Kibow Biotech Inc Announces a Licensing Agreement of its “Enteric Dialysis™” Technology and “Kibow Biotics®” Product Formulation to Vetoquinol USA Inc

Kibow Biotics® (AZODYL™) targets uremic toxins, reduces Azotemia in dogs and cats with Chronic Kidney Disease. Hence, this product is also expected to improve the quality of live and longetivity in pets. Similar applications in human kidney failure applications is being clinically tested by Kibow Biotech Inc.

Newtown Square, PA (PRWEB) May 28, 2006 -- Kibow Biotech Inc, a privately held firm confirmed and formally announced their exclusive royalty bearing licensing agreement on their technology and products towards veterinary applications to Vetoquinol USA ( also a privately held subsidiary of Vetoquinol SA , France).     Under this agreement Vetoquinol USA will have the right to purchase, manufacture, and market and sell the products with its own trade name for kidney failure cats and dogs in the US market. Presently the Kibow Biotics® product formulation is manufactured and sold by Kibow Biotech Inc as an enteric coated gel cap. Beginning July 1, 2006 Kibow will cease marketing and selling its veterinary product in the United States. From this date onwards, Vetoquinol USA will begin marketing the product with a new trade name “AZODYL” ( made up by a combination of AZOTEMIA and DIALYSIS), an attractive and relevant name chosen by Vetoquinol USA.

According to Ian Parker, Managing Director (CEO) of Vetoquinol USA, chronic kidney disease affects on the average 10.8% cats and 5.2% dogs and is a leading cause of death among companion animals in the US. Dr. Eric Linn, Director of Scientific Services who has evaluated all scientific and clinical data accomplished by Kibow Biotech and by other independent veterinarians expressed that “AZODYL” will be an important product that will also complement their existing product “Epakitin™”, a phosphate binder, launched by their firm last year in USA towards kidney failure for cats and dogs.

Vetoquinol SA, France has been given the option of licensing Kibow’s technology and products for exclusive worldwide rights towards veterinary applications within 18 months of this agreement. Besides royalty payments, Kibow has also received from Vetoquinol USA an upfront technology acquisition fee for the veterinary applications. Financial terms of this agreement have been held in confidence and not disclosed.

“Although it has taken over eight years of intense R&D, clinical and scientific validation, we are pleased to announce our agreement with Vetoquinol USA,” said Jack Dickstein, Ph.D. - President and co-founder of Kibow Biotech Inc. He also cited “We are committed to providing kidney failure patients with access to technologies and products that are of greatest benefit and importance worldwide”. Kibow Biotics® product formulation is poised for its ease of use, convenience, cost effectiveness and affordability in poor and developing countries.

“This agreement with Vetoquinol USA and its parent firm Vetoquinol SA, France further validates the significance and potential benefits of Kibow’s “Enteric Dialysis™” technology concept and it’s clinical and scientific validation of “kibow Biotics®” product formulation in live kidney failure cats and dogs”, said Natarajan Ranganathan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and the lead scientist of Kibow Biotech Inc. He also cited that Kibow’s original mission and vision is indeed towards human kidney failure patients worldwide. He further stressed that he and his Kibow R&D team will not rest until that mission is also accomplished ASAP. Kibow is planning several abbreviated human clinical trials prior to launching the product as a dietary supplement in 2007. The company also has plans to develop its product further as a medical food category (a prescription product). This can qualify for a medical reimbursement status for chronic kidney failure patients in the US. It is targeted for launch in the year 2008.

About Kibow Biotech Inc, PA.
Kibow Biotech Inc is an eight year old emerging stage biotechnology company having recently relocated from the Science Center in Philadelphia to its own western suburban facilities in Newtown Square Business Center, PA. The company’s mission is dedicated to finding a simpler, convenient and cost effective solution towards kidney failure patients worldwide. The company’s first generation product called “Kibow Biotics®” – an orally consumable enterically coated Gel Cap product formulation is composed of food grade microbes (Probiotics) which utilizes or mops up the uremic toxins diffusing into the bowel as a consequence of increased level of these toxins in the blood. It is targeted to help augment or maintain kidney function both for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients (pre-dialysis) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients. The company is in the process of conducting multi-site abbreviated human clinical trials in various countries including USA, Canada, Japan, Mexico and India to establish the clinical validity and efficacy of their Kibow Biotics® first generation probiotics product formulation. More information about Kibow Biotech Inc is available at: www.kibowbiotech.com

About Vetoquinol USA:
Vétoquinol is a family-owned, independent company exclusively and passionately dedicated to all aspects of animal health: research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sales. Since 1933, they have been helping veterinarians with their acknowledged expertise in the fields of anti-infectives, anti-inflammatories, anti-parasitics, vaccines and nutraceuticals. Based in France, Vétoquinol now supplies products in 5 continents with a network of subsidiaries in 15 countries and distributors in over 80. In 2002 Vétoquinol acquired Evsco Pharmaceuticals and Tomlyn Products to form Vétoquinol USA. As they become more and more international Vetoquinol is proud to have expanded without betraying their core values. They remain independent - a humane company with strong group spirit - striving to improve animal health and honoring their long established ideals: social awareness, sensitive relationships and a passion for business combined with real determination. More information about Vetoquinol is available at: www.vetoquinolusa.com

Forward-looking Statement Disclaimer: Kibow Biotech Inc and VetoquinolUSA company’s websites contain both historical information and also contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from such statements or from any future results or performance implied thereby. Factors which could cause the Company's results or performance to differ from current expectations include, but are not limited to, timely regulatory approval of the Company's products; the ability to comply with regulatory requirements applicable to the manufacture and marketing of the Company's products; the Company's ability to obtain and enforce effective patents; the non-infringement of third party patents or proprietary rights by the Company and its products; the establishment and maintenance of strategic collaborative and commercial relationships; The Companies disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Press Contact: Natarajan Ranganathan
Company Name: KIBOW BIOTECH INC
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 610-353-5130
Website: www.kibowbiotech.com

¶ 10:39 AM 0 comments

ThinSpring Presented “SPL Downstream – XML Content and Final Package Labeling” To The Pharmaceutical Packaging And Labeling Committee (PP&LC)

ThinSpring, a leading provider of XML-based solutions such as SPL Server™ and the FDA’s Electronic Labeling Information Processing System (ELIPS), has presented “SPL Downstream – XML Content and Final Package Labeling” to the Pharmaceutical Packaging And Labeling Committee (PP&LC). The presentation was given by Ron Celeste, CEO of ThinSpring, on May 8, 2006, in Forth Worth, Texas.

Forth Worth, Texas (PRWEB) May 26, 2006 –- ThinSpring, a leading provider of XML-based solutions such as SPL Server™ and the FDA’s Electronic Labeling Information Processing System (ELIPS), has presented “SPL Downstream – XML Content and Final Package Labeling” to the Pharmaceutical Packaging And Labeling Committee (PP&LC). The presentation was given by Ron Celeste, CEO of ThinSpring, on May 8, 2006, in Forth Worth, Texas.

