IP: Re: Canada Overrides Patent for Cipro to Treat Anthrax -- 2 items worth reading

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 09:39:09 -0500
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: Gene Spafford <spaf () cerias purdue edu>
> Subject: Re: IP: Re: Canada Overrides Patent for Cipro to Treat Anthrax --
>  2   items worth reading
>
> A short answer why Cipro is being touted as the treatment for anthrax.
>
> There are strains of anthrax that have allegedly been developed in weapons 
> labs that are resistant to penicillin.  Luckily, these strains are not as 
> easily available as the common strains, so your garden-variety terrorist 
> cells won't be likely to have them.
>
> The concern with anthrax is that an incident is from one of these 
> resistant strains, either derived from one of the old Soviet labs (sold to 
> the highest bidder by the Russian mafia or ex-pat scientists), Iraq, or 
> one of the other nations with alleged bio weapons programs.   It takes a 
> few days to culture a sample and determine resistance, but those same few 
> days after exposure can be fatal to someone infected.   Thus, the tendency 
> has been to treat with the heavy hitter instead of something that may not work.
>
> There is also the issue of  people with allergies to penicillin, although 
> that probably isn't the major driver on this.
>
> Penicillin, amoxicillin, and doxycycline all seem to be effective against 
> the strains discovered in Florida.   (And some are cheaper, too!)   With 
> the strains of anthrax known, it would be better to use these other 
> antibiotics. Let's hope that is what some of the doctors are 
> doing.  (Amoxicillin is also preferred for pregnant women, and Cipro can 
> cause damage to children taking it.)
>
> A good article to read is 
> <http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/7228/337177.html>.


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