Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 08-04-2003
	Quote of the day: You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965)

Good morning! Time for your fellow traveler in time and space? Volunteer! Taking those Boy Scouts into the Rocky Mountains was not done for pay but I couldn't have been rewarded more. It was a lot of time and expense, effort and energy, but it was the most fun I've had in years. Evidence the picture of me doing some repelling after a tough climb. When I finally hit bottom…I found that I had been scared "spitless"… the adrenalin rush dried every bit of moisture from my lips on down. Whatever you do... for friends, neighbors, strangers, the homeless, kids or seniors…. do something for somebody else…..you will be surprised how much you will benefit!

1) Like standing in line for rock concert tickets…. drug company representatives at the FDA.

Like vultures circling dying prey…. the generic drug companies wanted to be the first to swoop down and peck the eyes out of profitable drug patents. FDA says no folding chairs or tent cities anymore….any generic company can file for the exclusive period as long as they do it the first day….. Doesn't sound very exclusive to me! …Click here for full text of story. http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/030731/0856001125_3.html

2) Are you Tufts enough?

Tufts and Zix combine to provide BLACKBERRY connection for 5,000 physicians to enter the wonderful world of e- prescribing. A localized group this big…..it just might work! I haven't heard of Zix before….with the recent consolidations & shake ups within the e-prescribing players already in the market they could be the weak link in this endeavor or the first group to really make it work profitably. (A $50 stock in 2000 is now about $3.50). …Click here for full text of story. http://www.tufts-health.com/about/about.php?type=about&sec=news&content=n-e_prescibing_7-23-03&rightnav=

3) FDA approves New oral treatment for that rare but expensive enzyme disease, Gaucher’s disease.

To date the treatment of Gaucher's disease was intravenous…..and between $125,000 and $500,000 per year. While Zavesca (miglustat) has not been priced yet for the US, other countries are paying around $50, 000 per year….. such a deal! (Couldn't find it on the FDA site so here is the company site) …Click here for company news release. http://www.actelion.com/Apps/WebObjects/Actelion.woa/wa/dp?name=mrDetailEn&xmlsource=http://cws.huginonline.com/A/131801/PR/200308/912219.xml

4) Painkiller suit and the appeals court.

This reads like a legal brief (ie not brief at all)… Indiana says that the drug company can be sued for "failure to warn" regardless of the FDA rules, regs, and rigmarole. Patient had liver failure that he attributes to the combination of codeine, acetaminophen and the mere 4 to 6 SIX PACKS of beer he'd down on a Friday night (with smaller amounts during the week). …Click here for full text of story. http://www.lawyersweeklyusa.com/opinions/bell9926226.htm

5) Short people got no body!

FDA approves the use of growth hormone in children of short stature. (Not statues of short children). They must continue to grow to get the drug….at about $15,000 per year. Four years on the drug added 1.5 inches to their average height….. at that rate it costs about $40,000 per inch. (Shoes with 'lifts" would be cheaper!) Expect this to wreak havoc on PA programs. …Click here for full text of story. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2003/ANS01242.html

6) Is "Iron Mike" getting rusty?
	No "Rust Tough" commercials for Mr. Ditka….he is the new spokes-model for Levitra….the soon to be FDA approved rival of Viagra. (He was obnoxious before…..now what can we expect?) …Click here for full text of story. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3199074

Have a Super-fantastic week! 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.

Just leaving the treeline at Mount Baldy 12,441 feet Copyright 2003 Daniel Pepin