Structure Product Labeling (SPL) and Product Information Management (PIM) deal specifically with the submission of labeling content to the regulatory authorities for approval. Once that content has been approved, the PP&LC members need it to produce the physical labeling that goes on the drug product containers, inner cartons, outer cartons, and shipping containers. XML data file formats are new to this community, and there is a need to focus on style and presentation. Packaging engineers have to consider challenges such as an aging population and a novel design for single dose packaging. They are used to working with binary file formats such as Quark, Illustrator, PDF, and encapsulated post script. The presentation addressed the concept of using one XML-based content repository to serve multiple purposes including regulatory submission and finished package labeling. This transition requires an initial focus on education, training and process redesign.

The United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently uses ELIPS as a part of the process to internally validate SPL submissions from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The FDA made SPL mandatory as of November 3, 2005. Shortly after that in December of 2005, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) saw the first use of its PIM system.

For more information, go to the ThinSpring website or contact Ron Celeste at (908) 595-2145. For access to the presentation, go to the ThinSpring website and click on “Request Access to PP&LC Presentation.”

About ThinSpring:
ThinSpring, founded by former pharmaceutical and medical device professionals, specializes in XML-based Web service solutions, integration and data conversion. ThinSpring has used its industry expertise to develop a dynamic XML engine, MatriXML™. This patented XML technology is the basis for SPL Server™. ThinSpring’s solutions have gained acceptance as an essential, collaborative application-development platform for FDA regulated companies. ThinSpring’s core team manages technology and regulatory consulting divisions that support its clients’ operations throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America. ThinSpring headquarters is in Bridgewater, New Jersey, with offices in California and North Carolina. More information about ThinSpring and ThinSpring SPL Server™, can be found on their website at: http://www.ThinSpring.com.

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Press Contact: Ron Celeste
Company Name: ThinSpring
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 908-595-2145
Website: http://www.thinspring.com

¶ 9:19 AM 0 comments

Cancer Survival Rates on the Rise Due to Increased Awareness from Resources Such as eCancerAwareness.com

The current trends in Cancer awareness and prevention are encouraging, but more needs to be done to help spread the word about this destructive disease. eCancerAwareness.com provides free blogs to Cancer survivors and anybody affected by Cancer. Keeping a Cancer Blog is a great way to provide information, keep a journal of one’s experience, or share the tale of a loved one’s fight against Cancer.

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -- A progress report released by the National Cancer Institute shows that while certain forms of Cancer such as Female Breast Cancer and Melanoma are on the rise, the average survival rates for all forms of Cancer are increasing. Cancer awareness is an overwhelming factor in this trend.

Web sites such as eCancerAwareness.com are helping to spread the word about Cancer, Cancer prevention, and general awareness toward fighting Cancer. The public is becoming more educated about treatments and early detection and the report shows that the current mortality rates for Cancer victims are dropping. Unfortunately, the numbers of Breast Cancer diagnoses, for example, is still on the rise. Obviously, there is still a long way to go and the general public needs to become more aware.

There are several ways that people can do their part to help support the Cancer Awareness cause. eCancerAwareness.com provides free blogs, or web journals, to anyone affected by Cancer, so the public can learn more about Cancer from those who have fought and won the battle, or are currently combating the disease. Anybody affected by Cancer is encouraged to sign up for their own blog to provide information, keep a journal of their experience, or tell the story of a friend or family member’s fight with Cancer.

There is also a vast amount of information related to Cancer available on eCancerAwareness.com, and the site provides an easy way for visitors to share the resource with friends and family. Web site owners and bloggers can also support Cancer awareness by taking part in the “Be Cancer Aware” campaign started by eCancerAwareness.com.

Awareness plays a very large role in the fight against Cancer and Cancer prevention. The over-all trends are optimistic, but there is always more that can be done to try to beat this disease that has impacted countless peoples’ lives. To help in the fight, eCancerAwareness.com provides information, blogs and many more resources, which are all free to the public.

For additional information, visit eCancerAwareness.com

About eCancerAwareness.com:

At eCancerAwareness.com, visitors can learn more about Cancer, get the latest Cancer-related news, sign up for their own Cancer blog and much more.

Contact Information:
Eric Kloss
eCancerAwareness.com
916-313-0617
http://www.eCancerAwareness.com

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Press Contact: Eric Kloss
Company Name:
Phone: 916-313-0617
Website: http://www.eCancerAwareness.com

¶ 10:37 PM 0 comments

A New Health Care Web Site Makes Searching For Info Faster And Easier

Health Site Guide (www.healthsiteguide.com) is a user-friendly portal that features pre-searched links to a wide range of health care topics and concerns.

Great Neck, NY (PRWEB) May 24, 2006 -- Want to find a video that explains a medical procedure? Need to know more information about a drug you’re taking? Is that dry spot on your arm chapped skin or a skin condition? Now there’s a Web site with all the resources and features of the leading health care Web sites, and it’s all at one address www.healthsiteguide.com.

Started by a marketing executive who, like so many others, searched the Web to learn about a medical condition, then scrolled aimlessly down the results page, www.healthsiteguide.com is a free portal to pre-searched information contained on a wide range of health care sites. The site provides visitors with direct links to special features like videos, drug interaction information, medical encyclopedias, eldercare and much more, which can be accessed from a drop down menu or by clicking graphics on the home page.

Other drop down menus feature overviews on more than two dozen health care Web sites, written by professional science writers in an unbiased manner that doesn’t review the site, but simply presents the benefits to a prospective visitor. A third menu lists hundreds of health concerns with links to sites that contain information on the subject.

“One of the most popular reasons that people use the Internet is to research their health or the health of a loved one,” said Bob Lipp, president of Health Site Guide, Inc. “However, unlike other categories of Web sites like e-commerce sites, we weren’t able to find one site that would be a portal into many health care sites, with pre-searched links for fast and easy information access. So we created one.”

The site is also fully interactive, allowing visitors to communicate with one another through free member pages. All you have to do is enter a username and password to get started.

“Want to participate in a group forum on a subject of interest, create your own personal page or blog?” asks Bill Blaney, executive vice president of Health Site Guide. “It’s easy. Become a member, at no cost, and discover the many ways to enhance your health care learning and sharing experience. The site even features pages and pages of the latest health care news from leading news organizations.”

www.healthsiteguide.com is owned by Health Site Guide Inc. The site is a portal that makes it fast and easy to access a broad range of health care information and special features, which are available on today’s health care Web sites.

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Press Contact: Alan Lewis
Company Name: MARCOMM GROUP
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 516-829-0404
Website: www.healthsiteguide.com

¶ 10:35 PM 0 comments

Purchasing Prescription FDA Approved AntiDepressants Can be Legally Purchased from U.S.-Based Internet Pharmacy Sites

Searching for FDA approved antidepressants online? Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com complies with DEA regulations for doctors approving and pharmacy shipping prescription antidepressants. Online doctor or pharmacist consultations are always available. Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com is committed to meeting and exceeding all government regulations for supplying prescription antidepressants to patients.

(PRWEB) May 22, 2006 -- Although some online pharmacies are legitimate businesses, patients must be cautious when purchasing drugs over the Internet. Patients should not buy drugs from web sites that: are not registered on a search engine; sell drugs not approved by the HHS Food and Drug Administration (FDA); do not offer the opportunity to ask questions of a registered pharmacist; require that you link to another web site to purchase the drug; and do not provide a U.S. phone number or a way to contact them for questions.

At Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com the patient no longer needs to receive a traditional physical exam by the physician. It must be said that online consultations can never take the place of traditional medicine but they do provide a valid means for patients to receive treatment for a number of conditions that, in many circumstances, do not actually require a physical exam. The patient completes an online questionnaire; the questionnaire is then submitted to the physician for review. If approved a written doctor’s prescription is sent to a certified pharmacy for filling. Some examples of prescription antidepressant medications can be found at: Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com/buy_antidepressantsonline_sitemap.html.

Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com employs the services of highly trained and qualified pharmacists to provide you with the high standards of pharmaceutical care that you have come to expect and will only refer your order to certified physicians that are fully licensed. Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com is committed to meeting and exceeding all government regulations covering this new form of health care. All medicines provided are obtained from legitimate pharmaceutical distributors or in some cases directly from the manufacturer, in this way you can be sure that you receive at all times the same quality medication that you would receive from your neighborhood drugstore.

Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com has information and links on their website covering such topics as the importation of medications into the U.S. and the exportation of medications outside the U.S. There is a need for a consumer to obtain clarity from the seller’s website. Also, some medications are considered controlled substances. The law requires that before these medicines can be dispensed that you undergo a physical exam, this means we cannot sell them online. Such medicines include Xanax and Valium.

Patients that are looking to purchase prescription antidepressants online like Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Elavil and other prescription antidepressants can do so safely at Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com.

Visit http://www.Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com/index.html for more information and prices for prescription antidepressants.

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Press Contact: Alan Previtali
Company Name: L.I. NETWORK MARKETING
Phone: 631-821-1398
Website: http://www.Buy-AntiDepressants-Online.com

¶ 12:23 PM 0 comments

GEMCare Health Plan Inc. Chooses Dynamic Healthcare Systems' Voyager Software Suite to Optimize Medicare Business

GEMCare Health Plan, Inc. purchased Dynamic’s complete Voyager Software Suite to automate and streamline back office operations while ensuring compliance with new guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) May 16, 2006 -- Dynamic Healthcare Systems, a provider of innovative solutions for Medicare-focused health plans, today announced that GEMCare Health Plan, Inc. purchased Dynamic’s complete Voyager Software Suite to automate and streamline back office operations while ensuring compliance with new guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Voyager Suite provides GEMCare with comprehensive Medicare Advantage management capabilities, from automated enrollment and revenue reconciliation to risk adjustment analytics.

“Dynamic’s Voyager software suite provides us with a complete and seamless solution that will help us optimize and automate administrative tasks, while allowing us to enhance delivery of services to our members and maximize our revenue growth and cost-reduction opportunities,” said Michael Myers, President and CEO of GEMCare Health Plan, Inc. “We chose Dynamic as our technology partner for their flexibility in managing our data and integrating to our existing systems to provide better data quality and reporting across all functions.”

Voyager’s versatile modules deliver intelligent, comprehensive Medicare Advantage management capabilities. Its Enrollment Module provides multi-form election validation, workflow tracking and inventory management, with direct CMS transaction submission and rejection processing. The software’s RAPS/Encounter Management Module helps GEMCare automate the way they accept, manage and exchange RAPS encounter data in conjunction with CMS. The HCC Analytics solution analyzes and enriches that information by applying complex algorithms to identify suspected missing or mis-coded diagnostic ICD9 codes and using secondary data like prescriptions, lab results and authorizations to further identify potential missing HCCs.

“We are pleased that GEMCare selected our complete software suite to help them with their transition to meet new revenue models defined by CMS,” said Ken Stockman, Dynamic’s founder and CEO. “Our goal is to help organizations like GEMCare maximize their revenue cycles, and scale their membership without adding additional staff, using innovative technology to automate and improve back-office operations. Our Voyager solution was specifically designed to help plans and MSOs address evolving and more complex regulatory requirements.”

About GEMCare Health Plan, Inc.
GEMCare Health Plan is a for profit, Knox Keene licensed Medicare Services Health plan, owned by Golden Empire Managed Care, A Medical Group Inc, and Managed Care Systems, LP. GEMCare Health Plan is headquartered in Bakersfield, California. GEMCare Health Plan can be reached at (661) 716-8800 and www.gemcarehealthplan.com

About Dynamic Healthcare Systems
Dynamic Healthcare Systems, Inc. delivers comprehensive solutions for Medicare Advantage health plans and MSOs striving to succeed amid new and evolving regulatory requirements. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company brings world-class innovations to middle market companies serving the Medicare population. Dynamic Healthcare Systems can be reached at (949) 975-1877 and www.dynamichealthsys.com

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Press Contact: Grace Adams
Company Name: DYNAMIC HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 310.938.2682
Website: www.dynamichealthsys.com

¶ 9:57 AM 0 comments

1st Commercial Credit Provides Working Capital for the Biochemical Technology Industry

Accounts receivable financing has been offered as a source of funding to a newly formed biochemical company with synthetic chemistry patents and a projected sales volume of $2.2 million.

El Paso, TX (PRWEB) May 15, 2006 -- 1st Commercial Credit has provided accounts receivable financing for a biochemical company that specializes in defining and delivering advanced chemical and biochemical technologies. These strategic technologies are employed in the design, discovery, delivery, and development of new drugs and are used by the major fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies during the manufacturing process.

According to Raul Esqueda, Founder and President of 1st Commercial Credit: “I am glad that CFO’s and CEO’s are starting to realize the simplicity of our receivable-based financing program. Here is a perfect example of a biochemical company (with years of research and development) with no historical revenues on their financial statements. Despite this fact, they still have access to an initial $2.5 million in accounts receivable financing to fuel their growth.”

1st Commercial Credit establishes accounts receivable credit lines based on the credit worthiness of their clients’ customers. Accounts receivable financing is not a loan; instead, it is viewed as a purchase of the company's invoices. Clients are able to offer net 30-day terms to their customers and still obtain immediate cash as they generate invoices.

The working capital provided will increase, as needed, in order to sustain exponential growth. 1st Commercial Credit can provide receivable-based credit lines up to $10 million.

For more information, visit: www.1stCommercialCredit.com
1st Commercial Credit of El Paso, TX, provides accounts receivable financing in the US, Canada, and the UK and offers export trade financing to clients in every major world market. They are also able to convert receivable finance transactions in 17 currencies.

US and Canada Tel 1 800 450 9653
United Kingdom Tel 0 800 404 9669

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Press Contact: Raul Esqueda
Company Name: 1st Commercial Credit
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 915-351-1300
Website: www.1stCommercialCredit.com

¶ 8:59 AM 0 comments

Medical and Holistic Communities Applaud Pharmaceutical Insider Film Side Effects

Based on filmmaker Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau’s decade of experience working as a drug sales rep, Side Effects examines the pill-pushing tactics of the pharmaceutical industry’s leading companies. Side Effects has conscientious consumers around the world thinking twice about popping their next pill.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 15, 2006 -- Based on filmmaker Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau’s decade of experience working as a drug sales rep, Side Effects examines the pill-pushing tactics of the pharmaceutical industry’s leading companies. Side Effects has conscientious consumers around the world thinking twice about popping their next pill.

For those who missed the storm of buzz during its rolling theatrical release, Side Effects is available online at www.sideeffectsthemovie.com and Amazon.com, and will be sold at major retail outlets across the United States beginning May 16.

Side Effects is an insider’s glimpse at the shocking, and sometimes laughable realities of the drug industry. The film is fictional and meant to appeal to a large audience in a light and entertaining way, but with a message that packs a punch.

