FDA panel backs 3 psychiatric drugs for kids

June 10, 2009

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ADELPHI, Md. - Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that three blockbuster psychiatric drugs appear safe and effective for children and adolescents, despite side effects that can increase the risk of diabetes.

The FDA’s panel of psychiatric experts voted to approve the use of drugs from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Pfizer for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in patients ages 10 to 17.

The FDA is not required to accept the group’s advice, though it usually does.

“We’ll take all of this into consideration, but I can’t make any promises about when we’ll take action,” said Dr. Thomas Laughren, FDA’s director of psychiatric drugs.

All three drugs already are approved for adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Their side effects include weight gain, high blood sugar and sleepiness.

A positive FDA decision will expand the use of drugs that already make up the top-selling class of prescriptions in the U.S., with 2008 sales of $14.6 billion, according to health care analysis firm IMS Health.

The panel — mainly comprised of psychiatrists — largely brushed aside concerns from patient and consumer advocates that the companies should have been required to conduct longer studies of the drugs’ side effects.

The panel voted 11-4, with four abstentions, that Lilly’s drug Zyprexa is safe for treating bipolar, despite evidence the drug causes significantly more weight gain than other treatments. The Indianapolis-based company is only seeking approval for the drug as a second-choice, after other drugs have been tried.

“I had concerns about the metabolic side effects but if this is going to be used as the last treatment option then I think having other treatments available to physicians is worthwhile,” said Dr. Frank Greenway, of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La.

On the first day of the two-day meeting, more than a half-dozen nonprofit groups complained about the short length of the studies submitted to the FDA. The studies averaged between four and six weeks in length.

“Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder last for decades, often for life, and treatment is needed during all those years,” said Dr. Diana Zuckerman of the Research Center for Women and Families in Washington. “These studies provide almost no useful information about long-term adverse reactions.”

Schizophrenia affects about 2.4 million Americans and is characterized by hallucinations, delusions and social withdrawal, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. About 5.7 million Americans experience bipolar disorder, which causes rapid mood swings and shifts in energy.

Many doctors already prescribe the medications to children and adolescents. Doctors are free to prescribe drugs as they see fit, though companies can only market them for FDA-approved indications.

Prescriptions of anti-psychotic drugs for patients under 19 years old have more than doubled since 2001, according to pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health.

AstraZeneca and Lilly are seeking approval of their drugs — Seroquel and Zyprexa, respectively — for adolescents with schizophrenia and bipolar mania, also called manic depressive disorder. Pfizer is seeking approval to market its pill Geodon for bipolar patients ages 10 to 17.

The FDA panel voted 8-1 that Geodon is safe for children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, though nine panelists abstained, complaining of incomplete data from the company.

With only two anti-psychotic drugs currently approved for younger patients, a positive decision for the three drugs would significantly increase competition in the market for anti-psychotics.

Currently, only Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Abilify and Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal are approved for those uses. Abilify was the second best-selling anti-psychotic drug in the U.S. last year with sales of $3 billion. Risperdal was fourth with $1.6 billion in sales, according to IMS Health.

Those drugs and the three under FDA consideration are known as atypical anti-psychotics, a class of treatments introduced in the 1990s that were designed to be safer and more effective than older drugs.

But recent studies have concluded the newer drugs are no more effective than those first developed in the 1950s. And while atypical anti-psychotics do not have the older drugs’ risks of tremors and muscle spasms, they have their own side effects which can increase the risk of diabetes and heart problems.

Because the newer drugs are still under patent they generally sell for between $300 and $500 per month, compared with the $100 price on original anti-psychotics.

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Possible compromise emerges in health care debate

June 10, 2009

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The compromise offered by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., would create health care cooperatives owned by groups of residents and small businesses, similar to how electric or other cooperatives operate. They’d be nonprofit, and without the government involvement that troubles Republicans and business groups about the public plan options.

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, said Wednesday the idea could be key to a bipartisan health bill. Baucus raised it in a meeting with President Barack Obama, saying later that Obama showed interest. Baucus’ Republican counterpart, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, also said the concept had potential.

“It’s a way to bridge the gap,” Baucus told reporters.

That’s significant because the dispute over the public plan has been a major obstacle to bipartisan consensus on Obama’s goal of reshaping the nation’s health care system to bring down costs and extend coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans.

