Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 11-17-2003
	Quote of the day: Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don't give up. Anne Lamott

Good morning! The above quote sounds like deer hunting. I had a chance to experience 6 sunrises, 12 below zero temperatures (complete with frozen toes), 5 inches of snow, and more fresh air and quiet than I've had since last July. It was GLORIOUS! This year I had a new experience: "catch and release deer hunting". I saw two, shot at two, two ran away completely unharmed. One of the deer was within 20 yards and saw me as I pulled the trigger…if you have seen THE MATRIX then you can picture the deer contorting, splaying hooves and all, as the bullet whizzed by harmlessly. We had hamburgers and beans that night. I'll have to wait until next year for another chance to hunt. As my brother would say, "The huntin' was great, the seein' was good, the shooting was poor, and the eatin' was downright miserable… but the huntin' was GREAT". Until next week…HANG IN THERE... good things come to those who wait...and wait...and wait...and wait....Be ready!

1) Don't tug on Superman's cape…don't spit into the wind, don't mess with the DEA.
	Internet pharmacist who thumbed his nose at the Drug Enforcement Agency finds himself without a license to run his on-line pharmacy. He claimed that no doctor visit was necessary…the BIG GUYS think otherwise. …Click here for full text . http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A31488-2003Nov12?language=printer

2) Fat Fights: Lipitor beats highest dosage of Pravachol.

Head to head study haled after overwhelming results…. but we knew that Lipitor was the anti-cholesterol drug that produced the biggest bang for the buck. Now that Crestor is available, Lipitor has to take second place….but it is still a good, potent drug...sort of like Batman compared to Superman. …Click here for full text . http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Feed=RTR&Date=20031112&ID=3074776&Symbol=US:BMY

3) Let sleeping dogs lie… for another 3 months …
	The FDA evaluation of Estorra, a new "sleeping pill", has been delayed. Rumor has it that the evaluators took some samples home and….zzzzzzzz.. Sepracore stock is now "on sale" again. …Click here for full text. http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Feed=RTR&Date=20031113&ID=3080273&Symbol=US:SEPR

4) What would the PPP be without an Canadian drug update…?
	(Don't answer that!) Balanced report says it will not save money in the long run (could increase prices in Europe too) and that it is not as dangerous as it is made out to be. Thought provoking… …Click here for full text. https://ssl.tnr.com/p/docsub.mhtml?i=20031117&s=benson111703

5) Of Sweet Mice and Men…

(Thanks to Jeff S for this tidbit) Insulin Dependent Diabetes cured in mice! Spleen cells produce life in the pancrease and once dead islet cells spring to life ... produce natural insulin. This could be HUGE but don't sell your infusion pump or drug company stocks just yet. I expect a minimum of 7 years before this would become available in humans. Now we just have to work on the diet and exercise thing for the type 2 diabetics. …Click here for full text. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/11/14/juvenile_diabetes_cured_in_lab_mice/

6) Sounds like a new kind of dinosaur…RAPTIVA approved by the FDA.

Think rough scaly skin…think plaque psoriasis…think expensive…. think PRIOR AUTHORIZATION… Presently Amevive is approved for this use at just under $10,000 per year. This one will be about $14,000 per year. A few others are trying for this indication: Remicade and Enbrel…. better living through chemistry (at least for the inventors). …Click here for full text. http://www.gene.com/gene/news/press-releases/display.do?method=detail&id=6707

7) Elephants hot to trot for Medicare bill while Donkeys remain stubborn…
	AARP participates in an unexpected way. If this passes then the two parties may have to find some new issues for 2004 elections…..I expect more heat than light when rubbing these two factions together. …Click here for full text. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3817297

Addendum:
	Impasse broken…bill to go to Senate and House… Kennedy vows a fight....other Dems fail to sign onto his view! …Click here for full text of story. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/7273150.htm

Have a GREAT and HOPEFUL week! Steve

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