Fish For The Eyes

Even one serving of fish a week can be highly beneficial for your eyes,according to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology.The research found that fish can reduce your risk of getting age-related macular degeneration,or AMD,by up to 30%.AMD is a grave threat to vision for people over 65.It damages the retina,a layer of cells in the back of the eye that are sensitive to light.Omega-3 fatty acids in fish are believed to have a protective effect on the eyes.
Exposure to the sun's UV rays has been linked to AMD,so wearing UV-rated sunglasses may also be beneficial in warding off the disease.The drugs Lucentis and Avastin have been used to treat some cases of AMD with remarkable results,reversing blindness.The Genentech division of Swiss firm Roche manufactures the medicine.

Biotech Drug May Halt Brain Tumors

A small drug trial conducted by Duke University indicates that Avastin,now approved for the treatment of lung,breast and colon cancer,may lengthen the lives of some brain cancer patients.Avastin works by blocking the nutrients and oxygen which sustain malignant tumors.Eighty percent of the 35 patients in the trial experienced a doubling of expected survival to at least six months,while 50% of them had a halting of new tumor growth.In at least one case,complete remission occurred.Typically,patients with the type of cancer,glioblastoma,live only three months with conventional chemotherapy.The combination of Avastin with another drug,irinotecan,must be further evaluated in a larger trial to get approval.If it does,more insurance companies will cover the treatment.Avastin is produced by Genentech,a San Francisco Bay area biotech firm.The drug is extremely expensive,running into six figures for a full course of treatment.Genentech(DNA) sometimes provides free drugs or caps treatment costs.The company's stock has been battered by Wall Street analysts,who obsessively track the career of every medication.The slightest setback for one drug reinforces the stock's range-bound status.Ultimately,this can mean fewer dollars supporting the firm's critical research,as investors are scared away.Nonetheless,many analysts consider Genentech a good long-term investment.It has a long list of drugs and prospects in various stages of development and approval.Another company with a battered stock,Rite Aid Corporation(RAD),has been living up to its name.The Camp Hill,Pennsylvania pharmacy chain provided free sunscreen,lip balm and hand sanitizers to victims of the Southern California wildfires.It also donated 100,000 dollars to the American Red Cross for the victims.Along with other retailers,Rite Aid has heavily promoted a wide range of Halloween merchandise this year,while inserting a number of Christmas items in this week's circular as well.Rite Aid,which is led by CEO Mary Sammons,is dealing with its recent acquisition of Eckerd and Brooks drugstores.

Biotech Boost

Genentech(DNA)has raised its earnings forecast for 2007.The biotech colossus has boosted its projection from 2.80-2.90 a share to 2.85-2.95 a share.In the second quarter of 2007,profits increased 41%.Sales were led by Rituxin,a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma,which brought in 582 million dollars-a gain of 11%.Its lung and colorectal cancer drug Avastin realized a 33% increase,to 564 million.Sales of Herceptin,a breast cancer treatment,rose 11%,while its macular degeneration drug Lucentis went from 10 million in 2006 to 209 million this year.With the graying of the population,there will be a considerable need for Genentech's medications in the years ahead.In addition to its cancer and blindness treatments,DNA has recently partnered with Tercica(TRCA)to develop two drugs for metabolic disorders.Chris Raymond,senior biotech analyst with Robert W. Baird and Co.,noted that the stock has been playing defense lately,because a European study shows Avastin may be better in a lower dosage;yet this may benefit Genentech in the long run,as it could quiet price critics.

Genentech Expands

Genentech(DNA),the largest biotech company in terms of market capitalization,has a vast pipeline.It is currently developing thirty new drugs and has an inventory of thirteen new molecules.These prospects follow the blockbusters Herceptin(breast cancer),Avastin(late stage colon cancer) and Lucentis(macular degeneration).The latter drug can literally restore sight to the blind.To accomodate its research,DNA is erecting eleven new buildings on its San Francisco Bay Area campus.The volume of its quality work looks to ensure continuing benefit to the chronically ill,as well as its shareholders.