Has power grid been hacked? U.S. won't say
By Steve Holland and Randall Mikkelsen - Wed Apr 8, 2009 3:30PM EDT



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. concerns about the potential for cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure extended to the American electrical power grid on Wednesday and experts pointed the finger anew at Chinese hackers, among others.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters the power grid is vulnerable to potentially disabling computer attacks, while declining to comment on reports that an intrusion had taken place.

"The vulnerability is something that the Department of Homeland Security and the energy sector have known about for years," she said. "We acknowledge that ... in this world, in an increasingly cyber world, these are increasing risks."

Napolitano spoke after the Wall Street Journal reported that cyberspies had penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system.

The Journal said the intruders have not sought to damage the power grid or other key infrastructure but could try during a crisis or war.

The United States for several years has accused the Chinese and Russians, among others, of using cyber-attacks to try to steal American trade secrets, military secrets and government secrets.

The Chinese have been particularly active, a former U.S. security official told Reuters.

"They are all over the place," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They're getting into university systems, contractor systems, hacking government systems. There's no reason to think that the electrical system would be immune as well."

Eric Rosenbach, executive director for research at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government's Belfer Center, said that if true, it showed that the Chinese and Russians are thinking strategically about how to either constrain the United States or inflict more damage if they ever felt they needed to do so.

'POTENTIAL WEAKNESS'

"I think that China recognizes if in a very strategic sense you want to ensure you have the ability to exploit another country's potential weakness or vulnerability but do it in a way that isn't confrontational or cause an international crisis, then this is a very good way of doing that," he said.

President Barack Obama, aware of the concerns about the vulnerability of infrastructure, has launched a cyber review that is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

"The president takes the issue of cybersecurity very seriously, which is why he ordered a top-to-bottom review shortly after taking office," said White House spokesman Nick Shapiro.

He said the White House was not aware of "any disruptions to the power grid caused by deliberate cyber-activity here in the United States."

"The Department of Homeland Security works with industry to identify vulnerabilities and to help industry enhance the security of control system networks. The federal government is also working to ensure that security is built in as we develop the next generation of 'smart grid' networks," Shapiro said.

Mississippi Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, said he would introduce legislation to address the grid's vulnerability to cyber-attack.

"Our electric system is critical to our way of life, and we cannot afford to leave it vulnerable to attack. Our oversight indicates there is a significant gap in current regulation to effectively secure this infrastructure," he said.

The United States is not alone. CIA analyst Tom Donahue told a power-industry conference last year that "we have information from multiple regions outside the United States, of cyber-intrusion into utilities followed by extortion demands."

The North American Electric Reliability Corp, the industry group with responsibility for grid reliability and security for the United States and Canada, said it was unaware of any cyber-attacks that have led to disruptions of electric service. The group has been working for several years with the industry to create and implement cybersecurity measures.

"NERC and industry leaders are taking steps in the right direction to improve preparedness and response to potential cyberthreats," the group said. "There is definitely more to be done."

American Electric Power Co spokeswoman Melissa McHenry said the utility takes security and reliability of the grid seriously.

"We long ago identified that there are numerous scans and probes of our networks from external sources and have put in place a very comprehensive multilayered security system to protect it from internal and external intrusion attempts," she said.

Still, she said, "We realize that there are no guarantees that you can always be completely safe from a cyber-attack. We continually monitor the effectiveness of our systems and seek to enhance them."

The article in the link very good


A Sickle Cell Remedy: Why are Firms Holding up Production?








Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a disease that I have personally been affected by. I lost a very close friend to the disease and like many Nigerians, I know people who either suffer from the disease, or due to Nigerian law, cannot marry the one they love because either is a genetic carrier of the the disease. Given these realities, I was ecstatic to learn of a remedy to SCD that was discovered in Nigeria but upon further research, I have more questions than answers.

An Indigenous Remedy for Sickle Cell

A family in Nigeria knew of an indigenous remedy for sickle cell anemia - a disease suffered by at least 12 million people, with 70% of them residing in Africa. The family shared their recipe with Nigeria's National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) which in turn developed a drug called Niprisan. Niprisan was officially launched by former President Obasanjo in 1996. Amid controversy, NIPRD sold the rights to develop Niprisan to the Nigerian subsidiary of an American company – Xechem International, in 2003, with an understanding that the drug, marketed as Nicosan, would be manufactured in Nigeria.

A Corruption Scandal

Unfortunately, Xechem Nigeria became mired in corruption scandals. Its state-owned partner, Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), which was created by the Nigerian government to "help Xechem Nigeria produce and commercialize Nicosan", was also accused of fraud to the tune of N400 million in public funds. Xechem Nigeria's parent company filed for bankruptcy in 2008. In addition, company shareholders have leveled the following complaints,"...that the company ... failed for 12 months to retrieve from customs in Lagos US$4.3 million in new equipment purchased for Xechem's manufacturing facility in Abuja and US$2 million in equipment removed from Xechem's former facility in New Brunswick, New Jersey.[that] [t]here had been "no movement on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals in 16 months; ...the termination of planned clinical trials for Xechem's sole marketable product, Nicosan; and numerous allegations against the managing director of Xechem Nigeria".

My Thoughts

It remains amazing to me that in this day and age, we are yet to fully conquer SCD. So, when I learned that there was a cure that came from Nigeria and from indigenous herbs in the form of Nicosan, I excitedly wanted to learn everything I could about it and share that information with anyone willing to listen. To then discover via research that after years over 10 years, Nicosan is still not reaching enough of the people who need it, was disappointing. To also learn that the companies charged with producing the drug - Xechem Nigeria and SHESTCO - were facing charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was even more disheartening.

Assuming that Nicosan works, it has the potential to transform the lives of millions of sufferers not only in Nigeria, but indeed around the world. Why is there a holdup in production, and information about this medicine?

For a country like Nigeria which is obviously concerned with transforming its international image, Nicosan presents an excellent opportunity to present the country as a nation of scientific achievement and one that can change the lives of millions of SCD sufferers the world over. Why this golden opportunity has not been exploited is beyond me, but it is not too late. Sadly, the fact that the drug is riddled in controversy and that no clear information is readily available about the government's plans for the drug, other than that it will now temporarily manufacture the drug, only reinforces the many negative stereotypes Nigeria faces. This is unfortunate, and I hope that in the weeks to come, Nigerians and others hoping for more news, will learn more about this drug.

