Imogen Edwards-Jones is a nearly perfect specimen of the English chattering classes: productive, archly scandalmongering, and connected (Candace Bushnell is her daughters godmother). Her latest quasi-nonfiction production, Fashion Babylon, is a tell-all that was co-written, as were her previous books about goings-on in the London fancy-hospitality business (Hotel Babylon) and jet travel (Air Babylon), by insiders in those industries. Packed with stories of Tom Ford disparaging Victoria Beckham and acne-medication overdoses that mess up models livers, it arrives in time for Fashion Week. She spoke to Brian Keith Jackson.

The first line of the prologue reads, All of the following is true. Seriously?
Every story in the book has been researched to the hilt.

Galderma USA Introduces New Kit For Rosacea Treatment

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Galderma Laboratories, L.P. today announced the availability of a new MetroGel(R) 1% Kit for the topical treatment of the inflammatory lesions of rosacea. The new kit contains a 60 gm tube of the leading topical prescription treatment for Rosacea, MetroGel(R) (metronidazole) Topical Gel, 1%. Also included in the kit is a complimentary 4 fl. oz. bottle of Cetaphil(R) Gentle Skin Cleanser, the number-one skin cleanser recommended by dermatologists, plus a patient education brochure with information about rosacea trigger factors, symptoms and treatment. The brochure contains a $2.00-off coupon for future purchases of Cetaphil(R) brand cleansers and moisturizers.

MetroGel(R) 1% Kit, with its additional contents, is the same cost as a regular 60gm tube of MetroGel(R) 1%, and the MetroGel(R) 1% Kit is currently available to rosacea patients in pharmacies nationwide.

U.S. FDA OKs Bayer Oral Contraceptive

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use of Bayer Schering Pharma AG's drug YAZ to allow it to be used to treat moderate acne in women who also want to use an oral contraceptive for birth control, the company said Monday.

With the approval, YAZ becomes the first oral contraceptive approved by the FDA for three distinct uses, Bayer said in a statement. In addition to being approved for birth control use and now for acne control, it is also approved to treat the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

"YAZ is the fastest growing oral contraceptive brand in the U.S.," said Phil Smits, head of Bayer Schering Pharma's women's healthcare unit. "We are convinced that through its unique features, YAZ will further strengthen our worldwide leading market position in the field of female contraception."

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Investing in Small Cap Pharmaceuticals: Noven, Barrier, Penwest ...

On January 8, The Wall Street Transcript interviewed FTN Midwest Securities Corp. analyst Timothy Chiang on small cap specialty pharmaceuticals. Key excerpts follow:

Mr. Chiang: I think smaller cap names, especially those with market capitalizations below $1 billion, have significant operating leverage, especially when new products are approved and launched. Also, I think these companies could benefit from consolidation in the specialty pharmaceutical industry. In 2006, companies like Noven (NOVN), Penwest (PPCO), Barrier (BTRX) and CollaGenex (CGPI) benefited from their products receiving FDA approval. In the case of Noven, they had the approval and the launch of the Daytrana patch. That's the first ritalin patch for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to be approved by the FDA.