Medical comms - Articles

Forget sweat patches, VPLs and spots…a new survey commissioned by Kleenex® has found that it’s blowing your nose in public that causes us the most embarrassment! The survey of hay fever sufferers reveals that most people prefer a quiet sniff over a good nose blow when out and about. However, allergy specialists warn that the more discreet option actually makes symptoms worse.
A nationwide survey of over 2000 people found that a quarter of hay fever sufferers felt they were unable to blow their nose properly when in public. However, Dr Adrian Morris, a specialist in allergy and respiratory medicine at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital, explains “the only way to remove the irritant is by blowing into a tissue, thereby expelling the substance from your body.” Over half of respondents to the Kl…

Asthma is a significant health problem. Acording to the National Asthma Campaign, the condition continues to grow, and in the UK an estimated 8 million people are diagnosed as having asthma, with 5 million people receiving treatment. The cost of asthma to the NHS is more than £850 million a year.
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with an asthma trigger, the muscle around the walls of the airways tightens so that the airway becomes narrower. The lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Often sticky mucus or phlegm is produced. All these reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated – leading to the symptoms of asthma. How do you get it? Asthm…

Bell Pottinger Group has formed Bell Pottinger Health, a new business dedicated to leading the expansion of its health franchise with Shipra Singh newly hired as Managing Director. Simultaneously the company has brought in a life science investor relations team led by Mike Wort.
Bell Pottinger Group has formed Bell Pottinger Health, a new business dedicated to leading the expansion of its health franchise with Shipra Singh newly hired as Managing Director. Simultaneously the company has brought in a life science investor relations team led by Mike Wort. Bell Pottinger Health, which will report to Kevin Murray, Chairman of Bell Pottinger Group, will be led by De Facto Communications CEO Richard Anderson in the role of Chairman and by Shipra Singh, formerly of Hill & Knowlton, as Managi…

Research led by the University of Warwick has uncovered exactly how the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae has become resistant to the antibiotic penicillin. The same research could also open up MRSA to attack by penicillin and help create a library of designer antibiotics to use against a range of other dangerous bacteria.
According to Dr Adrian Lloyd of the University of Warwick (UK) "We have reconsitiuted and biochemically characterised one of the steps essential to clinical resistance to penicillin in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our data are likely to be extremely useful in the design of inhibitors of this step that will restore penicillin sensitivity to Streptococcal infections that have become resistant to this antibiotic. Because this step is conserved in other pathogens, there is…

In case you hadn’t noticed, mobile phone manufacturers – and the operators – are desperate to part you from your cash in return for a flash new device. So, to help you decide if you should give in to temptation, we have reviewed three of the latest smartphones that the market has to offer.
In case you hadn’t noticed, mobile phone manufacturers – and the operators – are desperate to part you from your cash in return for a flash new device. So, to help you decide if you should give in to temptation, we have reviewed three of the latest smartphones that the market has to offer. There isn’t any industry standard definition as to what a smartphone actually is, so for the sake of this article, we’ll assume that a smartphone is a mobile phone with extra, PC-like functionality. And the products…

Climate change will have consequences for the health of UK citizens according to a UK government report published on 12th February. The report, called Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK, has been published jointly by the Department of Health (DH) and the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
  Flooding and Windstorms Death from drowning, injury, mental illness and infectious diseases. can be just some of the health effects experienced after flooding and windstorms. Although periods of flooding and windstorms are increasing in the UK, actual deaths associated with flooding are still relatively low when compared to other countries in Europe, with only eight deaths reported since 2001. There is also a “very slight” chance that malaria could return to the South of Engla…

-The European Commission has granted a broad label expansion for Avastin in combination with any standard chemotherapy in first and later treatment lines for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. -This broad approval mean that virtually all patients currently suffering from colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body will now have access to effective new treatments that have proven survival benefits. -The approval is based on the results of two large internationa
Roche announced today that the European Commission (EC) has given its approval for the significantly wider use of its anti-angiogenic agent Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer. This new broader label will now allow Avastin to be used in combination with an…