Although the Democrats who run Congress might be able to pass health care legislation with little or no Republican backing, Baucus and others say a single-party measure would enjoy less public support and would be less sustainable over time.

Many Democrats, including Obama, strongly favor a new public insurance plan that would, for the first time, offer government-sponsored health care to Americans not eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or other programs. Democrats say this would keep costs down for consumers.

Most Republicans and business groups are just as ardently opposed, saying that private insurers would end up going out of business, unable to compete with a government plan that didn’t have to make a profit.

Conrad’s plan attempts to satisfy both sides. Profit-making insurance companies wouldn’t run the show, but there also wouldn’t be the federal government backing that Republicans fear would eliminate fair competition with private companies. The co-ops could get federal seed money, Conrad said, but that would be the end of federal involvement. The co-ops would negotiate directly with medical providers.

“I’m doing all I can to get a good bipartisan solution, and right now the so-called public option is being transformed into a private alternative to put pressure on insurance companies, hold their feet to the fire, help them keep costs down,” Baucus said. “It may not work. If it doesn’t we’ve got to find something else but right now it looks like it has a decent chance of working.”

Senators stressed many questions remained unanswered because the idea has just surfaced.

“It’s got possibilities,” Grassley said. “There were lots of questions raised about it — not outright objections in our caucus, but a lot of questions.”

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Free Lipitor, Viagra, other drugs for jobless

June 10, 2009

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TRENTON, N.J. – Pfizer Inc. is unveiling a new program Thursday that will let people who have lost their jobs and health insurance keep taking some widely prescribed Pfizer medications — including Lipitor and Viagra — for free for up to a year.

Pfizer Free Drugs

The world’s biggest drugmaker will provide more than 70 of its prescription drugs at no cost to unemployed, uninsured Americans, regardless of their prior income, who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.

The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession and a campaign in Washington to rein in health care costs and extend coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after long being a target of critics of drug industry prices and sales practices.

The program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer brands.

“Everybody knows now a neighbor, a relative who has lost their job and is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there,” Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer’s head of pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. and Europe and a champion of the project, told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Wednesday. “Our aim is to help people bridge this point.”

Officials for New York-based Pfizer said they don’t know how much the program will cost and haven’t put a cap on spending for it.

Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering financial hardship and provide a “pink slip” or similar employer notice. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured again.

Starting Thursday, patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400, to sign up, and those whose drugs are not included in the program will be referred to other company aid programs. Starting July 1, patients can also apply through the Web site, http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com, which has information about the other Pfizer aid programs.

Pfizer and the rest of the drug industry is trying to have a voice in the debate over how to overhaul the U.S. health care system, partly by joining in a pledge this week to help hold down inflation of health costs.

“There’s a long-term benefit there, beyond the goodwill and the publicity,” said David Heupel, health care portfolio manager at Thrivent Large Cap Growth Fund. “Pfizer is trying to maintain their (market) share, if not grow their share” by keeping people from switching to generic versions of its drugs to save money.

“If you’re already taking medication that’s working, typically doctors don’t push to change it,” Heupel said.

Pfizer’s program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer, have been raising prices on their drugs, partly to offset declines in revenue as the global recession reduces the number of prescriptions people can afford to fill.

The idea for the program came just five weeks ago, at a leadership training meeting, as the workers discussed how many patients are struggling, Puente said.

“It was my idea,” he said. “I floated it, and the reception it got was so dramatic that it very quickly became our idea.”

Colleagues suggested employees could donate to a fund to help support the effort, Puente said. He said some employees had tears in their eyes when discussing how they could help people who had lost jobs.

He said he urged top management to approve the program, presenting a recent Associated Press article about how newly uninsured diabetics are suffering serious complications because they can no longer afford the medicines and testing supplies. Approval came quickly.

The 70-plus drugs covered include several diabetes drugs and some of Pfizer’s top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for impotence. The list includes drugs from several other popular classes, including antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, several heart drugs, contraceptives and smoking cessation products. Cheaper generic versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.

Pfizer said that from 2004 through 2008, its patient assistance programs helped 5.1 million people get 51 million Pfizer prescriptions for free or at reduced cost, with a total value of $4.8 billion.

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Races Differ in Rates of Sleep-Related Obesity

June 10, 2009

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MONDAY, June 8 (HealthDay News) — People who get too little sleep are at risk for obesity, and for blacks the risk is greater than for whites, New York researchers have found.

