New Research Indicates Numerous Drug Benefits And Applications; ASCPT Annual Meeting Features Over 400 Scientific Sessions.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2004

Studies examining the benefits and risks of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs and research exploring new drug applications will be presented at the March 24-27 annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the Fountainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach FL.

Learning why some people get maximum benefits from a drug while others, taking the same amount, benefit little or not at all is the topic of one of 400 scientific sessions concerning drug interventions and interactions. Session highlights are:

-- Research documenting that over-the-counter progesterone cream

affects women as much as progesterone capsules, indicating

that women should only use these creams after consulting their

doctors. (Embargoed for March 25)

-- A University of Florida study that cautions cancer patients

who are taking Gleevec/Imatinib to not also take St. John's

Wort. (Embargoed for March 27)

-- The first neonatal hair test to detect heavy in utero alcohol

exposure.

-- A way to alleviate vaccination pain for infants by pretreating

their skin with a topical local anesthetic.

-- A prenatal supplement that pregnant women with nausea and

vomiting can tolerate in order to meet their dietary needs.

-- The first study using saliva to test the levels of HIV

medications in children.

-- A Canadian study assessing how many people may be at risk when

combining prescription medications with natural health

products.

-- A study that begins the process of setting proper children's

dosage guidelines for popular cough medicines that contain

dextromethorphan.

-- The first study examining children's reactions to the tastes

of HIV drugs, aimed at helping HIV infected children stay drug

compliant.

-- Findings that show ephedra and caffeine combinations may

increase insulin resistance and decrease blood potassium

levels, making the combination especially harmful for people

with obesity.

-- An evaluation of the safety during pregnancy of fluvoxamine, a

popular drug for depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.

-- Research identifying genetic risk factors for drug

induced-liver injury that will ultimately make it possible to

define patients at risk and individualize drug therapy.

-- A study of acetaminophen toxicity, discovering more about this

cause of acute liver failure.

-- A program that is achieving dramatically positive outcomes by

tailoring leptin replacement therapy to fit the individual

gene profiles of obese adults.

-- A study learning how effectively Mexican American women

metabolize two common antidepressants based on their genetic

makeup.

-- Two studies comparing the abilities of human milk and formula

regarding the elimination of bodily toxins and the processing

of drugs by infants.

-- A report that suggests a novel strategy for treating patients

with colorectal cancer.

Over 1,200 medical professionals in clinical pharmacology, with 210 international attendees from 25 countries, will attend the ASCPT annual meeting which features a debate about genetic testing and a public policy forum to discuss the objective evaluation of the safety and efficacy of food additives and traditional remedies.

Members of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics are leading the development of new drugs and defining best practices for drug usage. They evaluate patient responses to pharmaceuticals and use this information to improve the delivery of effective drug therapies. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, ASCPT was founded in 1900 and has 2,200 members worldwide.

To Reporters and Editors:

Following the Genetic Testing debate on Wednesday, March 24, the debaters will be available for interviews from 1-2 p.m. EST. Following the Public Policy Forum on Friday, March 26, the speakers will be available for interviews from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. EST.

    Newsroom telephone: [phone] -- Newsroom fax: [phone]

Abstracts and Virtual Newsroom

Abstracts of all meeting papers are available, as well as a meeting program. News releases and summaries of selected abstracts will be posted on the ASCPT website at ascpt.org beginning March 19.

Interviews by Phone

On-site and telephone interviews will be scheduled with presenters in advance of and during the meeting. To schedule interviews, call 301-942-9595 through March 22 and call 305-674-4701 beginning March 24, or email [e-mail] at any time.

For media registration for the 2004 ASCPT Annual Meeting, see: http://www.ascpt.org/press/PressRegistrationInstructions.htm. A virtual pressroom with summaries of selected abstracts and symposia will be available at www.ascpt.org beginning March 19.