Monday, August 18, 2008

FDA reports new deaths with diabetes drug Byetta

FDA working on new warning label for Amylin, Eli Lilly drug Byetta after deaths reported

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators are working on a stronger label for a widely used diabetes drug marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. after deaths continue to be reported despite earlier government warnings.

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday it has received six new reports of patients developing a dangerous form of pancreatitis while taking Byetta. Two of the patients died and four were recovering.

The drugmakers said in a statement that patients taking Byetta have shown "very rare case reports of pancreatitis with complications or with a fatal outcome." The companies added that diabetes patients are already at increased risk of pancreatitis compared with healthy patients.

The FDA announcement updated an October alert about 30 reports of Byetta patients developing the ailment. Regulators stressed that patients should stop taking Byetta immediately if they develop signs of acute pancreatitis, which can cause nausea, abdominal pain and potentially deadly complications.

More than 700,000 patients worldwide have used the injectable drug since it was launched in June 2005. It is marketed for patients with type 2 diabetes by San Diego-based Amylin and Eli Lilly.

Shares of Amylin Pharmaceuticals fell $5.59, or 16.3 percent, to $28.62 in afternoon trading, while Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly dipped 80 cents to $47.98.



I will describe later today what's going on that produces the toxicity.

(On a side note, My lack of posts for the last few weeks is being blamed on a friend of mine moving to a beach house in Rosarito in Baja California, a case of scotch and local women. I'm back in the US now and should have BT101 up and running again.)

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Returning from Chicago..

I will spend most of tonight recapping the biotech market action and post.
The combined staff of 101 and DT have been on a fact finding mission in Chicago and although we didn't recover any property, we did come back with a story or two.

I'll do my best to get you up to date with Elan, Merck and SP news etc.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Updates on the market and drugs

coming tonight.
Leaving the real job early today. Stay tuned.
In the mean time, check out drunktrader.com for some entertainment.

Addendum: The wi-fi service at this location in chicago BLOWS.