Indian patent regime, The Andhra Journal of Industrial News, December 2004, Issue 9, Vepachedu Educational Foundation

Contents

Patent News: THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND THE NEW PATENT REGIME IN THE INDIAN UNION

Prostate cancer drugs
Children and Cell phones
Pain Killers
Condoms
Mosquito Repellant

Prostate cancer drugs
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that the hormone-suppressing drugs often used to treat prostate cancer make men very susceptible to bone fractures. In older men whose cancer is discovered early, these broken bones may be a bigger health threat than the cancer, the study says.

Children and Cell phones
Parents should not give cell phones to children aged eight or under, the chairman of an official study into the safety of the phones said in London. Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, or NRPB, said there was a growing amount of research that showed using cell phones has health implications and it was therefore wise to adopt a "precautionary approach," particularly with children.

Pain Killers
More than 70 percent of patients who took painkillers such as ibuprofen for more than three months suffered damage to their small intestines, U.S. researchers reported. The study is yet another blow to patients trying to find ways to treat arthritis pain, after reports that the most advanced drugs, called COX-2 inhibitors, can raise the risk of heart death. Anybody who takes aspirin or other NSAIDS for a year has a 1 to 4 percent risk of serious gastrointestinal complications. The COX-2s were designed specifically to overcome the deadly side effects of NSAIDS.

A U.S. government study published last month found that acupuncture can help to relieve arthritis pain in the knee in patients getting more standard treatment. Various studies have found that acupuncture may be helpful in treating low back pain, acute dental pain and recurrent headache. Acupuncture has also been used for a variety of obstetrics and gynecology-related conditions, such as to treat morning sickness and to induce labor. Several researchers have also found that acupuncture may be useful in controlling pain during labor. Acupuncture may be another option for pregnant women for labor pain management.

Condoms
The nonprofit Consumers Union says in a new guide to contraception that the seven top U.S. types of condom they studied did not burst despite vigorous testing, and all models met international standards. But results showed that the top brand, able to take the most punishment, was the Durex Extra Sensitive Lubricated Latex, according to the report. Other top-performers include the Durex Performax Lubricated, Lifestyles Classic Collection Ultra Sensitive Lubricated and TheyFit Lubricated. A melon-colored model distributed by Planned Parenthood performed the worst, bursting during a test in which the latex condoms were filled with air.

Mosquito Repellant
We have long known that some people are more tempting targets for mosquitoes than others. But until now it was not clear whether those who were better protected actually produced a natural repellent of their own, or simply produced fewer of the chemicals that attract the insects. British researchers found certain chemicals were more common in people who were less attractive to the mosquitoes. When they sprayed those chemicals on people who normally did attract mosquitoes, the insects were no longer interested. The natural bug repellent is not detectable by human noses.

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