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Alan Franciscus
Editor-in-Chief
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In This Issue:
• Possible Role for
Vitamin K2 in the Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in
Women with Viral Cirrhosis
• Hepatitis C and Early Acute Rejection
Following Liver Transplantation
• National Institutes of Health Researchers
Identify Better Hepatitis C Treatment for People with HIV
• Idun Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase
2 Clinical Study of IDN-6556 in Hepatitis C Virus
• Viragen Granted U.S. Patent for Manufacture
of Multiferon(TM)
• NEW - Hepatitis C Disinfectant Just Introduced
in the Salon Industry, Could Mean the End of O'L BLUE!
• Hepatitis B Spreading among R.I. Inmates
• Bristol to Seek OKs for Diabetes, Hepatitis
Drugs
• 23 Hemophiliacs File Damage Suit for
Tainted Blood
• U.S. Attorney to Announce Settlement
with Drugmaker
July 26th, 2004
Possible
Role for Vitamin K2 in the Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
in Women with Viral Cirrhosis
www.gastrohep.com
The role of vitamin K2 in the development
of hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis
has been explored in a paper published in the July 21st issue
of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The role of vitamin K2, or menaquinone,
in controlling cell growth has been identified in previous
studies.
Japanese scientists were therefore interested
to discover if vitamin K2 has preventative effects on the
development of hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral
cirrhosis of the liver.
Dr Daiki Habu and colleagues from Osaka
City University, Osaka, Japan studied 40 women diagnosed with
viral liver cirrhosis who were admitted to a university hospital
between 1996 and 1998.
The women were randomly assigned to either
the treatment group, who received 45 mg/d of vitamin K2 (n
= 21), or the control group, who did not receive the vitamin
treatment.
Both groups received symptomatic therapy
to treat ascites, if necessary, and dietary advice.
The scientists originally set out to assess
the long-term effects of vitamin K2 on bone loss in women
with viral liver cirrhosis.
However, since study participants also
satisfied criteria required for examination of the effects
of such treatment on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma,
they focused their attention on this.
Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in
2 of the 21 women given vitamin K2 and 9 of the 19 women in
the control group.
The cumulative proportion of patients with
hepatocellular carcinoma was smaller in the treatment group,
while on univariate analysis, the risk ratio for the development
of hepatocellular carcinoma in the treatment group compared
with the control group was 0.20.
On multivariate analysis with adjustment
for age, alanine aminotransferase activity, serum albumin,
total bilirubin, platelet count, -fetoprotein, and history
of treatment with interferon alfa, the risk ratio for the
development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients given
vitamin K2 was 0.13.
The researchers therefore conclude that
there is a possible role for vitamin K2 in the prevention
of hepatocellular carcinoma in women with viral cirrhosis.
JAMA 2004; 292 (3): 358-361
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July 28th, 2004
Hepatitis
C and Early Acute Rejection Following Liver Transplantation
Source: www.gastrohep.com
HCV etiology is strongly associated with
early acute rejection following liver transplantation, find
doctors in the August issue of Liver Transplantation.
Diagnosis and treatment of early acute
rejection likely affect the course of recurrent hepatitis
C virus (HCV) following liver transplantation.
In this study, doctors from San Francisco,
California, evaluated a cohort of liver transplantation recipients
to re-examine risk factors for early acute rejection.
The team hypothesized that HCV etiology
may represent a significant risk factor for early acute rejection.
They retrospectively reviewed the records
of 285 adults undergoing primary liver transplantation for
cirrhosis between 1999 and 2002.
Overall incidence of rejection = 41%. -- Liver Transplantation
The doctors found that HCV cirrhosis was
the etiology for 51% of all liver transplantation recipients.
They also found that there were 135 episodes
of early acute rejection in 117 recipients; an overall incidence
of 41%.
Patient groups with HCV and cholestatic
/ autoimmune disease had the greatest incidence of rejection
(49%).
Univariate analysis identified recipient
gender, ethnicity, etiology, year, and posttransplant immunosuppression
levels were risk factors for early acute rejection.
