Reminyl Will Receive New Name

Johnson & Johnson is renaming itsAlzheimer's disease drug Reminyl(galantamine HBr). Although the companyand the FDA have not agreed onthe new name, the change is expectedto be introduced by the end of March2005. The decision to changeReminyl's name comes after 2 patientsdied when they were mistakenly givena similar-sounding drug—Amaryl(glimepiride). Amaryl (Sanofi-Aventis)is indicated for the treatment of diabetes.The deaths were caused by hypoglycemiaor low blood sugar when thepatients were given Amaryl.