 

Studying the connection between short sleep duration and obesity, researchers analyzed national data from 29,818 adults aged 18 to 85. The study found that 52 percent of blacks and 38 percent of whites were obese (body-mass index of 30 or higher). Rates of short sleep duration (five hours or less per night) were 12 percent for blacks and 8 percent for whites.

 

The adjusted obesity/short sleep duration odds ratio was 1.78 for blacks and 1.43 for whites, which shows that blacks have a 35 percent greater risk of obesity associated with short sleep duration, the researchers said.

 

“Compared to white Americans, black Americans had a greater prevalence of short sleep and a greater prevalence of obesity. Both black and white Americans who were obese tended to have short sleep duration,” study author Girardin Jean-Louis, an associate professor at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center at the Brooklyn Health Disparities Research Center, said in a news release.

 

The findings suggest that short sleep time may be a contributor to the obesity crisis in the United States, Jean-Louis said. Previous research has found that people who sleep for less than seven hours a night are at increased risk for obesity.

 

The study was to be presented Monday at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting, in Chicago.

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WHO says it may declare swine flu pandemic soon

June 10, 2009

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GENEVA – The World Health Organization said Tuesday a spike in swine flu cases in Australia may push it to finally announce the first flu pandemic in 41 years. It also expressed concern about an unusual rise in severe illness from the disease in Canada.

WHO’s flu chief Keiji Fukuda said the agency wanted to avoid “adverse effects” if it announces a global outbreak of swine flu. Fukuda said people might panic or that governments might take inappropriate actions if WHO declares a pandemic.

Some flu experts think the world already is in a pandemic and that WHO has caved in to country requests that a declaration be postponed.

“On the surface of it, I think we are in phase 6,” or a pandemic, said Margaret Chan, WHO’s director-general.

Chan said it was important to verify the reports that the virus is becoming established outside North America before declaring a pandemic. “The decision to make a phase 6 announcement is a heavy responsibility, a responsibility that I will take very seriously, and I need to be convinced that I have indisputable evidence,” she said.

Chan said she will hold a conference call with governments Wednesday in order to verify some of the reports she has received before making a formal announcement. “Once I get indisputable evidence, I will make the announcement,” she told reporters in Geneva.

WHO said the virus has infected 26,563 people in 73 countries and caused 140 deaths. Most of the cases have been in North America, but Australia also has seen a sharp increase in recent days.

In most of the 73 countries, the new H1N1 virus has triggered only mild illness. But the fact that some of the deaths have occurred in otherwise healthy adults has prompted WHO to classify the outbreak as “moderate” for the time being.

“Approximately half the people who have died from this H1N1 infection have been previously healthy people,” Fukuda said, adding that this was “one of the observations which has given us the most concern.”

Wealthy countries such as the U.S., Canada and Britain already have large stockpiles of antivirals used to treat swine flu, but many developing countries have no supplies of the drugs and could be more vulnerable to the virus, given their struggle with widespread problems such as AIDS, malnutrition and malaria.

Some pharmaceutical companies are preparing to make a swine flu vaccine, if WHO declares a pandemic.

The number of cases in Australia jumped to more than 1,000 by Monday, with the vast majority reported from the southern state of Victoria.

If the swine flu virus were to be shown to be spreading rapidly from person to person in another world region beyond the Americas, such as Australia or Europe, that should trigger the conditions for WHO to declare a pandemic, meaning the outbreak has gone global.

“We are getting really very close to knowing that we are in a pandemic situation,” Fukuda said.

He also said it was more important that countries take “the right actions” than that they accurately report the extent of their outbreaks.

With 675 reported swine flu cases in Britain, some experts suspect the virus already is entrenched in communities, but that U.K. health authorities are deliberately not testing for the virus and not reporting cases.

In recent weeks, two Greek students who caught swine flu in Scotland had no history of contact with any confirmed cases, a clear sign the virus is spreading in British communities.

“Our primary concern is not so much the numbers that are being reported,” Fukuda said. He said countries simply needed to take appropriate actions to handle their outbreaks.

In his weekly update on the outbreak, Fukuda also addressed reports that an unusually large number of severe cases have occurred among Canada’s Inuit population.

“There are reports of infections occurring in Inuit communities with a disproportionate number of serious cases,” he said. “These are observations of concern to us.”