However, HCV etiology and female gender
remained robust risk factors in multivariate analysis.
Interferon-based therapy did not impact
the incidence or timing of early acute rejection.
Dr Ryan McTaggart and colleagues concluded,
"HCV etiology is strongly associated with early acute
rejection ".
"HCV allograft reinfection may create
an immunologic environment predisposed to early acute rejection".
"Alternatively, the association of
HCV and early acute rejection may result from an increased
frequency of allograft biopsy and may be further exacerbated
by inability to accurately diagnose early acute rejection
in the setting of recurrent HCV".
Liver Transpl 2004; 10(8): 975-85
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July 28th, 2004
National
Institutes of Health Researchers Identify Better Hepatitis
C Treatment for People with HIV
Source: National Institutes of Research
Researchers Identify Better Hepatitis
C Treatment for People with HIV
The preferred treatment for hepatitis C,
peg-interferon and ribavirin, is safe for people who are also
infected with HIV, according to a new study in the July 29
issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Moreover,
this treatment proved superior for the treatment of hepatitis
C virus (HCV) in HIV-coinfected persons when compared with
the previously accepted treatment, standard interferon and
ribavirin.
The study compared the effectiveness of
two forms of interferon: a once-weekly dose of peg-interferon
and standard interferon taken three times weekly. Peg-interferon
with ribavirin is currently the approved treatment for hepatitis
C in persons without HIV. Prior to this study, limited data
were available on the benefit and safety of peg-interferon
and ribavirin in HIV-infected people.
The study was funded by the National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National
Center for Research Resources (NCRR), both parts of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAID’s Adult AIDS Clinical
Trials Group conducted the study at 21 research centers in
the United States.
“We are pleased to see such a clear
and definitive result from this study,” says NIAID Director
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “Just a decade ago treatment
of HCV in persons infected with HIV was not a priority because
they died from AIDS before developing serious complications
of hepatitis C infection. As new anti-HIV drug treatments
extend the lives of HIV-positive individuals, studies like
this one provide essential guidance on treating other serious
health problems affecting people living with HIV.”
HCV is primarily spread through infected
blood. Most people with the virus have no signs of illness,
but in some the infection progresses to chronic liver disease,
liver failure or liver cancer. The disease progresses more
rapidly in people who have HIV.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate
that HCV infects about 25,000 Americans annually and is responsible
for about 8,000 to 10,000 deaths per year. About 3.9 million
Americans have been infected with HCV, 2.7 million of whom
are chronically infected, according to the CDC. It is also
estimated that of the 1 million HIV-infected Americans, about
300,000 are also infected with HCV.
“We carefully monitored the study
volunteers for side effects. Most tolerated the treatments
well, and relatively few discontinued therapy prematurely.
We were also encouraged that HIV infection remained under
control during the study,” says Raymond T. Chung, M.D.,
lead investigator and director of the Center for Liver Disorders
in the Gastrointestinal Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The 133 HIV-positive study volunteers were
randomly assigned to take peg-interferon or interferon for
48 weeks. All study volunteers also took ribavirin, an antiviral
drug that is also part of standard therapy for hepatitis C.
Study volunteers who completed the treatments—16 withdrew
early for various reasons—were followed for 24 more
weeks to evaluate long term treatment success.
In the group that took peg-interferon,
27 percent of patients had no detectable HCV in their blood
24 weeks after completing treatment (sustained response).
In contrast, of those who took interferon, only 12 percent
had a sustained response. Importantly, more than one third
of those volunteers who failed to clear HCV appeared to experience
improvement in their liver biopsies, suggesting the treatment
was beneficial in this group as well.
Researchers also found that the volunteers whose HCV levels
failed to fall substantially within the first 12 weeks never
experienced a sustained response.
Roche Laboratories provided study medications
and participated in the protocol team.
NCRR supported this research through its
General Clinical Research Center Program with grants to University
of Rochester, NY; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;
and New York University. NCRR provides NIH-supported investigators
with access to specialized basic and clinical research facilities,
technologies, instrumentation, biomaterials, animal models,
genetic stocks and more.
