New treatment for gonorrhoea

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33279, 17 July 1973, Page 15

New treatment for gonorrhoea

'N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) SYRACUSE (New York), July 16

A pleasant-tasting, singledose antibiotic cure for common gonorrhoea which may encourage more people to accept medical treatment, should be on the market today, according to a spokesman for Bristol Laboratories. Syracuse. Polycillin P.R.B. is said to replace painful penicillin injections, or prolonged oral treatments.

The new drug, which recently received the approval of the Food and Drug Administration, is said to have had 90 per cent success in gonorrhoea treatment. At present, either a single, heavy injection of about 4.8 million units of penicillin, or an oral treatment taking from five to 10 days, and taken at home by the patient, are used.

According to Bristol Lab-1 oratories, a doctor can; administer a single dose of the new drug in his office, and the patient is usually cured, for the most part, within 48 hours. However, the antibiotic is not used in the treatment of other forms of venereal disease, such as syphilis.

Baht retained The Thai Government has

revalued the country’s currency slightly. A royal decree signed by King Bhumibol Adulvadei has fixed the par va'ue of the baht at 0 0368381 grammes of fine gold, instead of at the previous 0.0354134 grammes. There will now be 20 baht to the United States dollar, compared with 20.80 previously. —Bangkok, July 16.