Considering that President Yar'Adua is concerned with the "need to present an optimistic outlook, renew the national spirit, and reinvigorate [citizen's] faith in Nigeria," Nicosan could be the wonder drug that families are desperately looking for and that the Nigerian psyche needs.

The successful manufacture and use of this drug would instill national pride and optimism. It would elevate the level of trust and respect for the Federal Government that is currently lacking. Additionally, a thorough investigation into the missing N400 million that Xechem Nigeria and SHESTCO are accused of stealing would remind Nigerians that nobody is above the law and no person or organization will avoid justice, if necessary.

Nicosan presents an opportunity for Nigeria to do something incredible - tomass manufacture a local remedy to a disease that takes lives. Such an accomplishment would be positive and would be one of many ways to transform Nigeria's negative international image while coincidentally instilling pride in Nigerians. But even more importantly, it would save lives.

I can only hope that Nicosan will prove to be the wonder drug that sickle cell sufferers and Nigeria needs.

By Solomon Sydelle

that charts gaps all the way up to .02, it had to fall than you add the pump and dump = bagholders


GREAT BOARD A MUST FOR NEWBIES

one of the best things that IHUB did was the IRP, I didn't know half of those people were stock promo scum

amazing for a house dog to survive

Dog overboard found four months later

Mon Apr 6, 4:21 am ET

SYDNEY (AFP) – A pet dog that fell overboard in rough seas off Australia has been reunited with its owners after surviving alone on an island for four months, reports said.

Sophie Tucker, apparently named after a late US entertainer, fell overboard as Jan Griffith and her family sailed through choppy waters off the northeast Queensland coast in November.

The dog was believed to have drowned and Griffith said the family was devastated.

But out of sight of the family, Sophie Tucker was swimming doggedly and finally made it to St Bees Island, five nautical miles away, and began the sort of life popularised by the TV reality show "Survivor."

She was returned to her family last week when Griffith contacted rangers who had captured a dog that had been living off feral goats on the largely uninhabited island, in the faint hope it might be their long-lost pet.

When the Griffiths met the rangers' boat bringing the dog to the mainland they found that it was indeed Sophie Tucker on board.

"We called the dog and she started whimpering and banging the cage and they let her out and she just about flattened us," Griffith told the national AAP news agency.

"She wriggled around like a mad thing."

Griffith said that when the dog was first spotted on the island she had been in poor condition.

"And then all of a sudden she started to look good and it was when the rangers had found baby goat carcasses so she'd started eating baby goats," she said.

Sophie Tucker, a member of the Australian cattle dog breed, had been quick to readjust to the comforts of home, complete with airconditioning, Griffiths said.

"She surprised us all. She was a house dog and look what she's done, she's swum over five nautical miles, she's managed to live off the land all on her own," Griffiths said.

"We wish she could talk, we truly do."

If I don't get it by noon I'll raise it, but I think we will see a small drop this AM

I had a buy in all day for 65000 at .038 no takers

We had an E4 that was on the gun, the crew consisted of 5,
and the E4 also got an article 15 and their was 2 E3

This is one of my military stories


I was in an artillery (M109A1) unit at Ft Carson, we were down range playing Army (1977) and my E5 lets say wasn't the brightest, we had a fire mission and had to put on a time delayed fuse, so we loaded the tube and cut the powder and primed the firing mechanism, well they called off the fire mission so we took the primer and powder out but left the projectile in the tube. They called for chow so my E5 and I go to lunch,(it had been about 2 hours since we loaded the tube, their was a problem in the impact area) well they called for another fire mission while we were gone and the crew tried loading another projectile into the tube this one with another time delayed fuse, as we walked up to the gun we heard them screaming that something was wrong that they couldn't get the round in the tube, we started screaming that their was one already in the tube and when they realized that, they pulled the round out that they were ramming into the tube and the fuse was crushed, the look on everyone face was priceless and out of every opening guys where jumping out, the round did not go off thank God, but my E5 was ordered bu our Top to get the round out of the gun and he had to carry it to a safe place, plus he got an article 15 for leaving the gun and going to lunch with a live round in the tube.

Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Inc. Recovery Rating Revise

http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/spcred/711560

Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Inc. Recovery Rating Revised
from S&P Credit Research
published Mar 25, 2009

Price $100.00 available for immediate download
Report Overview
NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) March 25, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it revised its recovery rating on Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Inc.'s senior secured (prepetition) credit facilities, following our assessment of the impact of Smurfit-Stone Container's $750 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing on prepetition lender recoveries. "We revised the recovery rating on Smurfit-Stone Container's $1.4 billion in prepetition senior secured credit facilities to '3' from '2', indicating our expectation that lenders may receive a meaningful (50%-70%) recovery upon the company's emergence from bankruptcy," said Standard&Poor's credit analyst Pamela Rice. The issue-level rating remains at 'D' (the same level as the corporate credit rating on the company). The issue-level rating on Smurfit-Stone Container's unsecured debt remains at

Student freezes assets of Madoff's brother

Andrew Ross Samuels of Brooklyn Law School lost nearly $500,000 in inheritance money in the Ponzi scheme.

March 25, 2009: 5:54 PM ET


NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A New York student won a court order to temporarily freeze the assets of Peter Madoff, the brother of jailed swindler Bernard Madoff, the student's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Andrew Ross Samuels of Brooklyn Law School said in papers filed in a suburban New York court that he lost nearly $500,000 in inheritance money in Bernard Madoff's scheme.

Madoff pleaded guilty on March 12 to running the biggest investment fraud in Wall Street's history, which prosecutors have said involved as much as $65 billion.

Madoff was sent to jail pending sentencing in June. His brother, who was an executive of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

"Samuels' grandfather passed away making Peter Madoff the trustee of a trust for him that's worth about $500,000, and the money ain't there," said the lawyer, Steven Schlesinger. "When you are the trustee and the money's not there, it's per se liability."

He said the temporary freeze applied to "everything he owns," but he did not know the total value of Peter Madoff's assets.

Liquidating Madoff's assets
A hearing was scheduled for April 3 in Nassau County State Supreme Court on New York's Long Island before Justice Stephen Bucaria, who signed the order on Wednesday.