Reference:
R.T. Chung et al. A randomized controlled trial of PEG-interferon
alfa-2a plus ribavirin vs. interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin
for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-co-infected
persons: the U.S. AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5071 study team.
The New England Journal of Medicine 351(5):451-459
(2004).
NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent,
diagnose and treat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis,
malaria and illness from potential agents of bioterrorism.
NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related
illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies.
Media Contact: Linda Joy
(301) 402-1663
ljoy@niaid.nih.gov
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Idun
Pharmaceuticals Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Study of IDN-6556
in Hepatitis C Virus
Source: PRNewswire
SAN DIEGO,-- Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
today announced that it has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study
of IDN-6556 in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The dose-response study will evaluate whether IDN-6556 can
decrease the liver damage that occurs from hepatitis, an inflammation
of the liver, which can be caused by HCV infection. Participants
in this trial will have previously failed to respond to existing
drugs for HCV and will receive one of several doses of IDN-6556,
or placebo, given orally as a monotherapy for 3 months. This
study will be conducted at fifteen sites in the U.S. and is
expected to enroll up to 200 patients.
"The initiation of this Phase 2 clinical
study of IDN-6556 is an important milestone in the development
of this exciting new candidate for the treatment of diseases
of the liver," said David Shapiro, M.D., Idun's Chief
Medical Officer. "We believe that IDN-6556 has considerable
potential to treat not only HCV but several other liver diseases
based on the encouraging data from the previous clinical experiences.
These data have been presented at a number of recent medical
meetings including the American Association for the Study
of Liver Disease, the European Association for the Study of
the Liver and Digestive Disease Week. The current Phase 2
trial seeks to repeat and expand on the results observed in
the previous trial and should provide important additional
information about safety, dosage and markers of disease progression."
Additional information about participating
in this clinical trial can be obtained at the Idun web site
at www.idun.com.
IDN-6556
IDN-6556 is a first-in-class, small-molecule pan-caspase inhibitor
being developed as a broad liver protectant. IDN-6556 efficiently
targets the liver and has been shown to be highly effective
in a variety of preclinical models of liver disease demonstrating
both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activity. In previous
human clinical trials, IDN-6556 was shown to be well tolerated
following oral administration for up to two weeks across a
wide range of doses. IDN-6556 significantly decreased elevated
aminotransferase liver enzymes, a routine measure of liver
damage, within days after administration.
Hepatitis C
The number of individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection
is estimated at 2.7 million in the U.S. and up to 10 million
patients worldwide. Principally due to the side effect profile
and the expensive cost of current therapies, only about 13%
of the chronically infected in the United States and roughly
7% of the chronically infected in other developed countries
have been treated. Over 30% of patients with chronic hepatitis
C will likely develop cirrhosis of the liver and ultimately
require a liver transplant.
Idun
Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately-held biopharmaceutical
company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel
therapeutics in the areas of liver disease, inflammation,
and cancer. Idun's lead product candidate, IDN-6556, is in
clinical studies for both liver transplantation and in patients
infected with hepatitis C virus. The company has a number
of product candidates in advanced preclinical development
for inflammation and cancer. Idun has an extensive patent
portfolio comprised of 146 issued patents worldwide. Idun's
corporate headquarters and research and development facility
is located in San Diego, California. For more information
please visit the company's web site at www.idun.com.
Some of the statements in this press release
are forward-looking statements and do not guarantee future
performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results
may differ substantially from the results that the forward-looking
statements suggest for various reasons. These forward-looking
statements are made only as of the date of this press release.
Source: Idun Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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July 29th, 2004
Viragen
Granted U.S. Patent for Manufacture of Multiferon(TM)
Source: PRNewswire
PLANTATION, Fla.—Viragen, Inc.(Amex: VRA) and Viragen
International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VGNI) today announced
they have been granted U.S. Patent 6,743,624 from the United
States Patent & Trademark Office for a process relating
to the anufacture of Multiferon™, a natural human alpha
interferon drug derived from human white blood cells.
