xyz writes “NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered a new class of pulsars which emit purely in gamma rays. A pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star, and of the nearly 1,800 cataloged so far, only a small fraction emit at frequencies higher than radio waves. The gamma-ray-only pulsar, which lies within a supernova remnant known as CTA 1, is silent across parts of the electromagnetic spectrum where pulsars are normally found, indicating a new class of pulsars. It is located ‘about 4,600 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. Its lighthouse-like beam sweeps Earth’s way each 316.86 milliseconds. The pulsar, which formed in a supernova explosion about 10,000 years ago, emits 1,000 times the energy of our sun.’”

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We made it. It’s election day. Tomorrow we’ll know. So for today’s election discussion story, I’m throwing it wide open: let’s discuss the election itself. Who are your picks and why. And also what about your actual experience voting this day? Did Diebold eat your vote or did everything go off without flaw?

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Filed under: Products and services, Pfizer (PFE), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Merck and Co (MRK)

The stock price of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) has been declining this morning. Pfizer canceled the development of an obesity drug for which many had high hopes, especially in light of the looming 2011 Lipitor blockbuster cholesterol drug patent expiration. Pfizer might find it hard to post growth without it.

Pfizer isn’t the only pharma that has recently canceled the same class of obesity drugs. Only Wednesday, Sanofy Aventis (NYSE: SNY), after stopping sales in Europe of its version of the drug, Acomplia, also stopped clinical trials on humans. Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) stopped development of a similar drug candidate called Taranabant a few weeks ago. Those companies all had high hopes the drug could be used for smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol along with obesity. According to Bloomberg, only Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) is still developing a similar medicine.

Why are they all stopping? Mostly because they figured regulators around the world will not approve the drug due to negative psychiatric side-effects. This class of drug works on blocking the pleasure centers in the brain, specifically, it blocks the cannabinoid type 1, or CB1, receptors. If cannabinoid sounds familiar, it is because this is the very same pleasure centers that give marijuana smokers the “munchies.” By blocking these centers, studies have shown people have become depressed and had suicidal thoughts.

Perhaps not having chemical and pharmaceutical degrees I’m missing something, but it seems rather straight forward that if one’s pleasure centers are blocked, depression could ensue. Even it just blocks one specific type, that could be enough to create an imbalance.

Usually regulators weigh costs, risks and benefits of the drug and the condition treated, often approving drugs with severe side effects. These drugs are our best option currently. But drug companies should change their attitude somewhat, and when developing new drugs, place more emphasis on looking at the the body as one whole entity, and see how the drug interacts with the rest of the body, not just if it can treat the specific condition.

Pfizer cancels obesity drug, the latest to do so originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A refrigerator-sized tank of toxic ammonia, tossed from the international space station last year, is expected to hit earth tomorrow afternoon or evening. The 1,400-pound object was deliberately jettisoned — by hand — from the ISS’s robot arm in July 2007. Since the time of re-entry is uncertain, so is the location. “NASA anticipates up to 15 pieces of the tank to survive the searing hot temperatures of re-entry, ranging in size from about 1.4 ounces (40 grams) to almost 40 pounds (17.5 kilograms). … [T]he largest pieces could slam into the Earth’s surface at about 100 mph (161 kph). …’If anybody found a piece of anything on the ground Monday morning, I would hope they wouldn’t get too close to it,’ [a NASA spokesman] said.”

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In 24 hours, many of you will be able to vote. So as we come down to the wire, this is really our last opportunity to talk about the issues. We’ve already discussed Health Care, the War, and the Economy. This day I’m opening up the floor to discuss education. Perhaps no other issue will matter more in 50 years. Which candidate will make the next generation smarter?

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