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Looking through the PD news this past week, here are a few item you might be interested in: CoCensys is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops products to treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. The Company's product development programs focus on novel small molecule compounds for the treatment of migraine, epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, stroke, Parkinson's, neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathic pain. More information about the Company is available on its web site: http://www.cocensys.com (From a news article at: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/980414/ca_cocensy_1.html ) -------- Dr. Rathbone commented on the potential of AIT-082, stating ``AIT-082 totally alters the way we think about treating Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Until now, Alzheimer's disease therapy has focused on replacing chemicals in the brain which dying cells can no longer produce. AIT-082 is quite different; it appears to enhance the latent capability of the nervous system to protect nerve cells, to resist damage and to stimulate the intrinsic repair mechanisms in the brain. Currently, AIT-082 is in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease, but its mechanism of action suggests that it may eventually be useful in the treatment of a number of neurological disorders.'' His presentation is entitled ``AIT-082, A Unique Purine with Neuroregenerative Properties.'' NeoTherapeutics, based in Irvine, California, is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of drugs that act on the central nervous system to repair nerve cells and treat neurological diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, memory deficits associated with aging, spinal cord injury, Parkinson's disease, stroke, depression, and migraine. NeoTherapeutics' products are orally administered and based on patented technologies. (From an article located at: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/980416/neotherape_1.html ) ------------------ And finally this statement about insurance companies "redlining" mental illness when it should be treated the same as any other illness. I think this article is very important in light of the recent conversations here about depression. "Shastri Swaminathan, M.D., representing the Illinois Psychiatric Society, said new treatments have altered the outcomes for many brain disorders. In fact, psychiatry has a higher success rate than many other branches of medicine. For example, the treatment success rate for major depression is 85 percent; for panic disorder and bipolar (manic depressive) illness, 80 percent; and for schizophrenia, 60 percent. By contrast, improvement rates for common heart treatments, such as angioplasty and atherectomy, are only 41 percent and 52 percent. ``Research indicates that chemical imbalances in the brain, along with other factors, such as genetics, are responsible for serious mental illness,'' he said. ``There is no medical justification to insure diabetes, asthma, heart disease or cancer -- as well as other brain diseases such as epilepsy or Parkinson's Disease -- and refuse or diminish coverage for mental illness.'' (From an article found at :http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/980417/il_mental__1.html ) --------------------- Another comment - As a number of others have said so much better than I, if you are having troubles with depression PLEASE see a doctor. Severe depression has a cure rate of 85%. It IS caused by a chemical imbalance. There is no reason to suffer another day. ---------------------- Jerry Finch The Official PWP Dumpster Gang Hideout http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/