Roche to announce new breast cancer data pointing to better survival chances and potential for cure Phase II results suggest Avastin can be used in curative setting
Basel, 10th December 2007 – Experts attending the 30th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) December 13-16, will be amongst the first to hear new data that highlight further advances in the treatment of breast cancer with Avastin, Herceptin, pertuzumab and Xeloda. Data to be presented will show that Avastin may have the potential to be used as a curative treatment following breast cancer surgery. Results from the randomized CHAT study (Xeloda, Herceptin and Taxotere), will show that Xeloda when added to Herceptin and docetaxel offers important survival benefits for women with advanced breast cancer. In addition, data…

Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall has unveiled a state-of-the-art new dry-powder inhaler in which it plans to market its lead pipeline compound aclidinium bromide for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The device, developed by specialist inhaler company Sofotec, acquired by Almirall in 2006, is set to become the gold standard in inhaler design, claims the company, and will aid patient compliance with anticholinergic medication.
Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall has unveiled a state-of-the-art new dry-powder inhaler in which it plans to market its lead pipeline compound aclidinium bromide for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The device, developed by specialist inhaler company Sofotec, acquired by Almirall in 2006, is set to become the gold standard in inha…

Are you keen to join a young, entrepreneurial, fast growth organisation? We'd like to hear from you.
PharmiWeb Solutions - publisher of PharmiWeb.com - is one of the UK's leading providers of web based solutions to the pharmaceutical sector. In fact we're so good that we this year we have been shortlisted for the UK AOP Best Business Online Publisher 2007 Award. And we're expanding too. This is where you come in. We are looking for a Digital Account/Project Manager, to manage the implementation of innovative web and software developments for our blue chip customer base. Are you keen to join a young, entrepreneurial, fast growth organisation? We'd like to hear from you. You’ll be a good all rounder, equally at home with a web design and build project as you are with managing online adve…

PharmiWeb Solutions’ Managing Director Paul Hartigan was a speaker at the annual conference of the Pharmaceutical Marketing Society in London yesterday, November 26th, hosted by the Royal College of Nurses. He reviews his thoughts on the day here.
The theme of the event was Return on Investment in pharma marketing, with one of the key strands being ROI for emarketing. Having been to a number of conferences on this topic over the past few years, there has been an evident sea change in the general sentiment of the delegates from uncertainty and disbelief three or four years ago, to cautious optimism last year, through to a general feeling of enthusiasm at this particular event. Admittedly, this is a self-selecting audience – it’s unlikely anyone would attend without at least a passing intere…

PharmiWeb Solutions are looking for a Client Project Manager, to manage the implementation of innovative web and software developments for our blue chip customer base.
PharmiWeb Solutions - publisher of PharmiWeb.com - is one of the UK's leading providers of web based solutions to the pharmaceutical sector. In fact we're so good that we this year we have been shortlisted for the UK AOP Best Business Online Publisher 2007 Award. And we're expanding too. This is where you come in. We are looking for a Client Project Manager, to manage the implementation of innovative web and software developments for our blue chip customer base. If you are keen to join a young, entrepreneurial, fast growth organisation, we'd like to hear from you. You'll need a blend of web, pharma, marketing and project…

Two things; firstly among all of the great business concepts of the last few decades the franchise model has always surfaced to the very top. Secondly, over the next decade the introduction of hundreds of fresh, locally nurtured franchise concepts emerging within Dubai and the Gulf States will set the stage for a great revolution of nouvo-consumerism. So what are the four key factors driving this movement?
Firstly, the places to park new concepts; the current, ever-expanding construction phases in Dubai, UAE, GCC and all over Asia, provide a highly fertile ground for such concepts to nestle in, a home in the newly designed and creatively appointed decors, so that the cute new concepts with the most lavish and appealing ideas would flourish. The combination of creative concepts blended w…

