Physicians Believe Drugs Targeted for Ethnic and Racial Groups May Provide Therapeutic Advantages.

FLEMINGTON, N.J. -- A new national study of physicians indicates that an overwhelming majority of doctors (85%) believe that drugs targeted toward specific ethnic and racial groups may have therapeutic advantages.

The national web survey was conducted by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO), as part of their continuing investigation of the social, political and economic issues confronting the U.S. health care system.

The study was conducted among 600 physicians during June 20-22, in response to an FDA advisory panel unanimously recommending that the agency approve BiDil, a prescription drug to treat congestive heart failure in African Americans. This would mark the first time that a drug is specifically intended for a racial group.

Among the survey findings:

--81% of physicians agreed with the FDA advisory panel's recommendation to approve the drug BiDil for use among African Americans.

--The majority of physicians (81%) believe that race should be used as a biological basis for determining ailments or diseases.

--More than half of the physicians (64%) indicated that having customized medicine will have an effect on how insurance companies rate or reimburse specific ethnic or racial groups.

"In a study that we conducted last year, we learned that in the future, physicians expect to become more reliant on genetic tests to predict and treat disease," commented Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research. "Therefore, it's not surprising that the vast majority will consider ethnicity and race as a factor in predicting, diagnosing and treating diseases."

Headquartered in Flemington, New Jersey, HCD Research is a pioneer in Internet health care marketing and communications research. Headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, MCIPO is a respected source of public opinion data on local, state and national issues.

For more information on the survey methodology and results access http://publish.hcdpoll.com/P1002/ or to schedule an interview with Glenn Kessler, co-founder and managing partner, HCD Research or Chris Borick, Ph.D., associate political science professor, Muhlenberg College, please contact Vince McGourty, M&M Communications, Inc., at 908-638-5555 or vinmcg@earthlink.net.