According to court papers, the order said Madoff "is prohibited and restrained from removing any funds ... from any bank, brokerage firm, or other institution wherever situated and without limitation."

A lawyer for Peter Madoff could not be reached for comment

I compared the 2 charts and you are right, they look nearly identical.

that is a hard question to answer because everyone must assume their own risks, but in general you sell half when you made enough to ride free shares, thats ideal, but usually doesn't happen, but most safe traders go some where between 10 and 20% profit, but EPIX last run it made it to $1.70 I believe. My personal is some where between .80 and 1.00, the thing with trading is not to get greedy

Citi plans a reverse split


Citigroup plans reverse stock split
Thursday March 19, 10:10 am ET
Citigroup plans to increase number of common shares, execute reverse stock split


NEW YORK (AP) -- Citigroup Inc. said Thursday it is planning to increase the number of its common shares outstanding and execute a reverse stock split as part of its effort to convert preferred shares to common shares.



Citigroup's shares soared more than 10 percent in early trading.

As announced late last month, Citi is seeking to exchange about $27.5 billion in public and private preferred securities as part of its agreement with the Treasury Department, which has pledged to match up to $25 billion of the conversions.

The deal represents the government's third attempt in five months to prevent the beleaguered banking giant's collapse.

Citigroup said all private holders of convertible preferred securities, with a total liquidation value of $12.5 billion, have agreed to the swap. The bank will also offer holders of non-convertible preferred and trust preferred securities to exchange their shares. The conversion price is $3.25 per share. Citigroup said it plans to launch the exchange in early April.

The number of the bank's common shares will increase significantly following the exchange offer and subsequently boost the bank's capital cushion.

A reverse stock split reduces the number of a company's shares outstanding, but increases the value of its earnings per share. The market value of the shares remains the same. Companies often elect to do a reverse stock split in an effort to make their stock look more valuable if the share price is significantly low. Citigroup's shares dropped below $1 a share earlier this month on the fear that the government's efforts wouldn't be enough to save it from failing.

Citi's stock price dropped 77 percent in 2008, and has fallen another 54 percent so far this year. However, its shares have tripled in the past two weeks after the bank said it turned a profit in January and February.

Shares rose 12 cents, or 3.9 percent, to $3.20 in morning trading.

Looks like its just you and me here

EPIX


Press Release Source: EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


EPIX Pharmaceuticals Issued Composition of Matter Patent on Novel 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists
Tuesday March 17, 6:30 am ET


Company’s 5-HT4 Agonist Compound, PRX-03140, Receives Patent Protection


LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX - News) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,488,736 entitled “Thienopyridinone Compounds and Methods of Treatment” to EPIX. The granted claims of this patent are directed to the highly selective 5-HT4 small molecule agonist, PRX-03140, and to compositions that include PRX-03140 as one of the active ingredients. EPIX also has pending patent applications relating to compositions and methods of using PRX-03140.



“We believe this patent will be a valuable asset as we continue to develop PRX-03140 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Elkan Gamzu, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of EPIX. “In 2008, we announced compelling results of our Phase 2a clinical trial of PRX-03140 as a single agent and in combination with Aricept®, which demonstrated, among other characteristics, that PRX-03140 was well tolerated with no serious drug-related adverse events. As we continue to make progress in the development of PRX-03140, we believe this milestone may prove to be a significant benefit in the eventual commercialization of the compound, which we believe may have the potential to improve cognition and memory and to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

PRX-03140 is being developed under EPIX’s worldwide multi-target strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to discover, develop and market novel medicines targeting four G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) for the treatment of a variety of diseases. EPIX has three drug candidates currently in the clinical stage of development that were discovered utilizing its proprietary computer-based GPCR platform and optimized with integrated computational-medicinal chemistry. In May 2008, EPIX announced the initiation of its PRX-03140 Phase 2b program in Alzheimer's disease. The Phase 2b proof-of-concept program consists of two clinical trials - a six-month trial evaluating PRX-03140 in combination with donepezil and a three-month trial studying PRX-03140 as monotherapy. The combination trial began in early May 2008 and the monotherapy trial was initiated in late May 2008. For information about these two ongoing clinical trials, please visit www.trialforAD.com or www.ClinicalTrials.gov and (for the latter) use the search terms EPIX and/or PRX-03140.

PRX-03140 – Summary of Clinical Data

EPIX believes that its drug candidate PRX-03140 may have the potential to improve cognition and memory, and to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, with fewer and less-severe side effects than drugs currently on the market to treat this condition. It is selective for the 5-HT4 receptor in the brain and is believed to stimulate both acetylcholine production and release - which enables symptomatic improvement in Alzheimer's patients - and the alpha-secretase pathway - which may slow Alzheimer's disease progression. Phase 2a results indicated that patients receiving daily oral 150 mg doses of PRX-03140 as monotherapy for two weeks achieved a mean 3.6 point improvement on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) versus a 0.9 point worsening in patients on placebo (p= 0.021).

In three Phase 1 trials and the Phase 2a trial, with more than 180 patients and healthy subjects, PRX-03140 has been well-tolerated. In a 14-day Phase 1b clinical trial, treatment with PRX-03140 resulted in changes in brain wave activity in Alzheimer's patients that are consistent with those seen in clinical trials with currently approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease. In preclinical studies, PRX-03140 was shown to improve cognitive function through increasing levels of acetylcholine, and led to increased levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regions of the brain known to be important for memory.

About EPIX

EPIX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform. The company has a pipeline of internally-discovered drug candidates currently in clinical development to treat diseases of the central nervous system and lung conditions. EPIX also has collaborations with leading organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics.

This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding our strategic collaborations, the progress, timing and results of our clinical development program for PRX-03140, and the potential effects of PRX-03140. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things: risks that product candidates, including PRX-03140, may fail in the clinic or may not be successfully marketed or manufactured; risks relating to the our ability to advance the development of product candidates currently in the pipeline or in clinical trials, any failure to comply with regulations relating to our products and product candidates, including FDA requirements; failure to obtain the financial resources to complete development of product candidates; the risk that the FDA may interpret the results of our studies differently than we have; competing products may be more successful; our inability to interest potential partners in our technologies and products; our inability to achieve commercial success for our products and technologies; the possibility of delays in the research and development necessary to select drug development candidates; the risk that we may be unable to successfully secure regulatory approval of and market our drug candidates; and risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the U.S. and internationally. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks that we face, see the disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.