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Best Places to Live 2009

June 10, 2009

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With the decade winding to a close, Americans have grown increasingly reluctant to gas up their moving vans. Last year, the Census Bureau’s national mover rate–which represents the percentage of Americans 1 year and older who moved within the past year–hit its lowest level since 1948, when the bureau began tracking the data. And who can blame us? In the face of a terrifying banking crisis, a historic housing crash, and a grueling recession, relocating to a new city isn’t exactly on the to-do list. But despite the uncertain economy, the nation’s diverse topography presents an enviable menu of great places to find work, retire, or just change your scene.

 

In selecting our Best Places to Live for 2009, U.S. News took a thrift-conscious approach: We looked for affordable communities that have strong economies and plenty of fun things to do. The cities we selected are as distinct as America itself–ranging from a quaint suburb to a live-music mecca. But whether you prefer hiking through the Rocky Mountains, pulling a fish out of the Atlantic Ocean, or grilling hot dogs at a college football tailgate, here are 10 places that will fill up your daybook without emptying your wallet.

 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

Along the banks of the Rio Grande, with the Sandia Mountains in the background, is the beautiful city of Albuquerque, N.M. The sunny climate and endless landscape have long drawn writers, poets, and artists to this spot, which includes an unconventional mix of American Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures. But it’s not just freethinkers who drift to this Southwestern city of 511,000. Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, and Intel Corp. have helped develop the area into a manufacturing and research hub. They provide a stable anchor for the local economy.

 

Albuquerque’s clear skies, calm winds, and abundant sunshine present plenty of opportunities to explore its natural splendor. Each October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta fills the sky with more than 700 colorful hot-air balloons. Fourteen area golf courses are open year-round and allow duffers to tee off against spectacular backdrops of volcanoes and mountain peaks. Meanwhile, Albuquerque’s foothills and network of trails make the area a wonderful destination for biking. Still, “it’s kind of undiscovered at the same time,” says Will McConnell of the Albuquerque Bicycle Center.

 

Auburn, Alabama

 

For Southern charm with collegiate vigor, consider Auburn, Ala. This diamond on the eastern Alabama plains has a population of just under 50,000 and is home to Auburn University. On football Saturdays, when die-hard fans arrive in droves to cheer their beloved Tigers, Auburn swells to the state’s fifth-most-populous city. And as Auburn’s largest employer, the university also plays a starring role in the local economy.

 

With mild winters and hot summers, the city offers no shortage of outdoor recreation opportunities. Find a nice hiking trail in the 696-acre Chewacla State Park before cooling off with an afternoon swim. Take a stroll through the Donald E. Davis Arboretum, located on the Auburn University campus.

 

Golfers can head to nearby Grand National golf course and wend their way through the state along the beautiful Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. “Once you have been there, you just want to come back,” says John Cannon, president of SunBelt Golf Corp., which manages the trail.

 

[See a slideshow of the 10 best places to live.]

 

Austin, Texas

 

If you’re a free spirit, music junkie, or barbecue lover–or if you simply have what it takes to “keep Austin weird”–Texas’s state capital is for you. Considered ground zero for live music, this city of 716,000 residents is home to legions of musicians and nearly 200 performance venues. In addition, Austin hosts the always popular South by Southwest festival. Since its inception in 1987, the event has mushroomed from a local gathering to a 1,800-band, 80-stage extravaganza of music, filmmaking, and interactive activities featuring performers from all over the world. Austin is also a high-tech hub, with companies like Dell and IBM, which employ thousands of residents.

 

The city’s warm climate offers plenty of sunshine, while the open green spaces don’t provide any excuse for staying indoors. Head over to Lions Municipal Golf Course for an inexpensive round. Wander through the 351-acre Zilker Metropolitan Park until you find Barton Springs Pool, a 3-acre water source fed by underground springs that keep its temperature around 68 degrees all year long. To escape the city, head for the nearby Hill Country. “It’s rolling hills cut with lots of little creeks and streams,” says Tom Beach, a sales clerk at Austin Canoe & Kayak. “It makes for a nice road trip.”

 

Boise, Idaho

 

Although often overlooked, Boise, Idaho, is a terrific destination for those looking to escape out West. With a high-desert climate of sunshine, clear skies, and four distinct seasons, this city of 200,000 makes a perfect base camp for exploring southwest Idaho’s dramatic panorama. Choose from the many nearby parks, which total some 2,700 acres, cast a fishing line into the Boise River, or head over to Boise State University for a Broncos football game.