“Side Effects tackles these issues head-on and does it with remarkable candor, humor, and balance.” – Tony Cecala, The Holistic Networker

“The film will serve as an eye opener for doctors and patients alike.” – Stephanie Lysaught, The Yogi Times

“The action goes from amusing to savagely funny.” – Jeanne Lenzer, British Medical Journal

“Drop dead fascinating.” – Deborah Ray, Healthy Talk Radio

After being moved by the attention her first film was receiving for raising awareness about the pharmaceutical industry, Slattery-Moschkau went on to make Money Talks: Profits Before Patient Safety, a hard-hitting documentary that leaves Hollywood behind and explores the issues through interviews with key opinion leaders. The documentary is available online at the film’s Website.

True to her position since the beginning, Slattery-Mosckau continues to take a reasoned approach to the issues surrounding the drug industry. “We need to acknowledge that we need prescription medications, but understand that the current system is broken—these are the first steps toward progress,” says Slattery-Moschkau.

To arrange an interview with Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau, contact Cari Reisinger of Hummingbird Pictures at (414) 264-1065.


Press Contact: Cari Reisinger
Company Name: HUMMINGBIRD PICTURES
Phone: 414-264-1065
Website: www.sideeffectsthemovie.com

¶ 10:34 AM 0 comments

Canadian Pharmacy Subsidizes Medicare Premiums for American Seniors

American seniors enjoy the best of both worlds when they combine the advantages of enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan with the great savings of having their prescriptions filled in Canada. In addition to providing significant price savings during gaps in coverage, one licensed Canadian pharmacy is also rescuing many American seniors who cannot afford to pay for their medications by subsidizing their Medicare prescription drug plan’s monthly premiums.

Winnipeg, Canada (PRWEB) May 11, 2006 – According to a recent study conducted by licensed Canadian pharmacy, APTECHA Inc, American seniors will need to spend $7900 a year on prescription drug costs under the new Medicare prescription drug plan to match the same level of savings they would otherwise enjoy on a daily basis with every order from its pharmacy in Canada. But rather than discouraging patients from enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan, APTECHA Inc is actively encouraging their customers to join the 37 million American seniors that have already signed up for the program to date.

“We’re encouraging all of our patients to enroll in the least expensive Medicare prescription drug plan in their region, while continuing to use APTECHA as their primary pharmacy,” says Mike Palitsky, CFO at APTECHA Inc. “Combining these two choices offers the best solution when it comes time for an American senior to make a decision about Medicare. They will enjoy great savings immediately in Canada and the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will be covered if their drug costs suddenly rise in the future.”

The solution recommended by Palitsky provides the American senior with the greatest savings and prescription drug coverage across all situations. When a patient’s annual drug costs are low, they enjoy an average savings of 47% on all their prescription drug orders at APTECHA Inc, when compared to pharmacies south of the border. If a patient’s annual drug costs suddenly rise in the future because of a newly diagnosed condition such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease, they can then take advantage of the greater savings offered by their Medicare prescription drug plan’s catastrophic drug coverage benefit.

As an added incentive to keep prescription drug orders flowing north of the border into Canada, Palitsky is also encouraging American seniors to register for APTECHA Inc’s Medicare Companion Plan. Here, 5% of a patient’s total purchases with APTECHA, up to a maximum of $75, are put into a personal Medicare Premium Savings Account and can later be directly applied against the cost of their Medicare prescription drug plan’s monthly premiums.

For Joe and Cheryl Jackman, APTECHA Inc’s Medicare Companion Plan is a welcomed relief when it comes to the high cost of medications in the United States. Together, the Jackmans are set to spend more than $800 on the cost of Medicare premiums alone and more than $4200 on their medications in the coming year. With the solution recommended by Palitsky, APTECHA Inc’s Medicare Companion Plan would contribute a combined total of $98.70 towards the cost of their Medicare premiums and their medication bill would come down to $1974 when filled in Canada.

“We’re really hurting with these drug prices down here and we just don’t know how things are going to go with Medicare,” says Cheryl Jackman, an 80-year-old from Onalaska, Texas. When asked how she felt that a Canadian company is subsidizing her Medicare premiums, Jackman replied, “It’s nice to know that we can turn to someone for help when we can’t get any down here.”

APTECHA Inc is licensed by the Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and has been safely dispensing medications to residents of the United States for 4 years. All Canadian medications are approved for sale by Health Canada and are only dispensed by licensed pharmacists.

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Press Contact: Mike Palitsky
Company Name: APTECHA INC
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 2046975881
Website:

¶ 8:52 AM 0 comments

Austrianova Biotechnology Starts Industrial Production of NovaCaps

Austrianova today announced that it has started industrial production of its lead product NovaCaps®. Austrianova is the first company worldwide that has been successful in developing a market scale, GMP compliant, industrial production process for encapsulated cell products.

Vienna, Austria (PRWEB) May 10, 2006 -- Austrianova Biotechnology sets up unique industrial manufacturing process for the GMP compliant production of encapsulated living cells.

Austrianova today announced that it has started industrial production of its lead product NovaCaps®. Austrianova is the first company worldwide that has been successful in developing a market scale, GMP compliant, industrial production process for encapsulated cell products. The implementation of the proprietary and unique manufacturing plant was realised with an investment of 6 Mill. Euro and took two and a half years. Austrianova’s GMP manufacturing plant has a capacity of 40,000 vials per year, sufficient to meet the projected demand for NovaCaps®. Contract partner, Miltenyi Biotec, supported Austrianova with expertise in the area of GMP production of biologics as well as providing GMP compliant production facilities in Frankfurt, Germany.

The set up of an industrial scale production of NovaCaps® represents an important advance for Austrianova since it demonstrates the industrial feasibility of the company’s reference project, a prerequisite for future commercialisation. With this advance, the manufacture of encapsulated cell therapies to medicinal product specification finally has become a reality. This opens very promising strategic options for the activation, regulation and transport of drugs since virtually any cell type can be encapsulated to immunoprotect the cells and to confine them to the site of delivery upon application into a patient. Moreover, the establishment of industrial scale, medically compliant production opens the doors for the application of Austrianova’s encapsulation technology to uses beyond the company’s immediate oncological focus. “Austrianova has reached an important milestone on its way to become a next generation drug delivery company," stated Thomas Fischer, Austrianova’s Managing Partner for Finance & Administration.

“The encapsulation technology is novel even at laboratory scale, but it was a tremendous challenge to scale the procedure for industrial production," commented Brian Salmons, Austrianova’s Managing Partner for Research & Development. New machinery had to be designed and developed by Austrianova personnel to meet GMP standards. Stringent criteria, in terms of reproducibility and product quality, which has to maintain critical tolerances, had to be fulfilled. In addition, comprehensive documentation standards needed to be established.

NovaCaps® has received orphan drug designation for the currently most poorly treatable indication, pancreatic cancer, from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). The ability to provide consistent and quality assured batch manufacturing of NovaCaps® satisfying European market demand is a prerequisite for EMEA market authorisation based on the upcoming phase III clinical trial data planned to start early 2007.


About Austrianova Biotechnology GmbH:
Since the company was founded, in December 2001, Austrianova has matured from the first Biotech spin-off of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna to its present status as a development focussed producer of biological medicaments with an innovative pipeline. Austrianova represents a precedent for the successful collaboration of university and industrial partners, the so-called integration model. The Company is at the forefront of the growing Austrian Biotechnology Industry and employs a staff of 25, with an additional 35 University staff.

