Author
jade
this should be edited, i'm not sure about includeing both stories as one
Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc recieved a US patent related to a gene which may have links to treatment of heart desease. The gene, ACE2, is the first identified homologue in humans of ACE, which is a known target for treating hypertention and congestive heart failure. The patent, which was announced on Tuesday, covers the use of the gene for developing therapeutic and predictive medicine. Millenium will use the gene to develop drugs for cardiovascular disease. The patent now protects them from compeditors using it to develop their own treatments.
In a related story, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co's stock fell on Tuesday after a published report revealed grand-jury suponenas have been sent seeking information on the marketing of its anticancer drugs. The company says it feels its pricing practices comply with the law and is complying with investigations. Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported investigators are interested in whether Bristol-Myers Squibb bribed oncologists to purchase their drugs using free drugs and devices. They are also looking into possible encouragement of doctors to improperly bill Medicaid and other programs serving the poor