 

High-tech companies Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard are among the area’s leading private employers. To hit the thriving local arts scene, cruise downtown. Boise’s free “Alive After Five” concert series brings musicians and other entertainers to the Grove Plaza each Wednesday during the summer. “It’s harder to find a parking space after 5 than it is before 5,” says Paul Hiller, the executive director of the Boise Valley Economic Partnership. “It’s one of the most vibrant downtown areas you’ve ever seen.”

 

Durham, North Carolina

 

Once a tobacco town, Durham, N.C., has evolved into a world-class center of all things advanced. This city of 206,000, located halfway between the Atlantic coast and the Great Smoky Mountains, is called the “City of Medicine” because of its expansive healthcare industry. And although widely known as the home of prestigious Duke University, it’s also a thriving technology hub. At the same time, Durham’s mild climate allows residents to get out and explore the region’s abundant outdoor attractions. Consider hiking one of the many distinct trails and greenways or heading over to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for an afternoon baseball game.

La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a population of about 50,000, La Crosse, Wis., is a great staging ground for exploring the natural wonders of the upper Mississippi River area. Although winters can be bitterly cold, friendly Midwesterners and the nearby ski slopes will keep your spirits high. The spring opens an active outdoor culture of camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing that brings more than a million visitors to the area each year. Explore the mighty Mississippi on a riverboat tour, or try your luck with the northern pike in Lake Onalaska. “Great people, fun town,” says Dave Lueck, a 36-year-old graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. “It’s not too big, not too small.” And with a 2008 median home sale price of $113,000, it’s also an affordable destination.

[Learn more about our methodology in choosing the best places to live.]

Loveland, Colorado

Located just outside the breathtaking Rocky Mountain National Park, Loveland, Colo., is considered the “Gateway to the Rockies.” But while it has 27 public parks and nearly 16 miles of recreation trails, it’s Loveland’s affection for man-made beauty that sets this community of 56,000 residents apart. Thanks to its Art in Public Places program, more than 300 pieces of sculpture and two-dimensional works are on display throughout the community. And with a 2008 median home sale price of $186,000, the area’s real estate market is relatively affordable.

Loveland has also achieved acclaim for its Valentine remailing program, in which 200,000 cards are sent to the city to receive a special cachet stamp. “We’ve got a waiting list of over 50 people that are waiting to be stampers,” says Kathryn Roth of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce.

San Luis Obispo, California

Tucked into California’s sweeping Central Coast region is lovely San Luis Obispo, Calif. Its warm, gentle climate, with temperatures rarely surpassing 90 degrees, is perfect for hitting nearby beaches or touring local vineyards. In addition, California Polytechnic State University, which is located in town, infuses the community with intellectual energy.

Although area home prices have fallen by as much as 35 percent over the past two years, the national housing bust may have also created another reason to make San Luis Obispo your home, says John Day, a local real estate broker. “There are just plain good deals” in the current market, he says.

St. Augustine, Florida

As the nation’s longest continually inhabited European-founded city, St. Augustine, Fla., considers itself the oldest city in the United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish Adm. Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, this community of 13,000 residents on Florida’s northeastern coast has managed to maintain its colonial charm. Take the Castillo de San Marcos, for example. This remarkable stone-and-mortar fort is located right in the heart of St. Augustine’s cobblestoned historic district. And even though 300 years of violent storms and enemy firepower couldn’t penetrate its walls, visitors can enter the 20.5-acre monument site today for just $6.

But St. Augustine’s appeal extends beyond the history books. With a highly educated workforce, world-class golfing nearby–the immaculate TPC Sawgrass course is located just up the road–and that refreshing Atlantic breeze, this “ancient city” offers enough activities to satisfy even the most fanatical outdoor sports enthusiast. “Fishing, kayaking, boating–we have just about everything,” says Donald Edwards, a clerk at the Avid Angler fishing shop. “I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania

For a quiet residential option, consider Upper St. Clair, Pa. This quaint town of fewer than 20,000 residents is located in the hilly woodlands outside Pittsburgh, where the Whiskey Rebellion of the late 1700s was centered. The median home price of this family-oriented community was $240,000 in 2008. And its school system is superb: Ninety-eight percent of its high school graduates go on to college, and the Upper St. Clair school district currently boasts 10 federal government blue-ribbon “Excellence in Education” awards.