About NovaCaps®:
The cell based therapy, NovaCaps®, is based on the encapsulation of genetically modified cells that are implanted in the vicinity of solid tumours. Encapsulation of the cells is achieved using a unique procedure and protects the cells from the patients immune system. The cells have been modified to produce an enzyme that converts a non-toxic chemotherapeutic agent to its tumour toxic form at the site where it is needed (Prodrug Therapy). The NovaCaps® treatment extends the survival of the patient while reducing side effects and improving the quality of life. Austrianova has received orphan drug status for NovaCaps® in the E.U. for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious forms of cancer with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. It is estimated that each year there are around 120,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer in the E.U., U.S. and Japan – around 50,000 of these occur in the E.U. alone translating into an E.U. market volume for NovaCaps® of around Euro 300 million.

About GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice):
The term “Good Manufacturing Practice”, abbreviated to GMP, was introduced by the American Health Authority, FDA (Food and Drug Administration). GMP requires that all critical steps in the production of medicinal products are reproducible and controlled as well as precisely documented. The whole pharmaceutical and biotech industry adheres to GMP for the production of medicines. GMP certification is granted by the regulatory authorities and inspection of production facilities for compliance with GMP is regularly performed.

About Miltenyi Biotec GmbH:
Miltenyi Biotec is one of the most successful German Biotech companies. Miltenyi Bioprocess provides GMP contract manufacturing support for the production of pharmaceutical products.

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Press Contact: Brian Salmons
Company Name: AUSTRIANOVA Biotechnology  
Phone: +431250772601
Website: www.austrianova.com

¶ 10:16 AM 0 comments

Minnesota Cash Pharmacy Growing Faster Today Because of Medicare Part D

Shortly before Medicare Part D rolled into business, many people including our wholesaler and a few insurance agents, asked Sean Kacsir, founder of MedSave Discount Pharmacy if they were going to go out of business. The answer was with confidence “absolutely not!” Now that we are four months into the year, MedSave has silenced the critics and we have statistics to back what we thought all along. Medicare D prescription insurance is not the answer to saving out of pocket money and in the end will not save the majority of senior’s money. MedSave Discount Pharmacy added more than 300 new customers in the month of April, from savvy seniors that are saying NO to Medicare Part D and the growing Health Savings Account population.

New Hope, MN (PRWEB) May 9, 2006 -- MedSave Discount Pharmacy is a “cash pharmacy” or non-insurance pharmacy created in February, 2004 to help people with limited insurance or no insurance save money on prescriptions. Kacsir states “If you take a Medicare Part D plan you could be wasting your money”. Before Medicare Part D, seniors were very frugal with their money and shopped around to get the best deals. They typically went to Canada for their brand medications and purchased many of their generics at MedSave. Using a very confusing plan with at least 17 insurance companies bidding to sell their plans, many seniors have purchased plans they simply do not need. They pay a premium and take their business to an overpriced pharmacy to pay a copay on a medication priced 2-3 times what they used pay. This plan does not even allow for a consumer to buy from the lowest retailer and turn in receipts. This is wasting money for fixed income seniors and catering to insurance companies that do not want to take the time to honor the receipts of the lowest cost provider like MedSave Discount Pharmacy. We can typically save a customer 50% on their medication costs.

On most generic medications seniors are using their new insurance to pay a copay three times what it would cost at MedSave without using insurance. Everyday we are getting seniors that are frustrated because they were told that this program would save them money. We get at least 2-3 customers everyday that will be canceling their plan because it is not helping them save money. In fact in our stores only 7% of our customers use their Part D insurance card. The other 93% save money not using their insurance cards.

So why are seniors buying the insurance? Many are afraid of the “penalty”. We feel that if you buy a drug plan that you do not need, that is a “penalty” and there is no guarantee if you take a plan today to avoid ‘the penalty” that it will even cover the drugs you may take in the future. Another growing concern from MedSave is that now that everyone thinks they have insurance coverage, it will put less pressure on the big chain pharmacies to keep their prices in check. Before you had at least 8% of the population making sure prices were in check. I believe now the prices will go up to compensate for a transition of a shrinking cash prescription market to a lower margin insurance customer.

Fred Wesely, Chief Pharmacist of the New Hope pharmacy states “With all the Medicare Part D prescription plans we feel most people will be better off paying cash for their medication. Using MedSave Discount Pharmacy on your generic medications and using Canada on your brand medications seems to be the best plan to save out of pocket money. Everyday we find a way to save our customer money.” MedSave has had tremendous success and much publicity because of what they have done for the community of New Hope and Duluth.

To fill your prescriptions from MedSave Discount Pharmacy, you may bring a prescription to the store, have your doctor call in your prescription or simply call MedSave and our pharmacist can transfer your prescription from your current pharmacy.

About MedSave Inc.

MedSave Pharmacy Inc. opened their doors on Feb. 17, 2004. MedSave is a discount retail pharmacy that is based out of New Hope, Minnesota. Contact: Sean Kacsir President; email protected from spam bots (763-300-7155) or visit their website at www.MedSaveDiscountUSA.com New Hope 763-252-0094, Duluth 218-722-8042

# # #

Press Contact: Sean Kacsir
Company Name: MEDSAVE DISCOUNT PHARMACY
Phone: 763-300-7155
Website: www.medsavediscountusa.com

¶ 4:49 PM 0 comments

Drug Manufacturers Pursuing Operational Excellence But Still Lagging Behind Other Industries, Surveys Say

A new survey conducted by Pharmaceutical Manufacturing magazine, sponsored by Invistics Corp., reveals that pharmaceutical manufacturers are making great strides in the pursuit of operational excellence, but that some issues -- such as a disconnect between top management and the plant floor -- may be inhibiting further improvements.

Itasca, IL (PRWEB) May 9, 2006 -- The pharmaceutical industry has begun to embrace the principles of the Toyota Management System, the Japanese reinterpretation of concepts first advanced by Deming, Ford and Shewhart. More and more drug companies are taking a systematic approach to improving the way that they develop, manufacture and distribute drugs.

To track these trends, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing magazine recently surveyed more than 100 top manufacturing professionals from within the industry. The survey, detailed in May’s issue of the magazine and sponsored by Invistics Corporation, suggests that drug manufacturers have achieved significant improvements in the area of operational excellence, though most such programs are in their early stages, and some may have sizable challenges yet to overcome. These findings were confirmed by a related survey conducted by Invistics in March.

Among the encouraging trends in the magazine’s survey:

• Most respondents describe their facilities’ operational excellence programs as closely aligned with their companies’ corporate missions and overall business goals
• For the most part, respondents say, they are getting clear key performance indicators (KPIs) from management
• Manufacturing teams are viewed by most respondents as being critical to improving efficiency and performance.
• More companies appear to view plant and equipment maintenance “strategically”
• Companies are working continuously to reduce set-up times and have already achieved positive results

Other findings in the survey, however, suggest potential trouble spots:
• While 56% of respondents, overall, believe that top management views their facilities as profit centers, 44% think that management sees them as cost centers.
• Customer input may not be as integral a part of the overall improvement process at drug manufacturing facilities as it is in other industries
• Nearly half of the respondents note a need to motivate continuous improvement from the plant floor-level up.
• Most respondents say that their facilities and organizations aren’t tying manufacturing employee compensation to plant efficiency and product quality improvements that they make on the job.
• Cross-functional training and product development appear to be issues for some companies; several respondents note a lack of communication between R&D and manufacturing
• Respondents cite “process innovation” and “reducing product prices” as low in their company’s priority lists.

