But they also address major therapeutic areas -- such as heart disease and

But they also address major therapeutic areas -- such as heart disease and diabetes -- that could yield significant medical advances and blockbuster sales, should they succeed.The latest example came last week when Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) announced plans to move into Phase 3 its drug to prevent heart problems faced by diabetics.Roche's drug, aleglitazar, follows a well-trod but thus far unsuccessful path. approval for its inhaled insulin even though Pfizer's version was a commercial flop and Eli Lilly (LLY.N) and Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) canceled development of theirs.Even if these follow-up drugs prove successful in large studies, they may face commercial and regulatory hurdles in overcoming negative associations with the class left by the initial failures.To some, drugmakers' willingness to push forth with projects despite setbacks of similar drugs underscores the lack of innovation."Industry-wide, the pipelines still are really limited," said Jon LeCroy, a pharmaceutical analyst with Natixis Bleichroeder. "If you don't have other things to put your money into, you have to go after these higher-risk programs."CLASS EFFECT OR NOT?In the case of aleglitazar, however, Roche believes it has taken steps to reduce the possibility its product is afflicted with problems of past medicines in the class -- and worth the investment in a 6,000-patient Phase 3 trial to assess cardiac events.The drugs are designed to turn on two protein receptors known as PPARs, one that regulates glucose and another lipids. "But I think chemistry and science keep teaching us that these drugs are different. Ray Gibbons, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and former president of the American Heart Association, said more than one drug will need to be tested to determine whether problems seen with torcetrapib plague the whole class."I don't think in general that the scientific world feels that we should close the door on the development of drugs in that class on the basis of one high-profile failure," Gibbons said "That's the challenge: We don't know.". FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Frustrated after dropping four shots in his last four holes at the weather-delayed U.S.

Open on Friday, Tiger Woods was mightily relieved he was done for the day. "I was even par with four holes to go and I was right there where I needed to be."Two bad shots and a mud ball later, here we go and I'm at four over."Hopefully I can clean up the round a little bit, maybe tomorrow, drive the ball in the fairway and get a couple of breaks. Overall the golf course is playing difficult."Woods, who won last year's U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoff with compatriot Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines, felt the late starters in the opening round were probably at a disadvantage."I think the guys who are playing today and tomorrow morning are going to get more mud balls," he said.

"It's only going to get worse (as it dries out), unless we get more rain."Despite the poor weather, organizers have refused to permit players to lift, clean and place their golf balls if they get muddy after landing in drenched fairways.Asked if he would have preferred that practice to be employed this week, as it is in other tournaments around the world, Woods replied: "It's already too late. They may now for the second round but who knows."It's pot luck You hit good shots and you go play it from there. Whether we play ball in hand or ball down, everyone has to play the same conditions."(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email ) Sports. Stanford Financial Group Executives and Former Chairman of Antiguan BankRegulator Indicted for Fraud and ObstructionCharges Related to $7 Billion Dollar Scheme to Defraud InvestorsWASHINGTON, June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Robert Allen Stanford, 59,chairman of the Houston-based Stanford Financial Group (SFG), three SFGexecutives and the former chief executive officer of the Antiguan bankregulatory agency have been indicted on fraud and obstruction charges relatedto a $7 billion scheme to defraud investors, announced Lanny A.

Breuer,Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division; Tim Johnson, U.S.Attorney for the Southern District of Texas; Kevin Perkins, Assistant Directorof the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division; Eileen Mayer, Chief of InternalRevenue Service - Criminal Investigation; and Greg Campbell, Deputy ChiefInspector, U.S. Breuer,Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division."Investors need accessto accurate and truthful financial information in order to make decisionsabout how to invest their hard-earned savings.Their savings, and indeed theintegrity of our capital markets, are jeopardized when investors are deceived. These difficult economic times make the mission of the Department all themore important.""The investing public needs to be assured that it is protected from those whowould corruptly deprive them of their financial security," said U.S AttorneyTim Johnson of the Southern District of Texas. "When individuals or businessentities engage in fraudulent activity designed to deprive investors of theirassets, we will devote whatever resources necessary to bring them to justice.""Economic crime schemes such as those alleged here today are unfortunately alltoo commonplace," said Assistant Director Kevin Perkins, FBI CriminalInvestigative Division."These crimes strike at the heart of our economy andour quality of life.""The IRS is united with the federal law enforcement community in our resolveto put out of business those financial schemes that defraud investors and theU.S.