News March 1 2005

Myrtle Beach Online, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 0:12 AM PST Biotech giant recalls drug; industry reels http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/business/11019196.htm 'The FDA is under pressure to scrutinize drug approvals even more carefully. This is likely to translate to more exhaustive and costly clinical trials both for big pharma and biotech.'

Investors.com, Mon, 28 Feb 2005 1:14 PM PST Biogen Idec, Elan shares plunge after recall of MS drug http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=26185595&brk=1 NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. shares plummeted in heavy volume Monday after the companies said they have voluntarily suspended sales and clinical trials of their new multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri over safety concerns.

USA Today, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 4:33 AM PST Biogen's drug debacle could beat down industry http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/biotech/2005-03-01-biogen-woe_x.htm?csp=34 The debacle over faulty drugs besetting the pharmaceutical industry has now spread to the biotech sector, with one of its best performing companies and a partner pulling their highly touted multiple sclerosis drug from the market after one patient died and another fell seriously ill.

Minot Daily News, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 9:42 AM PST A good starting point http://www.minotdailynews.com/edit/story/031202005_edt1EDIT.asp In the wake of the high-profile recall of Vioxx and revelations of serious safety questions about other drugs, the Food and Drug Administration has announced the formation of an independent board that will monitor the safety of prescription drugs after they are released into the marketplace.

Boston Herald, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 0:54 AM PST Biogen pulls drug for MS http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=70908 Biogen Idec Inc. hemorrhaged almost half its value yesterday, sending shock waves from State Street to Wall Street, when the Cambridge company recalled its new multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri after a ...

Investors.com, Mon, 28 Feb 2005 11:14 AM PST Biogen Idec, Elan shares plunge after recall of MS drug http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=26183528&brk=1 NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Biogen Idec and Elan Corp. shares plummeted in heavy volume Monday after the companies said they have voluntarily suspended sales and trials of their treatment for multiple sclerosis, known as Tysabri, because of safety concerns.

San Diego Union-Tribune, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 1:35 AM PST Biotechs pull new MS drug Tysabri http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050301/news_1b1tysabri.html Shares of Biogen Idec and Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. went into free-fall yesterday after the companies halted the sale of a new multiple sclerosis drug they developed together that was linked to one death and the serious illness of a second patient.

Technology Review, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 9:44 AM PST Biogen's Drug Debacle Could Beat Down Industry http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/03/ap/ap_030105.asp?trk=top The biotech industry could take a hit -- after two years of soaring stock prices -- as drugs hitting the market come under closer public scrutiny.

Newsday, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 0:51 AM PST FDA CAPSULES http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-dsfda4160269mar01,0,7461775.story?coll=ny-health-headlines Iron powdered infant formula in 12.9-ounce cans was recalled because of the presence of black plastic particles reported in a small number of cans. The Lot Number 20307RB is printed on the bottom of the cans.

TheDeal.com via Yahoo! News, Tue, 01 Mar 2005 2:00 AM PST Investors slam Biogen, Elan http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/thedeal/20050301/bs_deal_thedeal/investorsslambiogenelan The biotech companies have told doctors to stop dosing the 5,000 patients taking the drug Tysabri.