Invistics’ survey of more than 100 pharmaceutical manufacturers confirmed some of the same findings while pointing to the need to boost results from performance improvement initiatives and technologies already in use. Less than half of the respondents in the March survey reported satisfactory results from initiatives like Lean and Six Sigma or technologies including ERP and inventory optimization.

Performance improvement, they say, is hampered by limited skills and training, lack of visibility into plant floor performance, a lack of metrics to motivate change and a lack of tools to manage variability. Manufacturers blamed excessive variability in products, processes and customer demand for creating customer service issues and difficulties in scheduling. Almost 90% said variability negatively impacts performance, often leaving them expediting orders, running out of products that they need or having more inventory than they want.

Both surveys delved into many other critical issues that drug manufacturers must address if they are to bring their facilities up to par with the operating standards already achieved in other industries:
• What strategies are being used to reduce manufacturing costs and assess customer needs
• Whether or not manufacturers are meeting specific quality and service improvement goals such as using statistical process control (SPC) to reduce process variance, improving the quality of raw materials, or reducing scrap and lead times
• How well organizations are managing workforce integration, cross-functional product development and preventive maintenance

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing's survey is the first installment of a work in progress that will be updated and improved regularly. Results of the survey, and interpretation of what it all means for pharmaceutical professionals, can be found in the magazine's May issue, or on www.PharmaManufacturing.com. For information on the Invistics survey, visit www.invistics.com.

About Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and PharmaManufacturing.com
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, published 10 times annually, is the only publication dedicated to meeting the needs of pharmaceutical manufacturing professionals and executives to improve product quality, boost efficiency and productivity, speed time to market, and stay up to date on industry best practices. PharmaManufacturing.com, the magazine’s online resource, features news, analysis, white papers, expert advice and other timeless resources for the pharmaceutical manufacturing community.

About Invistics
Invistics helps manufacturers in highly variable, asset-intensive industries such as pharmaceuticals achieve operational excellence in an often overlooked, yet core, element of their supply chain—production operations. Built on Lean and Six Sigma principles, its manufacturing performance optimization solution, Invistics MachSix™, is specifically designed to redefine complex plant-level tradeoffs between inventory costs, customer service, production throughput, and cycle times. Companies can use the MachSix methodology and software to identify and manage sources of variability while breaking down organizational silos. Invistics customers have achieved dramatic, sustained results including over 99% on-time deliveries, an average reduction of 50% in inventory and reduction in cycle times by more than half. MachSix integrates with, and enhances ERP, Supply Chain and manufacturing execution applications by providing more accurate data while accounting for variability and improving visibility into plant floor operations. To learn more about Invistics, visit www.invistics.com or call 800-601-3456.


Press Contact: Agnes Shanley
Company Name: PUTMAN MEDIA
Phone: 630-467-1301 410
Website: www.PharmaManufacturing.com

¶ 12:57 PM 0 comments

South Jersey Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Alliance Launches “South Jersey PharmaPod” Podcast Series With Lubetkin Communications

The South Jersey Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Industry Alliance (SJPMTIA), taking advantage of rising interest in Internet-distributed audio programs (known as “podcasts”), has partnered with Cherry Hill-based Lubetkin Communications to launch “South Jersey PharmaPod,” a podcast to distribute information about the role of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries in Southern New Jersey.

Cherry Hill, NJ (PRWEB) May 9, 2006 -- The South Jersey Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Industry Alliance (SJPMTIA), taking advantage of rising interest in Internet-distributed audio programs (known as “podcasts”), has partnered with Cherry Hill-based Lubetkin Communications to launch “South Jersey PharmaPod,” a podcast to distribute information about the role of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries in Southern New Jersey.

The first three episodes of the podcast provide complete coverage of SJPMTIA’s spring conference, held May 2 at The Enterprise Center at Burlington County College. The programs are available for downloading and listening on computers or digital audio players at no charge at the SJPMTIA’s website (www.sjpmtia.org), at the podcast blog, http://sjpharmapod.blogspot.com or via RSS “feed” from http://feeds.feedburner.com/sjpharmapod.

PharmaPod Episode #1 includes remarks by former Rep. Bob Franks, president of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey and former Gov. James J. Florio, both of whom spoke at the conference. Episode #2 includes a panel of pharmaceutical industry lobbyists, and a presentation on blogs and podcasting by Steve Lubetkin, Managing Partner of Lubetin Communications. Episode #3 presents a panel of state legislators including NJ State Sens. Diane Allen and Martha Bark, and Assemblyman Jack Conners.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Lubetkin Communications to take advantage of podcasting technology to reach our members and other interested audiences,” said Don Sico, SJPMTIA Executive Director. “Podcasting has especially useful applications for companies in our industry, such as distributing educational programming for traveling sales representatives, medical and allied professionals, with worldwide availability.”

“Using a podcast to provide useful information to its members and their customers demonstrates that SJPMTIA has a clear vision for best-practices integration of such new social media into business applications, and underscores SJPMTIA’s leading position in the trade association field,” said Steven L. Lubetkin, managing partner of Lubetkin & Co. Communications. “Like SJPMTIA, other companies should understand that podcasts can provide clients and other constituencies mission-critical information conveniently, without tying those audiences to a less-flexible programming format like a conference call or a web stream, where busy and time-constrained participants must gather at a common time. Podcast listeners get the information they need -- at a time when they want it.”

Podcasts are digital audio or video recordings distributed using Internet technology. Visitors to an organization’s website can download podcast programs for review on their desktop computers, or synchronize them with a portable digital media device. Software programs called “feed readers” or “podcatchers” allow users to “subscribe” to podcasts at no cost, and receive new programs in a podcast series automatically.

In addition to the other web locations mentioned, the South Jersey PharmaPod Podcast is available through the Podcasts section of the Apple iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com).

Lubetkin Communications is a leading provider of business podcasting services in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The firm launched its Internet broadcasting practice in April 2005, counseling clients about the effective use of podcasts and weblogs, or “blogs,” online journals that facilitate two-way communications with customers, employees, and others.

Earlier this year, Lubetkin Communications produced a podcast for ACE-INA Insurance and for Sun National Bank, Vineland, NJ, for the launch of its Sun Home Loans mortgage subsidiary. In January 2006, the firm began producing podcasts for the Rutgers University School of Business Administration’s popular Quarterly Business Outlook Seminar. It also produces podcasts for NJBankers, a trade association representing major banks in New Jersey, and for the Public Relations Society of America. The firm also produces its own podcasts focusing on public relations, computer technology, bond ratings, and interviews with book authors.

Lubetkin, a veteran of more than 25 years in corporate communications, a newspaper columnist and former broadcast news anchor, is a frequent speaker on technologies like blogging and podcasting. He also hosted more than 1,000 investor relations conference calls during a ten-year career on Wall Street that included producing the first-ever audio webcasts by a global bond rating agency. Lubetkin & Co. specializes in strategic communications advice for corporate clients, executives, and other organizations. Its website is www.lubetkin.net.