The issued patent titled, “Process For Continuous Purification
And Concentration Of Leukocytes From Blood,” relates
to a novel process used to concentrate leukocytes (human white
blood cells) during the production of Multiferon, which results
in an enhanced yield of interferon from the cell preparation.
“Obtaining patent protection for this key aspect of
our manufacturing technology represents one step in providing
Viragen with an important competitive advantage as we continue
our evaluation of ways to bring Multiferon to the United States,”
stated Viragen’s Executive Vice President, Mr. Mel Rothberg.
“We continue to review the multiple options available
to us for this part of our Multiferon strategy.”
About Alpha Interferon:
The majority of alpha interferons that are marketed for the
treatment of a broad range of viral and malignant diseases
are single-subtype recombinant interferons. Therapy resistance
is not unusual with recombinant interferons with a significant
percentage of patients failing to respond to standard therapy.
In some instances, recombinant interferon is rejected by the
patient’s immune system, possibly the result of the
formation of neutralizing antibodies which may lead to a loss
of clinical efficacy. Also, many patients cannot tolerate
the adverse side effects sometimes associated with recombinant
therapy.
About Multiferon™:
Multiferon is a highly purified, multi-subtype, natural human
alpha interferon derived from human white blood cells and
is approved in Sweden for the second-line treatment of any
and all diseases in which patients show an initial response
to recombinant (synthetic) alpha interferon followed by treatment
failure, probably due to the formation of neutralizing antibodies.
Multiferon is also approved for sale in the following countries
for the treatment of a range of viral and malignant diseases:
Czech Republic, Egypt, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar,
South Africa and Thailand. Work is ongoing to expand the approved
indications in these countries. Regulatory approval processes
are also underway in a number of other South American, Middle
East and Far East territories.
Multiferon is not approved for sale in the United States,
and Viragen is required to file an Investigational New Drug
Application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) to be allowed to test the drug in U.S. human studies.
To view a print ad for Multiferon, please visit: http://www.Viragen.com/multiferonad.htm
About Viragen, Inc.:
Viragen is a biotechnology company specializing in the research,
development and commercialization of natural and recombinant
protein-based drugs designed to treat a broad range of viral
and malignant diseases. These protein-based drugs include
natural human alpha interferon, monoclonal antibodies and
a peptide drug. Viragen’s strategy also includes the
development of Avian Transgenic Technology as a biomanufacturing
platform for the large-scale, cost-effective production of
therapeutic proteins.
Viragen is publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange
(VRA). Viragen’s majority owned subsidiary, Viragen
International, Inc., is publicly traded on the Over-The-Counter
Bulletin Board (VGNI). Viragen’s key partners and licensors
include: Roslin Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, Cancer Research UK, University of Nottingham (U.K.),
University of Miami, America’s Blood Centers and the
German Red Cross.
For more information, please visit: http://www.Viragen.com
Viragen, Inc. Corporate Contact:
Douglas Calder, Director of Communications
Phone: (954) 233-8746; Fax: (954) 233-1414
E-mail: dcalder@viragen.com
The foregoing press announcement contains
forward-looking statements that can be identified by such
terminology such as “expect,” “potential,”
“suggests,” “may,” “will,”
“should,” “could” or similar expressions.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by such statements. In particular, management’s expectations
regarding future research, development and/or commercial results
could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating
to clinical trials and product development; availability of
future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or government
regulation generally; the Company’s ability to obtain
or maintain patent and other proprietary intellectual property
protection; and competition in general. Forward-looking statements
speak only as to the date they are made. The Company does
not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect
circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking
statements are made.
SOURCE Viragen, Inc.
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NEW
- Hepatitis C Disinfectant Just Introduced in the Salon Industry,
Could Mean the End of O'L BLUE!
Source: www.prweb.com
SaniGuard an emerging leader in infection
control products has introduced a complete line of sanitization
products for the beauty and barber industry's including SaniGuard
PRO™ the Industry’s First Hospital Grade Disinfectant
with a Hepatitis C Efficacy Claim and 4 patent pending color
choices.