After the spring thaw, residents head outside to enjoy the region’s abundant greenery. “Pennsylvania is a fairly robust and rich place in terms of resources, if you just look a little bit,” says Ed Di Gangi, the president of the Upper St. Clair Fly Fishing Club. In addition to fishing, popular outdoor activities include hiking, cycling, golf, and bocce. And with Pittsburgh about 10 miles away, residents of this small town are never too far removed from big-city comforts. “From here to a Pirates [baseball] game or here to a Penguins [hockey] game, it’s 30 minutes or less,” Di Gangi says.

Here’s our list of the 10 best places to live:

1. Albuquerque, N.M.

2. Auburn, Ala.

3. Austin, Texas

4. Boise, Idaho

5. Durham, N.C.

6. La Crosse, Wis.

7. Loveland, Colo.

8. San Luis Obispo, Calif.

9. St. Augustine, Fla.

10. Upper St. Clair, Pa.

Consider this list a springboard to get you thinking about the qualities you’re looking for in a Best Places to Live list of your own.

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Kirsten Dunst Returning For ‘Spider-Man 4,’ Villain To Be Chosen Soon

June 10, 2009

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NEW YORK, New York — Kirsten Dunst will return as Mary Jane Watson, “Spider-Man 4” producer Todd Black told the New York Post.

The star will rejoin director Sam Raimi and star Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker’s love interest in the latest installment in the popular superhero franchise, which is slated for May 6, 2011.

However, don’t expect wedding bells for Mary Jane and Peter - Black told the newspaper that he was unaware of such a subplot. At the close of “Spider-Man 3,” the two had an emotional - but ambiguous - reunion after the film’s events drove the lovers apart.

Additionally, Black hinted at the film’s villain, shooting down online rumors that pegged comic book character Morbius the Living Vampire as the latest member of Spidey’s rogue gallery.

Instead, the producer told the Post that the villain had a significant connection to the Big Apple.

“We’re just coming up with who the villain is now,” he said. “We’ll be shooting in New York again. Trust me, people will appreciate who we pick, because it’ll be a big part of New York.”

In past films, Spider-Man has faced off with the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Venom and Sandman, leaving a number of famous villains who could make their silver screen debut in “Spider-Man 4.”

Among the popular options are Kraven the Hunter, Chameleon, the Hobgoblin, Mysterio, Venom offspring Carnage and the Lizard, whose human alter-ego, Dr. Curt Connors, had a role in the previous two movies.

Another potential foe could be New York crime boss the Kingpin - however, the character appeared in 20th Century Fox’s “Daredevil” and would likely require a rights acquisition by Sony Pictures.

But the crime lord would give the film a New York connection - and would also be Access Hollywood film critic Scott Mantz’s top choice.

“The Kingpin is grounded in reality, and that’s the appeal of Spider-Man,” Mantz said, adding another suggestion to the mix - femme fatale the Black Cat. “I’d like to see the Kingpin and the Black Cat, to stir the pot with Peter’s relationship with Mary Jane.”

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What The New iPhone Means For Marketers (AAPL)

June 9, 2009

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SAN FRANCISCO (AdAge.com) — Apple executives didn’t throw any curve balls at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference today in San Francisco. But the iterative changes hidden within a new, faster iPhone — and the previously announced software upgrade — could change not just consumer but also advertiser behavior. Here’s a run-down of what’s new and what it means to marketers.

What’s new: Apple introduced the new iPhone 3GS, which includes an updated operating system. It will hit AT&T stores, its exclusive carrier, for $199 with a contract.

Why it matters for marketers: Speed (yes, that’s what the “S” stands for) is the key. Billed by Apple as the “fastest, most powerful iPhone,” the new handset from the Cupertino, Calif.-based company will provide faster downloads, while the phone’s greater memory and processing speed will allow advertisers to dial up more rich-media ad units. The news coincides with AT&T’s recent announcement that it is upgrading its 3G network to deliver data faster.

“People are already using their phones as mini-computers,” said Tina Unterlaender, account director at digital agency AKQA. “But the faster speeds will change user behavior even more. It’s going to change the way whole new generations access the internet, and it’s going to mean that brands will have to redistribute their marketing mix if they want to reach a young group.”