The South Jersey Pharmaceutical and Medical Technology Industry Alliance is a group of men and women united to highlight the relationship between the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries and the South Jersey economy. Its common interest and goal is to advance and protect this critical segment of our area economy.

Editors, Note: Mr. Lubetkin is available to discuss how podcasting technology can help organizations communicate effectively with their audiences. Copies of the South Jersey PharmaPod Podcasts are available on request. Please call Steve Lubetkin at (856) 751-5491.

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Press Contact: Steven Lubetkin
Company Name: Lubetkin Communications
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 856-751-5491
Website: http://www.lubetkin.net

¶ 10:29 PM 0 comments

ePharmaceuticals Launches Drug Safety Newsletter

ePharmaceuticals, a division of healthcare regulatory publisher HCPro, has launched of Briefings on Drug Safety, a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide information and guidance to help pharmaceutical professionals make smart drug safety, risk management, and marketing decisions.

Marblehead, MA (PRWEB) May 8, 2006 -- ePharmaceuticals, a division of health care regulatory publisher HCPro, has launched of Briefings on Drug Safety, a monthly electronic newsletter that will provide information and guidance to help pharmaceutical professionals make smart drug safety, risk management, and marketing decisions.

With thousands of Vioxx-related product liability lawsuits, tighter oversight by the FDA’s new Office of Drug Safety, FDA-mandated risk management plans and risk communication, and intense Congressional and media scrutiny, drug safety is in the spotlight more than ever before. These factors have created an environment in which pre- and post-approval drug safety, risk management, and risk communications can make or break a drug.

“The drug safety stakes have never been higher, and that’s why drug safety, regulatory, legal, and marketing professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries need this newsletter,” said David Beardsley, publisher of Briefings on Drug Safety.

Briefings on Drug Safety is designed to help readers effectively initiate post-approval safety studies, prepare for rigorous FDA oversight of drug safety, comply with adverse event reporting requirements, and design risk management and risk communications plans.

This new launch further expands ePharmaceuticals’ line of informational and training products on regulatory compliance in the life sciences industries. These products and services take the form of newsletters, audio conferences, webcasts, training handbooks, e-learning, and on-site workshops. They cover such topics as drug safety/risk management, Part D compliance, formulary and reimbursement issues under Medicare Parts B & D, and marketing innovation.

For more information, including a complimentary copy of Briefings on Part D Compliance, please visit: http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-4032-EN44013A.html

About ePharmaceuticals
ePharmaceuticals, a division of health care regulatory publisher HCPro, Inc., provides business intelligence, compliance training, market research reports and custom publishing services to the pharmaceutical industry.

Publications include ePharm5, a daily business and marketing innovation newsletter, Medicare & Reimbursement Advisor Weekly, Briefings on Part D Compliance, Briefings on Drug Safety, and Pharmaceutical Compliance Alert.

Our compliance training resources include handbooks, audioconferences, live workshops, and online learning courses.

Contact: David Beardsley
Company Name: ePharmaceuticals
Phone: 8774374276
Website: http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-4032-EN44013A.html

¶ 10:37 AM 0 comments

Pharmaconference Uses Internet and OnDemand Technologies to Connect Pharma/Biotech with Policy Makers

Web conferencing, webcasting, podcasting and recorded web events offer pharmaceutical marketers cost and time savings over traditional face-to-face communications, while increasing audience participation and attention.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 7, 2006 -- Web conferencing, webcasting, podcasting and recorded web events offer pharmaceutical marketers cost and time savings over traditional face-to-face communications, while increasing audience participation and attention.

Those are the key findings of “Online Events for the Pharmaceutical Industry: It’s All In The Numbers!,” a comparative analysis of live online and OnDemand delivery of pharmaceutical marketing and product information versus traditional methods, published today by The Maxwell Group, a leading producer of pharmaceutical web conferences, webcasts, podcasts and OnDemand events.

The study investigates newer web technologies as “turn-key” services allowing for timelier, more reliable, easier communications within industry. The primary technologies discussed are: live events including web conferencing—designed for smaller groups (250 or fewer) and which encourage two-way interaction between the presenter and audience, and webcasting—which deliver one-way communication from presenter to large audiences; and OnDemand programs, including recordings of previously live programs that are hosted on a web site for viewing at the participant’s discretion, and podcasts—portable files that may be downloaded to a subscriber’s computer or portable media player. Podcasts are offered by subscription service and provide alerts regarding the availability of new content in the areas of interest to the subscriber.

Maxwell’s analysis indicates that online programs, live or OnDemand, advance pharmaceutical business objectives more efficiently than traditional, face-to-face communications in five key areas:

Direct-to-Physician Marketing—Maxwell’s analysis shows that live online and OnDemand programs are better attended with an average attendance of 75 participants at a typical 60-minute live online event and an unlimited capacity for OnDemand programs. In contrast, the typical dinner meeting averages 15 physicians at twice the cost of the live online meeting and a significantly higher cost per contact. The analysis further indicates that only 12% of all sales calls result in a live meeting with physicians with an average sales call duration of 30 seconds to 3 minutes while 45% of physicians are using the Internet to seek out information about disease states and product benefits.

Direct-to-Consumer Marketing and Education—the analysis indicates that 80% of Internet users—74 million consumers—have searched for health information online. 1 in 5 have sought out health and treatment advice from other online consumers. 64% have researched specific prescription drug information. With Direct-to-Consumer advertising driving 44% of consumers to the product website, Maxwell suggests a comprehensive web communication strategy may enable pharmaceutical marketers to increase demand and consumer interest in products and to increase interactions with consumers via access to key opinion leaders and streamlined access to consumers with similar interests.

Clinical Training and Communications—the study indicates that online events may be used to positively impact the efficiency of the clinical process, supporting activities such as physician/hospital recruitment, site training and communication, and study subject focus groups. Replacing or enhancing traditional trial communications with live and OnDemand events has been shown to boost trial participation, increase retention rates and reduce costs—as this study indicates, a single live online event attended by 100 clinicians may be produced at 16% of the cost of a typical, 50-person dinner meeting.

Sales Force Training and Communications—as reported, 74% of pharmaceutical training directors, managers and decision makers surveyed said that an online learning format would facilitate better communications, better leverage resources and save time and money. 91% agreed with the importance of leveraging the latest technologies for “rapid knowledge transfer” in the industry’s quickly changing environment. (Larstan Business Reports) Maxwell’s study examines how implementation of a web-based strategy for sales training and communication may increase participation, increase reach—as web technologies remove geographic barriers, and reduce costs. Maxwell’s cost analysis indicates that a live online event to 500 sales representatives may be produced at 1/3 the cost of the traditional dinner meeting to the same 500. An OnDemand event can be produced with a managed service provider for 55% of the cost and offers an unlimited attendance capacity.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)—Maxwell’s analysis shows that more than 19% of CME programs are now conducted online. 50% of traditional CME attendees plan to increase their online attendance and more than 75% of physicians plan to complete more hours of CME online next year. Implementing a web-based CME program allows companies to increase physician participation, increase message effectiveness through multimedia, and increase reach—reaching more physicians in shorter time periods and without regard to geography—while reducing costs. As reported, a live online CME event to 150 physicians may be accomplished for 18% of the cost for a traditional 25-person face-to-face program.