For salon and spa owners, providing services
to their clients in clean and safe surroundings has to be
their number one priority. Until now the choices have been
limited with no real advances with sanitization in the beauty
& barber industry. To help achieve a healthy environment,
SaniGuard®, an emerging leader in the medical and health
field, has introduced a new cutting edge professional line
of salon sanitization products, SaniGuard Professional Salon
Products.
The SaniGuard Professional Salon Products
line encompasses seven products with their first product release
and includes many firsts in the salon and spa industry, such
as the first Hepatitis C efficacy claim and patent-pending
colored disinfectants for salon tools and implements.
The SaniGuard Professional Salon Products
line includes:
•SaniGuard PRO™ Concentrated Hospital Grade Disinfectant
- The beauty and barber industry’s first EPA-registered
hospital grade disinfectant with a Hepatitis C efficacy claim.
SaniGuard PRO comes in four patent-pending colors (green,
purple, red & yellow) and is virucidal, fungicidal, bactericidal
and has been tested on and proven effective against TB, HIV
1 & 2, Hepatitis B & C, Herpes 1 & 2, Staph, Strep
& over 50 other leading infection concerns including MSRA
strains It also does not contain dangerous phenols like other
TB approved products in the beauty industry.
•SaniGuard Barrier Skin Cream™
- The most advanced barrier skin cream introduced to date.
When applied it dries quickly without any sticky residue and
will provides temporary protection for 3-4 hours repelling
everything from chemicals and dyes to perm solutions and water.
In many applications it is making latex or vinyl gloves a
thing of the past.
•SaniGuard Dry Sanitizing Surface
Spray™ - The world's first dry on contact spray sanitizer
and deodorizer. Due to it's dry on contact properties, it
safely sanitizes surfaces that ordinary wet products damage.
From electronics to rubber to fabrics and even paper, without
damage!
•SaniGuard Total Release Fogger™
- The World's first disposable room fogger. It enables the
user to quickly sanitize entire rooms in just minutes with
the same "kill on contact" power of the conventional
SaniGuard sprays. Each fogger treats up to 625 sq. ft. in
one application.
•SaniGuard PRO™ Salon Disinfectant
and Manicure Jar - Modern designed options for more efficent
brush and tool disinfecting. SaniGuard's trademark square
jar is quickly becoming the industries top choice nationwide.
•SaniGuard PRO Brush & Comb Tub™
- A one gallon plastic tub for large scale disinfecting, hair
removal or sanitary storage of combs and brushes. SaniGuard
Tubs provide an attractive design for any station and easy
function for maintaining a sanitary service area.
“From SaniGuard PRO – the first
high powered Hepatitis C rated liquid tool disinfectant with
color options, to the industries first Total Release Fogger
for effectively treating entire rooms in just minutes to the
most advanced Barrier Skin Cream that the industry has seen
to date, SaniGuard is your source for superior salon and spa
sanitization essentials that are priced right,” says
David Harried, V.P. of Marketing. “SaniGuard Professional
Salon Products help to protect your customers and your employees,
while making it easier to meet tough state regulations. It's
time to say so long to the outdated old blue formula and replace
it with advanced protection."
For more information on how SaniGuard Professional
Salon Products can help you achieve the ultimate in clean
for your salon or spa, please contact David Harried at 608.347.9003,
sales@saniguardpro.com
or visit us online at http://saniguardpro.com.
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Hepatitis
B Spreading among R.I. Inmates
Source: turnto10.com
Brown Studies Prison Population
Hepatitis B, a potentially dangerous virus,
is spreading through Rhode Island's prison population.
Researchers at Brown University made the
discovery while studying common infectious diseases at the
Adult Correctional Institutions. They were surprised to learn
how easily the virus has been spreading among inmates.
The research shows that 20 percent of the
ACI population has hepatitis B.
"There's an epidemic of hepatitis
B in this population, and that's really a tragedy because
we have a highly effective and safe vaccine for hepatitis
B," researcher Dr. Josiah Rich said.