Krish Arvapally, chief technology officer of mobile ad platform provider Mojiva, said since Apple announced its new iPhone software in March, it has seen a 20% increase in the number of advertisers who say they want to target iPhone users.

What’s new: Apple said it would lower the price of its current 3G iPhone to $99 (with a contract) to make room for the iPhone 3GS.

Why it matters for marketers: This should mean greater reach for a smartphone that has generated a lot of gadget envy but is still only used by about 5% of all U.S. wireless users. And, according to Chetan Sharma Consulting, a drop in AT&T’s service plan pricing could yield the carrier an additional 20%-25% subscribers per quarter. But if AT&T doesn’t budge on its service pricing, then about 5% of AT&T users would likely opt for the 3G iPhone.

Ms. Unterlaender noted if AT&T were to offer more attractive pricing, it could add younger demographic including teenagers to the mix of iPhone users, who until now have been mostly an affluent older set.

What’s new: The new Safari web browser will have built-in location-based technology.

Why it matters for marketers: Until now, marketers had to count on users to enter their ZIP codes in a browser to geo-target offers via the mobile web. But this isn’t optimal when a retailer wants to know when someone is within 100 feet of its front door. Now, with the Safari web browser pulling the users’ location data into the browser experience, marketers could serve geo-targeted ads to any iPhone user with an open browser — assuming the user has allowed the website operator to track his location.

On a related note, the iPhone 3GS will also sport a digital compass that tells users which direction they’re facing, with integrated mapping applications to automatically orient the map in the corresponding direction. Jamie Wells, director of mobile at OMD’s Ignition Factory, said he could see advertisers using the compass feature to make their creative more engaging — for example, a vendor selling merchandise at a sporting event could serve ads that instruct users to point their iPhone at the nearest concession stand to get a coupon.

What’s new: The iPhone 3GS allows users to record and edit video, then upload the clips directly to YouTube or share them via e-mail or multimedia messaging directly from the phone.

Why it matters for marketers: As advertisers wait in the wings for mobile video viewing to take off, some say Apple’s introduction of video features could jump-start people’s habit to view and interact with video on their phones. John SanGiovanni, VP of product design at Zumobi, an app developer and network, said the company is now talking to two brands about creating apps that lets users capture images of themselves doing green, eco-conscious things for the environment, and Michael Chang of Greystripe notes that the “better camera plus the faster network bandwidth could be the start of mobile video renaissance.”

What’s new: Currently, iPhone users have to punch in each character of their passwords, names, addresses, phone numbers, but a new “auto-fill” function, part of the new iPhone operating system, can remember that data.

Why it matters for marketers: For brands trying to expand their mobile-marketing database or acquire new users, the iPhone’s new auto-fill feature could remove a barrier in getting users to sign on. “This means less friction to acquire users; it should lower acquisition costs for lead-gen advertisers like Netflix,” noted Jason Spero, VP of marketing at mobile ad network AdMob.

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Simple Ways to Slim Down (Without Really Trying)

June 8, 2009

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I’m not one for cliches, but whoever said “You are what you eat” was onto something. Fill up on doughnuts and pizza, and you’re more likely to sport a round shape with a soft center. But if you munch on fresh produce, fish and poultry, chances are you’ll be as lean as what’s on your plate.

Of course, staying slim isn’t about absolutes. I lost about 25 pounds about two years ago and kept it off. While I try to eat smart (salads, yogurt, fish) about 90 percent of the time to help maintain my weight, I’ve been known to indulge in a cookie or some ice cream on occasion. (Hey, we all deserve treats once in a while!) I believe it’s not about counting calories or fixating on how much fiber or fat is in your diet. Instead, the key to eating healthy (and even dropping some weight) is making smart choices. Try a few of these tips and watch the weight fly off.

Go for home-grown
When choosing foods, consider the source. Before that sweet potato landed in your fridge, it was grown in the ground. Those potato chips in your cupboard, on the other hand, were mostly manufactured in an assembly line before they caught your eye in aisle 6. Which seems like the smarter choice? The less a food is processed, the healthier it is for you because processing takes out nutrients such as antioxidants and fiber, and even when food chemists add them back, nothing is as beneficial as what’s natural. Opt for picks like whole fruit and veggies in particular. When people eat vegetables with a meal, they consume a full 20 percent fewer calories overall–and still feel satisfied afterward, according to a study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Carrots, anyone?

