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Mesothelioma: A Killer
Lurks in the Lungs |
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Repligen Starts Obsessive-Compulsive Study |
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September 24, 2004 10:41:50 AM PDT , Associated Press |
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Repligen Corp., a biotechnology company that concentrates on pediatric diseases, said Friday that it launched an early-stage clinical trial of a treatment for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Shares of Repligen were up 14 cents, or 7.25 percent, at $2.07 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq.
The Phase I trial of RG1068, a synthetic form of the human hormone secretin, will primarily test the safety and tolerability of two dose levels in up to 16 patients. The company will also study the impact of RG1068 on obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.
Repligen said preliminary data shows that secretin activates the amygdala region of the brain, the center of fear and anxiety responses. The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) has approved synthetic secretin for use in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders. Studies testing the use of the hormone in autism have not shown it to be significantly different from a placebo, according to the National Institutes of Health (news - web sites).
The drug also is in a mid-stage trial to evaluate its use in treating refractory schizophrenia.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, characterized by persistent and uncontrollable anxiety or irrational rituals, affects about 3.3 million Americans, according the NIH.
Repligen's stock has been inching up recently from its 52-week low of $1.22 on July 26. In August, the company reported increased sales and much narrower losses for the first quarter ended June 30, compared with a year ago. |
Alcohol tied to 75,000 deaths a year in U.S.
Last Updated: 2004-09-23 16:08:06 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Paul Simao
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Alcohol abuse kills some 75,000 Americans each year and shortens the lives of these people by an average of 30 years, a U.S. government study suggested on Thursday.
Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States after tobacco use and poor eating and exercise habits.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which published the study, estimated that 34,833 people in 2001 died from cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and other diseases linked to drinking too much beer, wine and spirits.
Another 40,933 died from car crashes and other mishaps caused by excessive alcohol use.
Researchers considered any man who averaged more than two drinks per day or more than four drinks per occasion to be an excessive drinker. For women it was more than one drink per day or more than three drinks per occasion.
"These results emphasize the importance of adopting effective strategies to reduce excessive drinking, including increasing alcohol excise taxes and screening for alcohol misuse in clinical settings," the study said.
Men accounted for 72 percent of the excessive drinking deaths in 2001, and those 21 or younger made up 6 percent of the death toll.
Light or moderate drinking can benefit a person's health, but heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disorders, certain cancers and liver disease.
Excessive drinkers are also more likely to die in car accidents.
The United States aims to cut the rate of alcohol-related driving fatalities to 4 deaths per 100,000 people by 2010, a 32 percent drop from 1998.
SOURCE: Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report, September 24, 2004.
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