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Citi Survey: Boston Residents Making Spending and Savings Changes,

0 Comments | Wireless News, Nov 21, 2009

A new survey released by Citi revealed that Boston-area residents are more optimistic about their own personal finances and local business conditions than the nation as a whole.

In response to current economic concerns, however, Boston-area residents continue to make changes in their personal behavior and financial planning, including 51 percent who have postponed the purchase of a major item such as an automobile or other expensive item, 40 percent who have taken money out of savings or investments to help pay expenses and one-third of Boston area residents (33 percent) are working longer hours to make ends meet.

Compared to national survey data released by Citi in September 2009, key findings from Citi’s Boston survey illustrate:

– Forty-eight percent of Boston residents believe that the country’s economic conditions have a ways to go before hitting bottom, an assessment not nearly as bleak as the 63 percent at the national level.

– Sixty-five percent of Bostonians expect that local business conditions will become much or somewhat better over the next 12 months, compared to 57 percent nationally who believe business conditions will get better in their area.

– This optimism also is felt at the micro-level, with 68 percent of Boston adults optimistic that their own financial situation will improve in the next year, compared to 65 percent nationally.

Despite this growing feeling of optimism, Boston residents still expressed concerns about the state of today’s economy. Only 28 percent of Bostonians rate the economy in their area as excellent or good, while 72 percent describe the local economy as only fair or poor; this figure compares with 22 percent of national survey participants that rate the economy as excellent or good.

Nearly three in ten (29 percent) Boston area residents cite the cost of health care as the element of America’s economy that worries them most today, with 22 percent expressing greater concern with the amount they pay for necessities such as food and gasoline.

“At Citi, we are committed to understanding our customers’ needs and community concerns,” said Citi Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit. “With these insights, we will work with community leaders, elected officials and organizations throughout Massachusetts and the Greater Boston area to identify how we can together best help provide assistance and relieve the economic pressures individuals and families are facing.”

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

FDA Approves Intravenous Formulation Of Pfizers Revatio (Sildenafil) For The Treatment Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Business Wire, Nov 20, 2009

Revatio is the Only Treatment in Its Class with Both Oral and
Intravenous Formulations

NEW YORK — Pfizer announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
has approved Revatio (sildenafil) Injection, an intravenous
formulation of Revatio. Revatio is the only FDA-approved
phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor available in both tablet and
intravenous formulations.

Revatio is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary
arterial hypertension (WHO Group I) to improve exercise ability and
delay clinical worsening. The delay in clinical worsening was
demonstrated when Revatio was added to background epoprostenol therapy.
The efficacy of Revatio has not been adequately evaluated in patients
taking bosentan concurrently. Revatio Injection is for the continued
treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension who are
currently prescribed Revatio Tablets but who are temporarily unable to
take oral medication.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare, progressive disease that
affects an estimated 100,000 men and women worldwide. This incurable
disease is characterized by continuous high blood pressure in the
pulmonary arteries, often leading to heart failure and premature death.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension can occur with no known underlying
cause, or it can occur in association with other disorders.

Due to the chronic nature of pulmonary arterial hypertension,
maintaining medical therapy can delay clinical worsening for patients.
However, in some cases, oral medication may not be an option for a
period of time. While oral treatment can often be re-introduced at a
later stage, the ability to maintain treatment during periods when the
patient is unable to take an oral formulation is important to preserving
health in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The approval of Revatio Injectionis a clear demonstration of Pfizers
commitment to developing treatments addressing the unmet needs of
patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension,? said Dr. Cara Cassino,
vice president of pulmonary vascular disease, clinical development and
medical affairs, Pfizer. This important milestone highlights the
Specialty Care business units dedication to advancing treatments for
serious and life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary vascular
disease.?

About Revatio

Revatio Tablets were approved by the FDA in June 2005 and by the
European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in November 2005. The American College
of Chest Physicians recommends Revatio for adult pulmonary arterial
hypertension patients in functional class II and III in its clinical
practice guidelines for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Revatio Injection will be supplied in a single-use vial. The recommended
dose of Revatio Injection is 10 mg (corresponding to 12.5 mL)
administered as an intravenous bolus injection three times a day.
Revatio is also available as a 20 mg tablet taken three times a day.

Important Safety Information

If patients take any medicines that contain nitrates (like nitroglycerin
for chest pain) daily or just once in a while DO NOT take Revatio.

Revatio contains the same medicine as Viagra (sildenafil),
which is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence). Do not take
Revatio with Viagra or other PDE5 inhibitors.

If patients have ever had blockage of veins in their lungs, which is
called pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, Revatio is not recommended
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