Contact:
EPIX
Kim C. Drapkin, 781-761-7602
Chief Financial Officer
or
Pure Communications
Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-596-7473

EPIX


Press Release Source: EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.


EPIX Pharmaceuticals Issued Composition of Matter Patent on Novel 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists
Tuesday March 17, 6:30 am ET


Company’s 5-HT4 Agonist Compound, PRX-03140, Receives Patent Protection


LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX - News) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,488,736 entitled “Thienopyridinone Compounds and Methods of Treatment” to EPIX. The granted claims of this patent are directed to the highly selective 5-HT4 small molecule agonist, PRX-03140, and to compositions that include PRX-03140 as one of the active ingredients. EPIX also has pending patent applications relating to compositions and methods of using PRX-03140.



“We believe this patent will be a valuable asset as we continue to develop PRX-03140 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Elkan Gamzu, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of EPIX. “In 2008, we announced compelling results of our Phase 2a clinical trial of PRX-03140 as a single agent and in combination with Aricept®, which demonstrated, among other characteristics, that PRX-03140 was well tolerated with no serious drug-related adverse events. As we continue to make progress in the development of PRX-03140, we believe this milestone may prove to be a significant benefit in the eventual commercialization of the compound, which we believe may have the potential to improve cognition and memory and to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”

PRX-03140 is being developed under EPIX’s worldwide multi-target strategic collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to discover, develop and market novel medicines targeting four G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR) for the treatment of a variety of diseases. EPIX has three drug candidates currently in the clinical stage of development that were discovered utilizing its proprietary computer-based GPCR platform and optimized with integrated computational-medicinal chemistry. In May 2008, EPIX announced the initiation of its PRX-03140 Phase 2b program in Alzheimer's disease. The Phase 2b proof-of-concept program consists of two clinical trials - a six-month trial evaluating PRX-03140 in combination with donepezil and a three-month trial studying PRX-03140 as monotherapy. The combination trial began in early May 2008 and the monotherapy trial was initiated in late May 2008. For information about these two ongoing clinical trials, please visit www.trialforAD.com or www.ClinicalTrials.gov and (for the latter) use the search terms EPIX and/or PRX-03140.

PRX-03140 – Summary of Clinical Data

EPIX believes that its drug candidate PRX-03140 may have the potential to improve cognition and memory, and to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, with fewer and less-severe side effects than drugs currently on the market to treat this condition. It is selective for the 5-HT4 receptor in the brain and is believed to stimulate both acetylcholine production and release - which enables symptomatic improvement in Alzheimer's patients - and the alpha-secretase pathway - which may slow Alzheimer's disease progression. Phase 2a results indicated that patients receiving daily oral 150 mg doses of PRX-03140 as monotherapy for two weeks achieved a mean 3.6 point improvement on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) versus a 0.9 point worsening in patients on placebo (p= 0.021).

In three Phase 1 trials and the Phase 2a trial, with more than 180 patients and healthy subjects, PRX-03140 has been well-tolerated. In a 14-day Phase 1b clinical trial, treatment with PRX-03140 resulted in changes in brain wave activity in Alzheimer's patients that are consistent with those seen in clinical trials with currently approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease. In preclinical studies, PRX-03140 was shown to improve cognitive function through increasing levels of acetylcholine, and led to increased levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein (sAPP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regions of the brain known to be important for memory.

About EPIX

EPIX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform. The company has a pipeline of internally-discovered drug candidates currently in clinical development to treat diseases of the central nervous system and lung conditions. EPIX also has collaborations with leading organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics.

This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding our strategic collaborations, the progress, timing and results of our clinical development program for PRX-03140, and the potential effects of PRX-03140. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things: risks that product candidates, including PRX-03140, may fail in the clinic or may not be successfully marketed or manufactured; risks relating to the our ability to advance the development of product candidates currently in the pipeline or in clinical trials, any failure to comply with regulations relating to our products and product candidates, including FDA requirements; failure to obtain the financial resources to complete development of product candidates; the risk that the FDA may interpret the results of our studies differently than we have; competing products may be more successful; our inability to interest potential partners in our technologies and products; our inability to achieve commercial success for our products and technologies; the possibility of delays in the research and development necessary to select drug development candidates; the risk that we may be unable to successfully secure regulatory approval of and market our drug candidates; and risks of new, changing and competitive technologies and regulations in the U.S. and internationally. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks that we face, see the disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.




Contact:
EPIX
Kim C. Drapkin, 781-761-7602
Chief Financial Officer
or
Pure Communications
Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-596-7473

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wish it was 24 but I know they made a mistake


Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.
CHICAGO (AP) -- Fitch Ratings said Thursday it has withdrawn its ratings for Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., five weeks after the largest producer of cardboard box materials in North America sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
SSCCQ.PK 0.0260 +0.0020
Fitch initially downgraded the Chicago-based company's Issuer Default Rating to "D" when Smurfit-Stone Container sought protection in bankruptcy court Jan. 26.

Smurfit-Stone is seeking to restructure heavy debt amid a global credit freeze.

Fitch said it has withdrawn Smurfit-Stone's IDR rating, secured bank debt that is rated "CCC/RR2," senior unsecured debt rated "C/RR6" and preferred stock rated "C/RR6."

A message seeking comment was left with a spokesman for Smurfit-Stone.

Smurfit-Stone, which employs nearly 22,000 workers at about 150 facilities across North America and in Asia, said it filed for protection from creditor claims in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., as it develops a financial reorganization plan. Its Canadian units will file under the companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the company said.

Shares were unchanged at 24 cents in afternoon trading.

Monday, March 2, 2009, 11:26pm EST
Smurfit-Stone expects $2.8B loss in Q4Dayton Business Journal


Smurfit-Stone said Monday that it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of nearly $2.84 billion on sales of $1.53 billion.

Smurfit-Stone, which operates a plant in Middletown, had reported a profit of $41 million on sales of $1.84 billion in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The company said it will take a non-cash charge of $2.7 billion in the quarter to write off goodwill and other intangible assets. Smurfit-Stone said the charges resulted from a significant decline in the value of its equity securities and debt instruments and “downward pressure” on earnings from a weak U.S. economy. The goodwill consisted primarily of amounts recorded in connection with its November 1998 merger with Stone Container Corp.

