FDA awards five contracts for women's studies, four of them for counterterrorism.

2002 NOV 7 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Women's Health has announced contracts for five research studies including four focusing on drugs used to counteract the effects of biological and chemical warfare that would particularly affect elderly, pregnant and lactating women.

Three of these studies are being funded in partnership with the agency's parent organization, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through its Office on Women's Health and its National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health (CoE). The other counterterrorism-related study is funded by FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research through FDA's Office on Women's Health and will investigate infant outcomes when mothers are exposed to drugs needed to prevent medical problems following a terrorist attack.

"In light of the nation's recent experience with bioterrorism, these contracts provide for extremely important research on the safe use of medicines in vulnerable populations," said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson. A fifth contract was awarded for a study to evaluate methods for controlling diabetes. This study is also being conducted at one of the National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health.

"Through these women's health contracts we are promoting research at some of the world's leading academic institutions on matters which will provide valuable insight into critical public health issues," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, FDA Deputy Commissioner.

The contracts awarded in partnership with the DHHS Office on Women's Health include:

* Indiana School of Medicine, CoE, (Center of Excellence) $448,455. "Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline Disposition in Lactating Women and in the Elderly" - a study to determine the doses of these antibiotics needed to prevent anthrax in lactating women and ...