The company and a group of CWRU researchers, headed by neurologist Dr. Jerry Silver, discovered that MultiStem decreases the inflammation that occurs after an injury in the spinal cord. MultiStem likewise promotes neuronal development or growth. The team has presented it findings at several scientific conferences, including the International Society for Stem Cell Research 8th Annual Meeting.

“The effects following administration of these remarkable cells after spinal cord injury in simultaneously preventing axonal dieback and stimulating nerve fiber sprouting are as strong as I have ever seen,” Dr. Silver said.

According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, over 1.2 million people have suffered from spinal cord injuries in the United States. Medical expenses for with spinal injuries can be substantial, particularly for patients with severe conditions.

Merck & Co’s pharmaceutical segment provides a wide array of products for human healthcare. It consists of therapeutic and preventive medicine, such as Cozaar, which is used to treat hypertension and diabetic nephropathy; Emend, which treats nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy; Fosamax, which is used to treat osteoporosis; Maxalt, which cures migraines; Singulair, which is used to treat asthma; and Primaxin, an antibiotic.

The company also manufactures vaccines, including Gardasil, which protects against HPV, a sexually transmitted disease; ProQuad, which simultaneously prevents measles, mumps, rubella and varicella in children; and Recombivax HB, which is used to protect against hepatitis B.

The two companies are also running an operation to caution consumers about the counterfeit products sold on online auction web pages other than eBay. Jack Christin, eBay’s associate general counsel for government relations, had stated that the site is taking out auctions of the Alli diet pills. FDA, in turn, made warnings last month about the dangers of purchasing Alli online after GlaxoSmithKline has claimed it had acquired several accounts of buyers purchasing counterfeit products in December of last year.

For interested buyers, here are the following differences of the fake Alli from the Alli, FDA approved weight loss capsules:

• The contents of the fake version are far different from that of the genuine drug; the former contains sibutramine, a substance known for causing heart problems.

• The counterfeit Alli drug does not contain the “sealed for your protection” phrase on the protective seals of its containers.

• The containers of counterfeit Alli pills display the month, day, and year of the expiry dates of their contents whereas containers of the genuine pills only show the month and year.

Johnson & Johnson’s consumer segment includes numerous products for baby care, skin care, wound care, oral care and feminine health care. Well-known company brands include Band-Aid bandages, Johnson’s baby products, Clean & Clear facial cleanser, Neutrogena beauty products, Listerine mouthwash, Carefree feminine products, and Tylenol.

Johnson & Johnson was founded by brothers Robert Wood Johnson I, James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson in 1886. It is currently headed by its chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, William C. Weldon.

The company has a wide range of pharmaceutical products that it offers to customers, such as Lipitor, which is used to lower blood cholesterol levels; Lyrica, which treats neuropathic pain; Celebrex, which cures arthritis, inflammation, and acute pain; Viagra that treats erectile dysfunction; and Zithromax, an antibiotic.

Pfizer was founded by German-American cousins Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhardt in Brooklyn, New York in 1849. By the 1950s it had expanded its operations in other countries including Brazil, Belgium, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Iran, Panama, Turkey, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.

Currently, Pfizer has been structured into four divisions, namely, Human Health, Consumer Healthcare, Animal Health, and Corporate Groups. The company is being led by Chief Executive Officer Jeff Kindler, who is also the chairman of Pfizer’s board of directors.

Just recently, on October 15, 2009, Pfizer completed a deal with pharmaceutical powerhouse Wyeth to buy the latter for $68 billion through cash, company shares, and loans.

Since Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham merged to form GlaxoSmithKline in 2000, GSK has grown to become the second largest pharmaceutical company in the world in terms of net income, with reported revenues of £24.352 billion and a net income of £4.712 billion in 2008. The company’s single largest market is the United States, which contributes up to 45% of GlaxoSmithKline’s revenue. From its headquarters in the GSK House located in London, United Kingdom, it has expanded its operations and now offers its product line to about 70 countries while employing over 110,000 people around the world.

Roche is based in Switzerland and is one of the biggest companies in the global pharmaceutical industry. Roche operates across the globe through two company divisions: the Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics divisions. Roche’s parent company, Roche Holding AG, has its shares traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange. It holds its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland and has expanded operations in other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and China. Roche also owns subsidiaries including Genentech of the United States and Chugai Pharmaceuticals of Japan, both biotechnology companies.

The company produces pharmaceutical products including Bactrim, Bonviva, CellCept, Roaccutane, Tamiflu, Tarceva, Valcyte, Valium, Xenical and Zenapax. Furthermore, Roche develops and produces a wide array of products and services that are used in different fields of medical testing, specifically those that are used for treating cancer, transplantation and virology, and those that are used for medical and biological research.

Product: Allegra, a nonsedating antihistamine available by prescription, alleviates seasonal allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

Why important: One dose of 180 mg of Allegra can relieve allergy sufferers’ symptoms up to four times longer than most over-the-counter allergy medicines.

Additional information: Allegra works by blocking the effects of histamine, a chemical that causes allergy symptoms in the body. This in turn relieves the allergy symptoms.

Product: Ibuprofen is distributed, marketed, and sold under the brand names Advil, Children’s Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, Pediacare Fever, and others.

Why important: Ibuprofen helps users manage mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation by blocking the enzymes that makes chemicals within the body responsible for pain, fever, and inflammation, thus resulting in the reduction of pain, fever, and inflammation.

Additional information: Users should take Ibuprofen with meals. Some common side effects include rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and others, including ulceration of the stomach or intestines.

Product: Xanax belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which causes neurochemical effects that relieve unbalanced brain chemistry leading to anxiety.

Why important: Xanax relieves anxiety, nervousness, and tension for those suffering from anxiety or panic disorders .

Additional information: Xanax XR serves a similar function to Xanax, but as an extended release medicine for panic disorder . Users of Xanax XR take the medicine once a day.