The company’s 2008 fourth-quarter results also include restructuring charges of $40 million, a loss of $12 million related to certain ineffective interest rate swap contracts and non-cash foreign currency gains of $17 million, the company said.

The company said it expects to file its annual report on or before March 17.

Smurfit-Stone filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January.

Effective Feb. 4, Smurfit-Stone’s stock is being traded on the Pink Sheets (OTCBB: SSCCQ) following its delisting from Nasdaq.

Dually headquartered in the St. Louis area and in Chicago, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. manufactures corrugated container and containerboard. Smurfit-Stone generated revenue of $7.4 billion in 2007.

Descendant sues Skull and Bones over Geronimo's bonesStory Highlights
Author: Document shows George W. Bush's grandfather robbed Geronimo's grave

Members of secret society allegedly steal valuable things and put them in tomb

Great-grandson says Geronimo should be buried in accordance with tradition

Federal law protects Native Americans' rights to their family member's remains





From Deborah Feyerick and Brian Vitagliano
CNN

(CNN) -- The great-grandson of Apache warrior Geronimo argues in a lawsuit that a secretive society at Yale University holds the remains of his great-grandfather.


Apache warrior Geronimo was buried in Oklahoma, but some say a secret society absconded with his remains.

1 of 2 Harlyn Geronimo has sued Yale and the society -- the Order of Skull and Bones -- to try to recover the remains.

"I think what would be important is that the remains of Geronimo be with his ancestors," he said.

Skull and Bones, a collegiate society that's been around since 1832, includes alumni such as former President George W. Bush and his grandfather, Prescott Bush. Watch Harlyn Geronimo discuss 'the spirits' »

Author Alexandra Robbins said evidence backs up the younger Geronimo's claim that Skull and Bones has the Apache warrior's remains.

"There's a Skull and Bones document that describes how Prescott Bush and other Bonesmen robbed the grave of Geronimo, and I spoke with several Bonesmen who told me that inside the tomb there's a glass display case containing [human remains] and the Bonesmen have always called it Geronimo," said Robbins, author of "Secrets of the Tomb," a book that delves into secretive societies at Yale, with special attention to Skull and Bones and its paths to power.

CNN attempted to contact Skull and Bones, but no one returned calls. Yale said it does not have Geronimo's remains and that it does not speak for Skull and Bones.

The controversy began in 2006, when a letter was found tucked into a book in the Yale library, according to an article published that year in Yale Alumni Magazine.

According to the article, the letter -- written on June 7, 1918, by one member of the society, Winter Mead, to another, F. Trubee Davison -- said the secret society had Geronimo's bones, which had been dug up by other members of the group at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Marc Wortman, a writer and former senior editor of the magazine, said he was the one who discovered the letter in Yale's Sterling Memorial Library.

"I found it and said, 'This is amazing. This is quite stunning to see this.' It was laid out so clearly in straightforward language saying we've got Geronimo's skull, femurs and horse tack, and we've brought it back to the tomb, as they call [the Skull and Bones house] in New Haven [Connecticut]," Wortman told CNN.

The robbing of Geronimo's remains fits into what Robbins calls "crooking" -- a competition among Bonesmen to steal valuable things, which were then hidden in the tomb, which has extremely limited access.

Geronimo is one of the many Chiricahua Apache leaders who fought to preserve the culture and the lifestyle of their people in the late 1800s. He fought both the Mexican and U.S. governments in the area of southern Arizona and New Mexico.

His descendant said it's important to honor Geronimo's legacy.

"Geronimo's legacy today is that he is looked to as one of the strong leaders of the Chiricahua people who fought to preserve homelands, cultural identity, to preserve their way of life," said his great-grandson.

Harlyn Geronimo is offended by the alleged actions of the Bonesmen.

"After a while it hurts you inside because you know this is your (great) grandfather," he said. "It's just something that is uncivilized for people of this nature to do."

Geronimo died in 1909 of pneumonia while he was a prisoner at Fort Sill. The burial in the cemetery wasn't true to Apache tradition though, and his great-grandson wants to rebury his ancestor in accordance with Chiricahua ways.

"They long for returning to their own homeland. They do not have their own reservation today. They are sharing a reservation with the Mescalero Apache," he said of the Chiricahua people.

Not everyone believes the Bonesmen found Geronimo's bones.

Some researchers have concluded that the Bonesmen could not have even found Geronimo's grave in 1918.

In the Yale Alumni Magazine's article, David H. Miller, a history professor at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, cites historical accounts that the grave was unmarked and overgrown until a Fort Sill librarian persuaded local Apaches to identify the site for him in the 1920s.

"My assumption is that they did dig up somebody at Fort Sill," said Miller. "It could have been an Indian, but it probably wasn't Geronimo."

That isn't stopping Geronimo's great-grandson from pursuing what he believes are his ancestor's bones.

President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of the Army Pete Geren are listed as defendants in the 32-page lawsuit Harlyn Geronimo filed in the District of Columbia.

In 1990, a federal law was passed to protect Native Americans' rights to their family member's remains. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act addresses the rights of lineal descendants, Indian tribes and native Hawaiian organizations to Native American human remains as well as cultural objects.

The lawsuit references the statute, asking the court "to free Geronimo, his remains, funerary objects and spirit from 100 years of imprisonment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the Yale University campus at New Haven, Connecticut, and wherever else they may be found."

EDIT

come on epix

huge pre market volume 426000 @ 2.25

Taxing pot could become a political toking point


An Assemblyman from San Francisco argues that it's time to tax and regulate the state's biggest cash crop in the same manner as alcohol. Opponents say it would create new costs for society.
By Eric Bailey
February 24, 2009

Reporting from Sacramento -- Could Cannabis sativa be a salvation for California's fiscal misfortunes? Can the state get a better budget grip by taxing what some folks toke?

An assemblyman from San Francisco announced legislation Monday to do just that: make California the first state in the nation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol.


Buoyed by the widely held belief that cannabis is California's biggest cash crop, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano contends it is time to reap some state revenue from that harvest while putting a damper on drug use by teens, cutting police costs and even helping Mother Nature.

