Propecia Drug

Balding men, take notice. The battle for your business has begun, with an extra-strength version of Rogaine pitted against a new hair-growing pill called Propecia. Be prepared for a bombardment of print and television ads this year, as the makers of the two products lure customers with scientific findings, catchy phrases and even testimonials from balding sports stars. The marketing battle began last month after Merck & Co. received approval from the U.S.

The hair-loss drug Propecia interferes with the most commonly used test for prostate cancer, causing inaccurate readings that can mask the presence of the disease, researchers reported Monday. About 4 million men worldwide use the drug, whose active ingredient is finasteride, which prevents the breakdown of testosterone.

The current New England Journal of Medicine--one of the world's top outlets of clinical information--carries a favorable article on two popular hair-loss treatments without disclosing the author's financial ties to the companies that make the drugs. Publication of the article, by Dr. Vera Price, a UC San Francisco professor of clinical dermatology, raises questions about the journal's monitoring of potential conflicts of interest.

The current New England Journal of Medicine--one of the world's top outlets of clinical information--carries a favorable article on two popular hair-loss treatments without disclosing the author's financial ties to the companies that make the drugs. Publication of the article, by Dr. Vera Price, a UC San Francisco professor of clinical dermatology, raises questions about the journal's monitoring of potential conflicts of interest.

The hair-loss drug Propecia interferes with the most commonly used test for prostate cancer, causing inaccurate readings that can mask the presence of the disease, researchers reported Monday. About 4 million men worldwide use the drug, whose active ingredient is finasteride, which prevents the breakdown of testosterone.

Ever since the biblical Samson had his locks shorn by the scheming Delilah, most men have preferred a full head of hair to the alternative. Now a number of pharmaceutical companies see a chance to grow profits along with hair and are racing to develop a new wave of anti-baldness drugs to compete with the industry's first offering, Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc.'s Rogaine.

Balding men, take notice. The battle for your business has begun, with an extra-strength version of Rogaine pitted against a new hair-growing pill called Propecia. Be prepared for a bombardment of print and television ads this year, as the makers of the two products lure customers with scientific findings, catchy phrases and even testimonials from balding sports stars. The marketing battle began last month after Merck & Co. received approval from the U.S.