Biotech Values

[Biowatch]

>>Tazoral to treat moderate to severe psoriasis<<

Psoriasis predominantly affects women, and frequently young women of child-bearing age. "The average age of diagnosis is 28, and psoriasis most often appears between the ages of 15 and 35..."

Plus, there is no cure for psoriasis at present, so patients could take the drug for life.

>>Much of the FDA advisory panel's ruling covered issues relating to fetal damage risks. The acne drug Accutane is also derived from retinoids. Among female patients, that drug can only be prescribed to those who agree to take a test to prove they are not pregnant.<<

Apparently, despite the nasty side-effects that retinoic acids can have on embryos, some pregnant women take Accutane anyway. I'm not surprised the FDA panel had a problem with it.

As you say, women with AMD are usually well past their child bearing years. Even those who develop AMD in their forties are unlikely to start having children.