"I know the jokes are going to be coming, but this is not a frivolous issue," said Ammiano, a Democrat elected in November after more than a dozen years as a San Francisco supervisor. "California always takes the lead -- on gay marriage, the sanctuary movement, medical marijuana."

Anti-drug groups are anything but amused by the idea of California collecting a windfall from the leafy herb that remains illegal under federal law.



"This would open another door in Pandora's box," said Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs. "Legalizing drugs like this would create a whole new set of costs for society."

Ammiano's measure, AB 390, would essentially replicate the regulatory structure used for beer, wine and hard liquor, with taxed sales barred to anyone under 21.

He said it would actually boost public safety, keeping law enforcement focused on more serious crimes while keeping marijuana away from teenagers who can readily purchase black-market pot from peers.

The natural world would benefit, too, from the uprooting of environmentally destructive backcountry pot plantations that denude fragile ecosystems, Ammiano said.

But the biggest boon might be to the bottom line. By some estimates, California's pot crop is a $14-billion industry, putting it above vegetables ($5.7 billion) and grapes ($2.6 billion). If so, that could mean upward of $1 billion in tax revenue for the state each year.

"Having just closed a $42-billion budget deficit, generating new revenue is crucial to the state's long-term fiscal health," said Betty Yee, the state Board of Equalization chairwoman who appeared with Ammiano at a San Francisco news conference.

Also in support of opening debate on the issue are San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey and retired Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray, a longtime legalization proponent.

"I'm a martini guy myself," Ammiano said. "But I think it's time for California to . . . look at this in a truly deliberative fashion."

He sees the possibility of an eventual truce in the marijuana wars with Barack Obama now in the White House.

A White House spokesman declined to discuss Ammiano's legislation, instead pointing to a transition website that says the president "is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."

Several cities in California and around the nation have adopted laws making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority, including Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Denver and Seattle.

Oakland went even further in 2004, requiring pot to be taxed if it is legalized.

But where Ammiano sees taxes, pot foes see trouble.

They say easier access means more problems with drug dependency among adults, heavier teen use and an increase in driving while high.

"If we think the drug cartels are going to tuck their tails between their legs and go home, I think we're badly mistaken," Fay said.

"They're going to heavily target our children."

I'll take anything green

Signs of life seen in bankruptcy loan market
Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:59pm EST

More Business & Investing News... By Emily Chasan

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The market for debtor-in-posession (DIP) financing, which helps companies fund operations during bankruptcy, is starting to improve, a top U.S. bankruptcy attorney said on Monday.

DIP financing is the lifeblood that keeps companies running while they try to reorganize under bankruptcy protection. But the once-buoyant market for such funds had virtually dried up this past year as banks and lenders grew cautious during the global credit crisis.

A few recent deals are starting to revive the market, said James Sprayregen, a bankruptcy attorney at law firm Kirkland & Ellis, speaking at an Institutional Investor Distressed Investing conference in New York.

"It's not wide open, that's for sure. But it's a lot more open than it was in November and December," Sprayregen said of the DIP market.

One sign of encouragement, Sprayregen said, was the $750 million DIP loan lined up for Smurfit Stone Container Corp (SSCCQ.PK). The loan was more similar to ones granted in the heyday of DIP lending a few years ago than the "creative," cobbled-together loans from current lenders that have become more common in recent months.

The company received final court approval for the loan Monday. [ID:nWNAB5730]

"You are actually kind of seeing capitalism at work in loosening up the market for DIP loans," said Sprayregen, who guided United Airlines (UAUA.O) out of bankruptcy in 2006.

"It is by no means a robust market, but there is a market," he added.

"Creative defensive" DIP loans have become the norm, Sprayregen said, pointing to companies like petrochemicals maker Lyondell Chemical Co [ACCELC.UL] that received untraditional DIPs.

Lyondell is looking to get court approval this week for its $8 billion DIP loan, the largest put together in history. The company obtained the loan by allowing investors to boost the seniority of their prebankruptcy loans with the bankruptcy financing. Each investor was allowed to boost the seniority of each dollar of an old loan with each dollar of new money contributed.

So-called roll-up deals can be attractive to creditors in bankruptcy because DIP loans are typically among the first to be repaid and have the added benefit of protecting their initial investment in the company.

Such "dollar-for-dollar" DIPs may gain in popularity, Sprayregen said. Aleris International Inc [TXPACA.UL], the aluminum rolled products producer, adopted a similar structure for its $1.075 billion loan earlier this month, offering investors the chance to roll up slightly more than a dollar of old money for every dollar of new money that they invested.

However, despite signs of life in the market, it can still take months for companies to try to line up financing to fund a bankruptcy, and many companies may run out of time before they arrange the financing.

Sprayregen, who recently returned to Kirkland & Ellis after a stint at Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N), said he often tells his clients "to think about how you can fund your own case." (Reporting by Emily Chasan; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

thanks for everyones opinion I will try the power supply the VGA didn't work, and the fan on the power supply is not running

new this day would come

I have a dell 8250, my video card started making noise, it has a small fan on it, I have known for awhile that it needs replacing, any way last night my monitors shutdown while surfing the web I opened the case and cleaned it out, it was dirty when I rebooted the blue screen of death came up but not long enough to get any codes, so I replaced the video card with the original that came with the computer and started back up no blue screen but alls it does now is go back and forth between the safe mode screen when I try and run safe mode it tries to start but just goes back to the screen that gives you options for safe mode, and safe mode with networking it is no longer making any noise but it just goes in between the same screens, could it be the hard drive

I found this interesting


http://www.pinksheets.com/pink/quote/quote.jsp?symbol=ssccq

do they need to notify by SEC form, if they sell any shares, maybe they are dumping all their shares as compensation

EPIX Pharmaceuticals to Present Preclinical Data for Two Programs at Keystone Symposia
Friday February 20, 6:30 am ET



LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX - News) a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform today announced poster presentations of preclinical data on EPX-102216 and EPX-105287, during the Keystone Symposia Neurobiology of Pain and Analgesia in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
ADVERTISEMENT