Most of the female population at the ACI
has been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Researchers are trying
to secure funding to offer vaccinations to the entire male
population.
Hepatitis B often attacks the liver. It
is generally spread through blood, sexual contact and in rare
cases, through saliva.
Researchers said that once inmates are
released, the virus could spread into the general population.
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Bristol
to Seek OKs for Diabetes, Hepatitis Drugs
Source: Reuters
NEW YORK -- Bristol-Myers Squibb. Co. on
Thursday said it plans within the next six months to seek
regulatory approvals for new drugs to treat diabetes and hepatitis
B.
Company Chief Executive Peter Dolan told
analysts in a conference call the company will seek approval
for Muraglitazar, a treatment for adult-onset diabetes it
intends to co-market with Merck & Co. Inc. . Some analysts
expect the drug to post annual sales of over $500 million
by 2008, if approved.
Dolan said Bristol-Myers will also seek
approval for Entecavir for hepatitis B. Wall Street expects
the drug to post annual sales of well over $500 million by
2008, if approved.
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July 30th, 2004
23
Hemophiliacs File Damage Suit for Tainted Blood
Chung Ah-young
Source: Korea Times
Twenty-three hemophiliacs on Friday filed a class action against
the government, demanding 1 billion won in compensation for
their contracting hepatitis and AIDS virus from contaminated
blood.
Lawyers of the Law Firm J. L. and members
of the Korea Hemophilia Association (KOHEM) began the joint
legal battle, claiming that the health authorities are responsible
for 23 hemophiliacs’ infection with hepatitis C.
A KOHEM official said that one third of
the hemophiliacs, or 632 out of 1,704, are confirmed suffering
from hepatitis C, which mostly results from blood to blood
infection.
According to the J. L. lawyers, the authorities
have turned a blind eye to safe testing methods and management
of blood even though the existing blood test has been vulnerable
to infection since the hepatitis C virus (HCV) test was introduced
in 1990s.
The authorities have refused to conduct
an epidemiological investigation for hepatitis C although
it is worsening as a chronic disease, forcing 17 percent of
hepatitis C patients to die from liver cancer, the KOHEM said.
Compared to the infection rate for ordinary
people with hepatitis C, hemophiliacs are hundreds of times
more prone to contracting the disease. The infection rate
for ordinary people stands at 0.2-0.4 percent, and is on the
decline every year, while hemophiliacs show 2.3 percent at
the age of 0-4, 2.4 percent at the age of 5-9, 63.3 percent
at the age of 10-19 and 65.9 percent for those over 20.
Lawyers taking the compensation suits said
that other hemophiliacs aside from 23 will join the class
action in late August, adding that the amount of compensation,
coupled with treatment expenses, might surge after finishing
health check-ups for those patients.
The class action group, including the law
firm and the KOHEM also urged authorities to take measures
to improve the blood testing and management system.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed
a total of more than 1,205 blood samples had been tainted
by hepatitis and AIDS during the last decade due to mistakes
by Korea National Red Cross officials. According to the authorities,
205 of those blood samples that tested positive for hepatitis
B and C had been distributed.
Twenty-seven officials of the KNRC were
indicted without arrest on charges of circulating improper
blood on Thursday.
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U.S.
Attorney to Announce Settlement with Drugmaker
Source: Reuters
NEW YORK--- The U.S. Attorney's office
in Philadelphia said on Friday it has reached a "significant
settlement" of criminal and civil cases with a U.S. drugmaker.
A press conference will be held in Philadelphia
later in the day.
The New York Times earlier this month said
that Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP.N: Quote, Profile, Research),
which has been under investigation for allegedly defrauding
the government Medicaid insurance program by overcharging
for its drugs, had reached a settlement with federal prosecutors.
Investors expect the company to be fined,
and Schering-Plough has set aside $500 million in reserves
to cover expenses for this Medicaid case and other legal matters.
A spokeswoman for Kenilworth, New
Jersey-based Schering-Plough, maker of the antihistamine Claritin
and Peg-Intron for hepatitis C, said the company does not
comment on ongoing investigations.
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