Maxwell’s study also includes and a discussion of managed service versus “do-it-yourself” event production, an overview of the landscape of online event vendors, best practices for each solution area, and detailed cost analyses for each of the five key areas noted above.

To receive the full-text analysis, contact James J. Miller, Jr. at 1-800-292-0450, ext. 1220 (1-610-292-0450, ext. 1220 outside of the US) or email protected from spam bots.

To learn about Maxwell’s live, online and OnDemand solutions for pharmaceutical marketing and communication, go to: http://www.themaxwellgroupinc.com.

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Press Contact: Amy Alderfer
Company Name: THE MAXWELL GROUP INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 610-292-0450
Website: http://themaxwellgroupinc.com/

¶ 11:51 AM 0 comments

New Reports Show a Return of Asbestos Concerns for Mechanics

More than a decade after most U.S. automakers stopped installing brakes containing asbestos, rising concerns have resurfaced in regards to brakes that are imported to the U.S. from countries where using asbestos in auto parts is still the norm.

(PRWEB) May 4, 2006 -- According to recent reports and a Baltimore Sun Newspaper Article, during the last 10 years, there’s been an 83% increase in the use of imported brakes in car repairs throughout the country, yet OSHA and other safety organizations have not seen fit to issue precautions throughout the industry, a fact that has angered many mechanics and auto shop workers who were unaware of the hazards they were facing on an almost daily basis.

Problems, say health officials, are compounded by the fact that many mechanics believe asbestos was banned in the United States more than 3 decades ago. That’s simply not the case. While warnings were issued in the 1970s and automakers stopped using the material about a dozen years ago, asbestos is still a legal product. As a matter of fact, the U.S. is one of the few industrialized countries that hasn’t banned the importation or use of asbestos which, when inhaled, can cause mesothelioma or other asbestos-related lung diseases.

A pamphlet touting the concerns of asbestos exposure in the auto industry was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency more than 20 years ago, but no warnings have been published in written form since that time. New mechanics, of course, are among those that are the least aware of the dangers of inhaling the material, which was used in brakes and other mechanical parts for several decades prior to their employment.

Occupational health specialists note that older mechanics were exposed to huge amounts of the material as brakes were once made of 50% asbestos. Thousands of workers in the industry are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-caused diseases annually.

Even more aggravating to advocates in the auto repair field is the fact that OSHA completed a pamphlet about the hazards of asbestos in their field nearly two years ago but chose not to publish or distribute it.

Most critics believe that the government's refusal to publish the literature was due to pressure from the auto repair industry, which is already facing thousands of lawsuits over health-related claims resulting from the use of asbestos in brakes.

More information on these reports and the diseases associated with asbestos can be found at http://www.mesothelioma.com and the article that broke this report can be found on the Baltimore Sun web site.


Press Contact: Steve Rinaldi
Company Name: IIMSNET.COM
Phone: 203-777-7799
Website: http://www.mesothelioma.com  

 

¶ 1:05 AM 0 comments

Controlling Constipation the Natural Way: Ancient Asian Remedy Provides Healthy Alternative to Laxatives

If you suffer from chronic constipation, you are most certainly not alone. About 80 percent of all Americans suffer from constipation at some point in their lives and more than 2.5 million Americans seek medical treatment for it every year. In fact, it’s the most common complaint that patients have about their digestive systems. Doctors regularly prescribe a whole host of medications that aren’t always effective.

(PRWEB) April 23, 2006 -- If you suffer from chronic constipation, you are most certainly not alone. About 80 percent of all Americans suffer from constipation at some point in their lives and more than 2.5 million Americans seek medical treatment for it every year. In fact, it’s the most common complaint that patients have about their digestive systems. Doctors regularly prescribe a whole host of medications that aren’t always effective.

People wary of nasty side effects often seek natural cures for constipation. Luckily, there is a natural remedy that is effective to help alleviate constipation and ward off other bowel complications like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and bloating. Dr. Rulin Xiu, a natural health expert and the founder of Pharm East, believed that constipation was controllable without harmful medication and set out to find a cure. She succeeded.

While in Tibet, Dr. Xiu discovered that several Tibetan herbs, if picked at the right times and processed correctly, could also be used to healthy and regular bowel functioning. Consisting of rhubarb root, mirabolan fruit, ginger fruit, and elecampagne fruit, Ibistrol’s ancient Tibeten formula is based on ancient Tibetan wisdom and on modern technology and scientific studies.

“Ibistrol is the most effective remedy known so far for supporting regular bowel function,” says Dr. Xiu. “This remedy has extensive clinical studies and its ingredients have been used for centuries. Through balancing and strengthening the gastrointestinal and digestive system, it helps enhance energy flow. It also strengthens intestinal muscles and promotes the movement of large and small intestines.”

Other health experts are impressed by Ibistrol’s effectiveness. “Unlike laxatives, it is safe to use Ibistrol long-term because instead of forcing bowel action, Ibistrol seeks to normalize action,” says Dr. William Wong, nationally-known naturopathic doctor and health expert. “Ibistrol is so safe that if the suggested dose does not have the desired effect in a few days, it is perfectly okay to double the dose in order to bring about the positive change.” People all over the country are discovering how effective Ibistrol really is.

Dr. Xiu is pleased by the overwhelming positive and enthusiastic response she gets from people who have been helped by Ibistrol. Unsolicited rave reviews pour in to Dr. Xiu from all over the world.

People going on trips away from home have learned to take Ibistrol to help keep them regular. Dannie from Hilo, Hawaii, is very enthusiastic about the product. “I take Ibistrol every day,” says Dannie. “I will make sure to take Ibistrol with me on our cruise. I feel so much better with Ibistrol.”

Pam K. from Hawaii also makes sure to bring Ibistrol along when she is away from home. “I take Ibistrol whenever I travel and never have problems, but the time we didn’t take it, we got constipated right away,” says Pam. “It’s just been great having it and I never go on a trip without it now.”

People with difficult and hectic lifestyles also benefit from Ibistrol. Shiela Novack from Detroit, Michigan, had to take milk of magnesia two to three times a week because she never ate enough high fiber foods and had constant stomach problems. After her son introduced her to Ibistrol, her life has changed completely.

“Ibistrol works for me and I love it,” says Novack. “I keep it right next to my vitamins. It’s a good feeling to know that I have it to keep myself healthy and waste-free. I only use Ibistrol now. No more milk of magnesia!”

Stress can often compound constipation and stomach problems. Pat V. from Denver, Colorado, began having problems triggered by a high-stress position at his company. “Constipation became a continuous and debilitating condition,” says Pat. “I could go five days or more without a bowel movement, bloating and discomfort increasing all the while. I tried laxatives, but they didn’t help. They only added to the pain and discomfort I already had.”

Pat tried going to see his general practitioner and tried many different natural approaches to no avail before finally trying a sample of Ibistrol. He was amazed by the results after a few short days. “Ibistrol has increased the quality of my life,” says Pat. “Now, instead of planning to be out of circulation for large blocks of time, I can just enjoy life. No more weekends in bed and no more pain in the gut. Thank you Ibistrol!”

For samples of Ibistrol or to set up an interview with Dr. Rulin Xiu for a story, please contact Sarah Van Blaricum at 727-443-7115, ext. 207

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Press Contact: Jay Wilke
Company Name: EVENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 727-443-7115
Website: www.pharmeast.com

¶ 11:03 AM 0 comments