On February 23, 2009, Christine Kitsos, Ph.D., principal scientist, discovery biology at EPIX is scheduled to give a poster presentation entitled, “Attenuation of Inflammatory Pain by EPX-102216, a Novel CCR2 Antagonist.” CCR2 antagonists represent a novel mechanism of action for reducing the inflammatory response in several diseases by preventing macrophages (a type of inflammatory immune cell) from accumulating in body tissues. EPX-102216, wholly owned by EPIX, is a highly selective, oral CCR2 antagonist with an excellent safety profile that is being further developed for the treatment of pain. Dr. Kitsos will be presenting results that show dose-dependent efficacy in rodent models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

On February 24, 2009, Dilara McCauley, Ph.D., director, discovery product leader at EPIX is scheduled to give a poster presentation entitled, “EPX-105287, a Highly Selective Metabotropic Glutamate 5 Receptor (mGluR5) Negative Allosteric Modulator, Reduces Writhing in Mice and Thermal Hyperalgesia in Rats.” EPX-105287, also wholly owned by EPIX, is a novel, potent, highly selective mGluR5 negative allosteric modulator that is being developed for the treatment of neuropathic (chronic) pain and L-Dopa induced dyskinesia (involuntary movement). Dr. McCauley will be presenting results of EPX-105287 displaying dose-dependent efficacy in acute visceral and chronic inflammatory rodent pain models.

EPX-102216 and EPX-105287 are both internally discovered and part of EPIX’s ongoing preclinical and discovery programs targeting G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) and ion channels for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, pain and cystic fibrosis. Both molecules are wholly owned by EPIX Pharmaceuticals.

About EPIX

EPIX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform. The company has a pipeline of internally-discovered drug candidates currently in clinical development to treat diseases of the central nervous system and lung conditions. EPIX also has collaborations with leading organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics.

This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding our drug development efforts and the timing and content of corporate presentations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks that we face, see the disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.




Contact:
EPIX
Kim C. Drapkin, 781-761-7602
Chief Financial Officer
or
Pure Communications
Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-596-7473

Smurfit-Stone default swaps worth around 7.87 pct
Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:37am EST


NEW YORK, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Sellers of protection on Smurfit-Stone Container Corp's (SSCCQ.PK) bonds will need to make payments of around 92.13 percent of the insurance they sold, based on the initial results of an auction on Thursday published by auction administrators Creditex and Markit.

The auction to determine the value of Smurfit-Stone's credit default swaps indicated the contracts were worth 7.87 cents on the dollar, Creditex and Markit said. CDS on the corrugated packaging maker's loans were worth around 68.25 cents on the dollar.

Payments were triggered on the swaps after the Smurfit-Stone filed for bankruptcy protection on Jan. 26, hurt by declining packaging demand. For details, see [ID:nBNG401049]

Net volumes of around $362 million are outstanding on Smurfit-Stone's debt, according to the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. (Reporting by Karen Brettell; Editing by Tom Hals)

their 10K is due out at the end of Feb. do they still have to file

this guy spamming NNSR all over


http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/profile.asp?User=103815

IBZT was a good one, they had that key board, it was my first encounter with Janice Shell, I was new to trading and lost allot of cash , I used to cuss Janice out, but I also apologized down the road I believe, and if I didn't you were right Janice

NASM


North American Scientific Signs Definitive Agreement to Divest Prostate Brachytherapy Product Line
Wednesday February 11, 2009, 5:30 pm EST
Yahoo! Buzz Print Related:North American Scientific Inc.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North American Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: NASM - News) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its prostate brachytherapy product line to Best Theratronics, Ltd., part of the TeamBest Family of Companies. These products currently include Prospera® brachytherapy seeds, SurTRAK™ needles and strands and various accessories used primarily in the treatment of prostate cancer. NASM will receive $5 million for the product line, with $2 million being paid at the closing of the transaction and the remaining $3 million being paid in installments over the 12 month period following the closing.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
NASM 0.2001 +0.0201


NASM’s board of directors has approved the transaction, which is subject to approval by the stockholders of NASM and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. A meeting of NASM’s stockholders to consider and vote on the proposed transaction will be called and held as promptly as possible, consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), The Nasdaq Stock Market and Delaware law. The transaction is expected to close in April 2009. NASM and Best also entered into a short term Management Agreement which provides that Best will manage NASM’s prostate brachytherapy business from March 1, 2009 until the closing of the transaction.

"This divestiture allows us to focus exclusively on our implantable ClearPathTM devices which were developed to optimize local radiation delivery for the treatment of breast cancer. We believe that a focused effort on this exciting women’s health opportunity will give us the best chance to deliver the shareholder value that we strive for,” said John Rush, President & CEO. “While we are confident that this is the right strategic direction for our organization, these decisions are always difficult when it comes down to customers and employees. This decision was made somewhat easier knowing that TeamBest has an employee friendly, customer focused culture throughout its organization.”

“We thank John Rush and the dedicated employees of NASI for their contribution in the fight against cancer. We look forward to providing NASI’s customers access to the TeamBest portfolio of radiotherapy and diagnostic products across a wide variety of clinical applications. This acquisition is a continuation of our strategy to provide hospitals and clinicians one stop, low cost, effective products and services," said Krishnan Suthanthiran, President, Best Theratronics, Ltd.

About North American Scientific, Inc.

North American Scientific is an innovator in radiation therapy in the fight against cancer. Its products provide physicians with tools for the treatment of prostate and breast cancer. The Company is gaining clinical experience with its ClearPath™ multi-channel catheter breast brachytherapy devices. They are the only such devices approved for both high dose and continuous release, or low dose, radiation treatments. The devices are designed to provide flexible, precise dose conformance and an innovative delivery system that is intended to offer the more advanced form of brachytherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Please visit www.nasmedical.com for more information.

About Best Theratronics, Ltd.

Best Theratronics, Ltd. is a leader in external beam therapy and self-contained irradiator products. External beam therapy equipment is used in the treatment of cancer, and self-contained irradiators are used for the irradiation of blood to prevent disease and for research purposes. Best Theratronics along with the TeamBest family of companies manufacture a wide array of radiotherapy products. In addition to its facilities in Ottawa, Canada; the TeamBest family of companies has manufacturing facilities in Dijon, France; Springfield, Virginia; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Bristol, Rhode Island; Taunton, Massachusetts; Gilberts, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; and Norcross, Georgia.

For 30 years, the TeamBest family has served the medical community with the highest quality products and unparalleled customer service. Our products and services exemplify our commitment to uncompromised quality and safety. For more information, please visit www.teambest.com.