Healthcare specialist online publisher and e-business services provider PharmiWeb Solutions has been shortlisted for the Best Online Publisher awards by the UK Association of Online Publishers (AOP). Paul Hartigan, PharmiWeb CEO, commented on the news, which was announced this week, “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award.
Healthcare specialist online publisher and e-business services provider PharmiWeb Solutions has been shortlisted for the Best Online Publisher awards by the UK Association of Online Publishers (AOP). Paul Hartigan, PharmiWeb CEO, commented on the news, which was announced this week, “We’re delighted to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award. We enjoy punching above our weight, and relish the fact that we are up against major international p…

Merck’s position as the sole provider of an oral antidiabetic drug in the novel dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP 4) inhibitor class is under challenge as at least three companies – Novartis, Takeda and Bristol-Myers Squibb - enter the final stretch of the development process. All four companies presented new data at this year’s American Diabetes Association meeting in Chicago.
Merck’s position as the sole provider of an oral antidiabetic drug in the novel dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP 4) inhibitor class is under challenge as at least three companies – Novartis, Takeda and Bristol-Myers Squibb - enter the final stretch of the development process. All four companies presented new data at this year’s American Diabetes Association meeting in Chicago. At least eight other companies including Servier, P…

BIPOLAR DISORDER: a new holistic approach to controlling mood disturbance from multiple aspects could revolutionise patients’ prospects
BIPOLAR DISORDER: a new holistic approach to controlling mood disturbance from multiple aspects could revolutionise patients’ prospects Treatment of mood disturbance in bipolar disorder is undergoing a paradigm shift. Traditionally, drug therapy has been focussed on efficacy in acute mania or depression. Now psychiatrists are realising the need to evaluate drug treatments from other perspectives, Their full effects as acute and mood-stabilising agents, side effect profiles, effects on neurocognitive functioning, quality of life, and on psychosocial functioning, are also important when considering therapy. Bipolar disorder, the condition where mood swings…

First medicine shown to extend survival of previously untreated lung cancer patients beyond one year.
Basel, July 20, 2007. Roche announced today that the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive recommendation for the first-line use of Avastin in the treatment of the most common form of lung cancer, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. The CHMP’s decision is based on data from the pivotal US (E4599) study and another phase III Avastin in Lung (AVAiL) study which together demonstrate that Avastin is effective in combination with a broad chemotherapy range. Lung cancer is responsible for over 3,000 deaths per day world-wide1 and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of the disease accounting for more than 80 perc…

Barrington James Limited currently places candidates extensively throughout the UK and Europe in many areas such as Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Data Management and Business Development. Working with key Barrington James Team Leaders such as Paul Duffy, Tony Kelleher will be charged with growing the team to assist with their Client’s needs throughout Europe. Dan Barrington, Director, said “…we are delighted Tony agreed to join Barrington James Limited, he brings
Market Leading Pharmaceutical Recruitment Consultancy Barrington James Limited is happy to announce the appointment of Tony Kelleher as its Sales Manager. Tony has 20+ years of Recruitment Experience and joins with the brief to assist with Barrington James’ ambitious growth plans across the UK and Europe.…

The anti-EGFR targeting cancer therapy Erbitux (cetuximab), has been approved in Europe for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer in conjunction with radiotherapy and as a third-line treatment in combination with irinotecan-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. New data from the phase III EXTREME and CRYSTAL trials, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting, show cetuximab added to chemotherapy is also an effective first
The anti-EGFR targeting cancer therapy Erbitux (cetuximab), has been approved in Europe for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer in conjunction with radiotherapy and as a third-line treatment in combination with irinotecan-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal…

Those of you who know our CEO Paul Hartigan will realise that he is a keen cyclist (we have to repeatedly ask him not to turn up to customer meetings in some of his garishly coloured Lycra).
But this time, is he going too far? On June 28th, Paul will set off from Hampton Court, London, on a 3 day, 600km stage race from London to Paris (the L2P). Other riders will include top 1980s pro cyclist Sean Kelly, and European Classics star, Johann Museuw. This will ensure a pace designed to make the lesser rider suffer. So why bother? Well, the ride is designed as a sponsorship event to benefit three Children’s charities This year L2P will be supporting three charities: Morning Star Children’s Centre, a day care facility for babies and young children, often orphans, who are infected with HIV/AI…