Nycomed DAXAS

[Everett]

This just in=
Mr. Byrom,
Nycomed and Merck Co. just announced commercializartion agreements for Daxas in Europe and Canada.
Zurich, Switzerland, and Whitehouse Station, N.J. April 26,2010- Nycomed and Merck and Co.., Inc. (based in Whitehouse Station, N.J. and known as MSD outside the USA and Canada) today announcd that they have entered into a co-promotional agreement for Canada and certain European countries for the commercialization of Daxas (roflumilast), an investigation once-daily tablet for patients with cxhronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the two companies have signed an exclusive distribution agreement for the commercialization of Daxas in the United Kingdom.
Best regards
Corporate Communications
Etc.

There it is folks. In your face FDA
Now we wait just a bit longer. Hang on and hang in there.
Everett

[barbara]

Totally pathetic that the U.S. has once again fallen to the back of the pack.

[danny]

I think it still has a poss of getting approved here. Though the panel meeting was a joke..

[Everett]

My thoughts are that even if they approve it here I am going to get it from a Canadian pharmacy. It will probably be 85 to 90% less expensive.
Ei I just paid $196.00 for a puffer of Symbicort and that is with a professional disscount. I had some folks come by Saturday and the son goes down to Weslico, Texas on the Mexican border to get his meds. In the conversation i told him what I had just paid and he told me that he gets his for $12.00 there. That is rediculous. I will be getting in touch with the Canadian people to give them a heads up on Daxas adn that I will be wanting to buy it.

[barbara]

I got some Advair from the Canadian pharmacy for $107.00. Here in Denver, the average cost is around $280.00. I have also purchased the equivalent of Symbicort from All Day Chemists in India for very little. It seems that U.S. patients are paying to fund the research and development of Big Pharma. The Advair I got was shipped from Barbados incidentally. I also ordered some Xopenex from Canada and it was shipped from a U.S. pharmacy. Got me what's going on with that.

[danny]

We here are paying for all the studies and BS commercials!

[barbara]

http://www.ema.europa.eu/pdfs/human/opinion/Daxas_15986110en.pdf

[barbara]

Coalition For Pulmonary Fibrosis Responds To News Of Further Review Of Pirfenidone By FDA

Article Date: 05 May 2010

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF), representing tens of thousands of patients, is responding to the news that the FDA chose to ask for further study of Pirfenidone, which will delay potential approval of the first drug in the treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF), a lethal lung disease that is irreversible, progressive and deadly in an average of three years. On March 9, 2010, an FDA Advisory Committee recommended approval of the drug by the FDA.

"This news is disappointing for the Pulmonary Fibrosis patient community," said Mishka Michon, CEO of the CPF. "Although the drug is not seen as a cure, it offers the first-ever option for treatment and some hope for these dying patients. This is a setback for those patients who are anxious to gain access to this treatment now. We look forward to results of further review of the drug by the FDA. We are hopeful that more attention to the disease will come and much will be learned that will encourage even more companies to research PF. The need is profound and urgent."

Pulmonary Fibrosis is a disease that causes scarring in the lungs and renders them unable to exchange life sustaining blood oxygen. The disease strikes randomly, putting everyone at risk, and the causes of PF are largely unknown.

Important Facts about Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF):

-- 40,000 people will die from PF this year, the same number that is claimed by breast cancer.

-- Very few Americans have heard of Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF), but the deadly lung disease characterized by progressive and massive scarring in the lungs affects 128,000 Americans and there are no proven causes and no cure.

-- The average life expectancy from diagnosis to death is just three years. About 48,000 people will be diagnosed this year.

-- PF Prevalence is increasing 156% in the past seven years. The need has never been greater for increased awareness, education, advocacy and research.

-- The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is the preeminent patient and physician resource for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

The CPF has long advocated on behalf of researchers and patients for accelerated research efforts to treat and cure PF, both in terms of drug development efforts by the pharmaceutical industry and research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With more than 23,000 members nationwide, the CPF is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to advocating for those with PF.