This press release may be deemed to be soliciting material relating to the proposed asset sale by NASM. In connection with the proposed transaction, NASM will file a proxy statement with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed by NASM at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy statement and other relevant documents may also be obtained for free from NASM by directing such request to 20200 Sunburst Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311, Attn: Chief Financial Officer. NASM’s directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NASM in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of NASM is set forth in the proxy statement for NASM’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2008. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such participants by reading the proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements included in this release that are not historical facts may be considered forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products and pricing, technological changes, changes in relationships with strategic partners and dependence upon strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative agreements, the ability of the Company to successfully directly market and sell its products, uncertainties relating to patent protection and regulatory approval, the stable supply of appropriate isotopes, research and development estimates, market opportunities, risks associated with strategic opportunities or acquisitions the Company may pursue and the risk factors included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.


Contact:
North American Scientific, Inc.
Brett L. Scott, Senior Vice President and CFO
818-734-8600
IR@nasmedical.com

This is the rule, but the thing is I had that in my signature for years, and IH Admin [Dan] contacted me and told me to remove it, someone complained, but ya know this really bothers me, I have talked with Shelly and Matt in the past and they said nothing




http://ihwiki.stocksite.com/index.php?title=Handbook#Member_Signatures

The comments below where the signature is added are pretty self explanatory: "Please, do not put sounds in signatures and keep images as small as possible. No racy/sexual/scantily-clad pictures. No mention of specific stocks or links to stock specific boards. No links off the site. No solicitation. And finally, no political or religious images/text. Thanks."

NASM


North American Scientific Signs Definitive Agreement to Divest Prostate Brachytherapy Product Line
Wednesday February 11, 2009, 5:30 pm EST
Yahoo! Buzz Print Related:North American Scientific Inc.
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North American Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: NASM - News) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its prostate brachytherapy product line to Best Theratronics, Ltd., part of the TeamBest Family of Companies. These products currently include Prospera® brachytherapy seeds, SurTRAK™ needles and strands and various accessories used primarily in the treatment of prostate cancer. NASM will receive $5 million for the product line, with $2 million being paid at the closing of the transaction and the remaining $3 million being paid in installments over the 12 month period following the closing.

Related Quotes
Symbol Price Change
NASM 0.2001 +0.0201


NASM’s board of directors has approved the transaction, which is subject to approval by the stockholders of NASM and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. A meeting of NASM’s stockholders to consider and vote on the proposed transaction will be called and held as promptly as possible, consistent with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), The Nasdaq Stock Market and Delaware law. The transaction is expected to close in April 2009. NASM and Best also entered into a short term Management Agreement which provides that Best will manage NASM’s prostate brachytherapy business from March 1, 2009 until the closing of the transaction.

"This divestiture allows us to focus exclusively on our implantable ClearPathTM devices which were developed to optimize local radiation delivery for the treatment of breast cancer. We believe that a focused effort on this exciting women’s health opportunity will give us the best chance to deliver the shareholder value that we strive for,” said John Rush, President & CEO. “While we are confident that this is the right strategic direction for our organization, these decisions are always difficult when it comes down to customers and employees. This decision was made somewhat easier knowing that TeamBest has an employee friendly, customer focused culture throughout its organization.”

“We thank John Rush and the dedicated employees of NASI for their contribution in the fight against cancer. We look forward to providing NASI’s customers access to the TeamBest portfolio of radiotherapy and diagnostic products across a wide variety of clinical applications. This acquisition is a continuation of our strategy to provide hospitals and clinicians one stop, low cost, effective products and services," said Krishnan Suthanthiran, President, Best Theratronics, Ltd.

About North American Scientific, Inc.

North American Scientific is an innovator in radiation therapy in the fight against cancer. Its products provide physicians with tools for the treatment of prostate and breast cancer. The Company is gaining clinical experience with its ClearPath™ multi-channel catheter breast brachytherapy devices. They are the only such devices approved for both high dose and continuous release, or low dose, radiation treatments. The devices are designed to provide flexible, precise dose conformance and an innovative delivery system that is intended to offer the more advanced form of brachytherapy for the treatment of breast cancer. Please visit www.nasmedical.com for more information.

About Best Theratronics, Ltd.

Best Theratronics, Ltd. is a leader in external beam therapy and self-contained irradiator products. External beam therapy equipment is used in the treatment of cancer, and self-contained irradiators are used for the irradiation of blood to prevent disease and for research purposes. Best Theratronics along with the TeamBest family of companies manufacture a wide array of radiotherapy products. In addition to its facilities in Ottawa, Canada; the TeamBest family of companies has manufacturing facilities in Dijon, France; Springfield, Virginia; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Bristol, Rhode Island; Taunton, Massachusetts; Gilberts, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee; and Norcross, Georgia.

For 30 years, the TeamBest family has served the medical community with the highest quality products and unparalleled customer service. Our products and services exemplify our commitment to uncompromised quality and safety. For more information, please visit www.teambest.com.

This press release may be deemed to be soliciting material relating to the proposed asset sale by NASM. In connection with the proposed transaction, NASM will file a proxy statement with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement (when available) and other documents filed by NASM at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The proxy statement and other relevant documents may also be obtained for free from NASM by directing such request to 20200 Sunburst Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311, Attn: Chief Financial Officer. NASM’s directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NASM in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of NASM is set forth in the proxy statement for NASM’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2008. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such participants by reading the proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements included in this release that are not historical facts may be considered forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products and pricing, technological changes, changes in relationships with strategic partners and dependence upon strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative agreements, the ability of the Company to successfully directly market and sell its products, uncertainties relating to patent protection and regulatory approval, the stable supply of appropriate isotopes, research and development estimates, market opportunities, risks associated with strategic opportunities or acquisitions the Company may pursue and the risk factors included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.


Contact:
North American Scientific, Inc.
Brett L. Scott, Senior Vice President and CFO
818-734-8600
IR@nasmedical.com

I had this in my signature and was told I had to remove it because I was violating IHUB rules

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

What is this site turning into, where being a veteran means nothing

just waiting for the right news that will break us out, this is better than 99% of all PINKS, its hard to believe we are still at this price, but the Q is scaring away most of the pinkie investors, maybe 7.4 billion in revenue is just to much