there should not be any problems related to switching patients to the generic. Now all we have to do is wait 6 months until other generics get into the fray and cut prices. (This could look a lot like the Prozac issue) …Click here for full text of story. http://65.54.170.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=8615aeac5b30d8ab9ae4c4b15a9d4313&lat=1061564492&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2epharmacyonesource%2ecom%2fmembers%2fnpt%2easp%3fr%3d68548%26c%3d5

2) "I'll be back!"

Not a SCHWARZENEGGER-ism but what will happen when the costs for the BABY BOOMER'S drugs finally hit the proposed MEDICARE DRUG benefit system. The same old game of trying to get someone else to pay for what you want will hit the children and grandchildren of those who insist on the GOVERNMENT paying for their drugs. They forget….WE taxpayers ARE the government! …Click here for full text of story. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/19/politics/19MEDI.html

3) Prilosec price to fall by 90% ? !!!
	Generic manufactures (other than Schwarz) are launching "at risk". If they are found in violation of the patent then they will have to pay TRIPLE damages. Yikes! …Click here for full text of story. http://www.medserv.dk/modules.php?name=mdnews&file=article&sid=2453

4) Three times the Alzheimer's Cases
	If research holds the gain from the fall in Prilosec prices will be eaten up by Alzheimer's. Much research is being conducted now on new drugs…. I hope they are ready before I need them. (I heard that…I do NOT need them….yet anyway!) …Click here for full text of story. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/hsn/20030819/hl_hsn/alzheimerscasesexpectedtotriple

5) Price controls on doctors dispensing drugs in the office.

AWP - 20% is the reimbursement rate proposed. Instead of charging AWP PLUS an "up-charge" AND the fee for administration (if any) the docs will have to be content with what they get. PBMs and employers can expect even more calls from physician office to see if the desired drug is a covered PBM item. …Click here for full text of story.http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-medicare-payments,0,2635759.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

6) Why should all the governors be any different…
	Only billions and billions of dollar requested from the Fed. (Haven't they heard about the FEDERAL deficit). Just another chapter in trying to get SOMEONE ELSE to pay. (Ditto on the make-our-kids-pay comments above). …Click here for full text of story. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/18/politics/18GOVS.html?th

7) Pfalling price of stock due to pfatent loss... threats to pfrofits over the next pfew years.
	Pfizer stock hit as others see the end of many Pfizer patents. Lipitor patent seen as shaky. Other blockbusters will fall before 2007. …Click here for full text of story. http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030821/health_pfizer_stocks_4.html

Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week (and a corndog) Steve

Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice a supervision of you physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2003 PHARMWORKS,LLC all rights reserved.