Choose crunch
Speaking of carrots, snacks that offer big, satisfying crunch–such as, yes, carrots, but also apples, snap peas and nuts (sorry, processed carbs like sugary cereals and candy don’t count)–keep your mouth busy longer than food you inhale like a vacuum cleaner. Experts say that the more you chew, the longer it takes to eat and the more time your body has to realize it is satisfied. The result: You eat less and naturally shed pounds.

Read the fine print
To get the real scoop on a food, check out the back of the box. When you see a list of hard-to-pronounce ingredients, there is a greater chance something artificial is mixed in that’s not necessarily waistline-friendly. A shorter list usually indicates a more nutritious and slimming pick.

Forget about feasting
Unless it’s a holiday or a special celebration, there’s no need to eat with abandon. Let’s be honest: Food you munch after you’re full doesn’t taste nearly as good. And experts say that taste buds are not as sharp after the first few mouthfuls, so overdoing it with bland bites is liable to leave you bloated. Better to savor the initial nibbles and then stop after consuming a reasonable portion.

Eyeball servings
Knowing your portion sizes is important, but the jingle in your purse should be from your keys, not a set of measuring spoons. Rather than tote around a food scale, learn these simple visual cues: A 3-ounce serving of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of a deck of cards; two servings of pasta or rice is the size of a baseball; a bread serving is the size of a CD case; one serving of cheese is the size of four dice.

Go halfsies
When dining out, ask for a half portion of your meal or request that 50 percent of it be packed into a doggie bag before you’re served. More restaurants are open to this plan, and some are beginning to offer smaller-sized versions of the usual order. Another idea? Have two appetizers: The calorie total is usually lower than that for one entree.

Park yourself at the table
We sit at work, on the train, in the car, yet we rarely stay put during dinner. Fifty-nine percent of young women eat on the go, a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association finds, and on-the-run noshers consume more total fat as well as more soda and fast food. The less distracted and stressed you are when you dine, the more efficiently your body absorbs nutrients. So flip off “Lost”, wander out of your office and turn off your car before you grab your fork.

Skip sugary sips
Scan any supermarket shelf or cafe;, and you’re likely to spot hundreds of beverages offering vitamins, minerals and energy. Reality check: Most are simply sweetened water. Don’t let the snappy labels pull a fast one on you: If it’s not skim milk, plain agua or regular coffee or tea, it’s dessert. For a healthier quaff, try lemon or mint iced tea or sparkling water with a splash of juice.

Fill up in the morning
There’s a reason for the term “breakfast of champions”: Eating a bigger morning meal helps you power through the day as you efficiently burn those calories. But piling a dinner plate high only to settle into the sofa to watch TV or snooze isn’t as conducive to staying slim. This doesn’t mean you need to resort to a banana for dinner, but aiming for a 300- to 500-calorie breakfast will help prevent you from overeating at night, when you’re more apt to convert those calories into fat.

Quit the clean plate club
Even if you (or someone else) slaved over the stove to prepare an amazing meal, don’t feel obligated to polish off every last morsel. Sure, your grandmother might have admonished you for leaving food on your plate when you were 6, but munching after you’re full out of guilt won’t help you stay slim, much less lead to weight loss. So rather than force yourself to swallow another bite, wrap up your leftovers for lunch tomorrow or toss scraps in the trash. I won’t tell on you!

Cut yourself some slack
If you eat well most of the time yet occasionally crave a fast food fix, a cupcake or meatball sub, go for it and savor each bite. You can happily resume your sensible plan once you satisfy the urge.

For more tips on slimming down without resorting to rabbit food, check out this week’s worth of healthy meals, or sign up for the SELF Diet Club, where can you log your meals (we’ll calculate the calories for you!) and keep track of your weight loss.

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Former Poison Singer Tries Country Music

June 8, 2009

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Bret Michaels , the former leader of the hard-rock band Poison, is working with a different kind of music these days, reinventing himself as a country singer.
When Michaels needed a place to shoot a video for country music up-and-comers Forty5 South, he ended up in Chatham County, about nine miles west of Pittsboro..

That’s because Michaels is friends with Christie Cook, whose family owns the property where the video was shot. And Cook, along with her husband, James, runs Media One Studios, a company that specializes in videography work..

The scenery fit the words for a song called “We’re Country So We Can.”.

On Wednesday, Michaels directed a Chapel Hill-based film crew and the band through a series of scenes

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