Two Major Good News Flashes
Finally, some good things have come to pass during this very troubled year, also known as: 2006.
1) FDA Approves Sale of 'Morning-After' Pill — Over-the-counter access allowed
"WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved nationwide over-the-counter sales of the ``morning-after " pill to adults 18 and older, after a three-year debate that pitted conservatives against liberals and FDA leadership against the agency's own scientists.
Duramed , a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. , said the drug, Plan B , will be available over-the-counter by the end of the year.
Plan B, which is taken in a two-pill dose, prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovary from releasing an egg and may also prevent fertilization. It works best when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The drug currently costs between $25 and $40 a dose; Barr has not set the price for the version that will be sold over the counter. It can be sold only by stores that have a licensed pharmacist on duty and must be kept behind pharmacy counters, not in store aisles. Under the ruling, stores are authorized, but not required, to sell the drug, and pharmacists are not required to dispense it.
Yesterday's decision will not have a significant impact in Massachusetts, where a state law passed last year allows consumers of all ages to purchase the drug without a doctor's prescription."
Finally, women have access to emergency contraception without a prescription. It's about goddamn time...enough of the debate already. It's over and done with. Let's move on.
2) US Firm Reports Making Stem Cells Without Harming Embryos
"A US biotechnology company has developed a new way of creating stem cells without destroying human embryos, billing it as a potential solution to a contentious political and ethical debate. “This will make it far more difficult to oppose this research,” said Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, the Alameda, California.
Stem cell researchers were impressed by the new technique’s ability to produce two robust lines of stem cells without requiring the destruction of embryos, and a White House spokeswoman called it encouraging. However, few on either side believe the new procedure would end the long-running bitter impasse over the science.
Stem cells have become a sort of holy grail for advocates of patients with a wide variety of illnesses because of the cells’ potential to transform into any type of human tissue. But the Vatican, US President George W. Bush and others have argued that the promise of stem cells should not be realised at the expense of human life, even in its most nascent stages."
Well, the Bush administration won't like either of these things....too fucking bad, I say. It's time to let scientific discoveries help us heal those who are ailing from serious diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and also cancer, and possibly even heart disease.
Let's hope that these two victories will help the Democrats in some way to take back control. For more info on how to help, check out MoveOn.org
Cheers to Moving On!
1) FDA Approves Sale of 'Morning-After' Pill — Over-the-counter access allowed
"WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved nationwide over-the-counter sales of the ``morning-after " pill to adults 18 and older, after a three-year debate that pitted conservatives against liberals and FDA leadership against the agency's own scientists.
Duramed , a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. , said the drug, Plan B , will be available over-the-counter by the end of the year.
Plan B, which is taken in a two-pill dose, prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovary from releasing an egg and may also prevent fertilization. It works best when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
The drug currently costs between $25 and $40 a dose; Barr has not set the price for the version that will be sold over the counter. It can be sold only by stores that have a licensed pharmacist on duty and must be kept behind pharmacy counters, not in store aisles. Under the ruling, stores are authorized, but not required, to sell the drug, and pharmacists are not required to dispense it.
Yesterday's decision will not have a significant impact in Massachusetts, where a state law passed last year allows consumers of all ages to purchase the drug without a doctor's prescription."
Finally, women have access to emergency contraception without a prescription. It's about goddamn time...enough of the debate already. It's over and done with. Let's move on.
2) US Firm Reports Making Stem Cells Without Harming Embryos
"A US biotechnology company has developed a new way of creating stem cells without destroying human embryos, billing it as a potential solution to a contentious political and ethical debate. “This will make it far more difficult to oppose this research,” said Robert Lanza of Advanced Cell Technology, the Alameda, California.
Stem cell researchers were impressed by the new technique’s ability to produce two robust lines of stem cells without requiring the destruction of embryos, and a White House spokeswoman called it encouraging. However, few on either side believe the new procedure would end the long-running bitter impasse over the science.
Stem cells have become a sort of holy grail for advocates of patients with a wide variety of illnesses because of the cells’ potential to transform into any type of human tissue. But the Vatican, US President George W. Bush and others have argued that the promise of stem cells should not be realised at the expense of human life, even in its most nascent stages."
Well, the Bush administration won't like either of these things....too fucking bad, I say. It's time to let scientific discoveries help us heal those who are ailing from serious diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and also cancer, and possibly even heart disease.
Let's hope that these two victories will help the Democrats in some way to take back control. For more info on how to help, check out MoveOn.org
Cheers to Moving On!
posted by HappyGillmore at
10:29 AM
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