Pharmaco - Articles

More than 70 million people worldwide suffer from migraines, yet despite the dramatic effects on everyday life that migraine sufferers face, new research from Datamonitor has revealed that due to economic constraints within national healthcare systems, some patients aren't getting the best available treatment.
A migraine is a primary neurobiological disorder, which manifests itself as recurring attacks, usually lasting from four to 72 hours. An estimated 5-12% of the global population is classified as suffering from migraine, some 74 million people in the seven major pharmaceutical markets, while between 23% and 42% of migraineurs report more than 24 attacks in the previous 12 months. Inadequate treatment options Migraine attacks, which can interfere greatly with the everyday lives of su…

Dementia currently affects over 750,000 people in the UK, with 650,000 new cases arising each year across the European Union. Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of dementia and accounts for about 55% of all cases. It is a progressive, degenerative disease which affects memory, judgement, orientation, behaviour and language skills, and can place an enormous stress on family caregivers, 49% of whom are over 70 years of age.
Dementia currently affects over 750,000 people in the UK, with 650,000 new cases arising each year across the European Union. Alzheimer’s disease is the major cause of dementia and accounts for about 55% of all cases. It is a progressive, degenerative disease which affects memory, judgement, orientation, behaviour and language skills, and can place an enormous stress…

A significant rise in sales of InterMune's hepatitis drug Infergen, from $9.3 million in 2003 to $22.3 million in 2004, is the result of the company's focus on marketing Infergen to HCV non-responders. In targeting this vital patient sub-group, InterMune could gain a useful head start in an area of hepatitis treatment that is set to become fiercely competitive in the years ahead.
Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is four times more common than HIV infection, and chronic HCV infection (CHC) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality due to CHC-associated liver cirrhosis and cancer. Between 170-200 million individuals are estimated to be infected worldwide, with a prevalence of approximately 7.5 million in the seven major markets and 2.7 million in the alone, according…

Five million adult asthmatics may have predominantly neutrophilic inflammation. Whilst this phenotype is usually associated with severe asthma, it may be more prevalent across the range of disease severities than originally thought. The emergence of this phenotype in asthma raises important implications for treatment practice.
Severe asthma is a term that encompasses patients with a steroid-resistant, irreversible, refractory, brittle, near fatal and difficult-to-control or poorly controlled condition. Both genetic and environmental elements are likely to play an important role in the development of severe disease, although it is unclear what is the most important factor in its development. Although many asthmatics have been severely affected for most of their lives, there appears to be a…

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. In particular lupus nephritis claim a significant number of lives. More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year. It is estimated that 500,000 to 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with lupus. Current treatments focus
Esai's retinoic acid (RAR)-alpha receptor agonist as a candidate therapy for the treatment of lupus nephritis Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a…

In contrast to coronary and cerebral artery disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains an under-appreciated condition that despite being serious and extremely prevalent is rarely diagnosed and even less frequently treated. This situation is now changing as physician awareness grows in parallel with increased use of existing therapeutics and the development of improved cardiovascular agents, gene therapies and devices
Special Feature - Progress in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (Source LeadDiscovery - January, 2005) In contrast to coronary and cerebral artery disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) remains an under-appreciated condition that despite being serious and extremely prevalent is rarely diagnosed and even less frequently treated. This situation is now…

For people with migraine, today’s world is a better world than the one their parents knew. The last 15 years have seen major advances, giving us not only a much clearer understanding of the disorder but also considerably more effective therapies. Treatments exist that – if made available and used in the right way – can substantially relieve the majority of people affected by migraine.
For people with migraine, today’s world is a better world than the one their parents knew. The last 15 years have seen major advances, giving us not only a much clearer understanding of the disorder but also considerably more effective therapies. Treatments exist that – if made available and used in the right way – can substantially relieve the majority of people affected by migraine. Availability and correct…

INC RESEARCH MOVES INTO NEW EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS TO ACCOMMODATE CONTINUING GLOBAL EXPANSION
 

It is estimated that there are more than 38 million people in the seven major markets with diabetes and this figure is set to rise to 50 million in 2012. However, despite this vast potential patient population, low diagnosis rates, the chronic nature of the disease, the need for combination therapy, the lack of an oral antidiabetic agent offering effective long-term therapy and the association of injectable therapies with poor patient compliance mean that a broad spectrum of unmet needs exists.
It is estimated that there are more than 38 million people in the seven major markets with diabetes and this figure is set to rise to 50 million in 2012. However, despite this vast potential patient population, low diagnosis rates, the chronic nature of the disease, the need for combination therapy,…

Epilepsy is a common condition in the UK, with an incidence of approximately 80 cases per 100,000 population per year, and a prevalence of 5–10 cases per 1000. Yet, despite this high prevalence, it remains a stigmatising condition, with occupational and social disadvantages imposed on the individual. Epilepsy is difficult to diagnose, requiring a detailed history, and is complex to manage.
Epilepsy is a common condition in the , with an incidence of approximately 80 cases per 100,000 population per year, and a prevalence of 5–10 cases per 1000. Yet, despite this high prevalence, it remains a stigmatising condition, with occupational and social disadvantages imposed on the individual. Epilepsy is difficult to diagnose, requiring a detailed history, and is complex to manage. The primary aim…

Morgan Levy (formally E-Focus Resourcing) has pleasure in announcing that we have re-branded to Morgan Levy with effect from January 2005.

The development of dendritic cell vaccines to fight cancer is an attractive therapeutic approach. Usually this strategy involves pre-pulsing dendritic cells with cancer antigen and maturing them ex vivo prior to administering them to patients. Limitations to this approach include the cumbersome nature of antigen loading and maturation and the limited immunogenicity of the cells. The company BioVEX have successfully developed viruses to load dendritic cells with antigen. Researchers from Baylor h
(Source DailyUpdates-Oncology ) Two of the most exciting novel biologic approaches to the treatment of cancer include the development of oncolytic viruses (see our recent report on this field) and the advancement of cancer vaccines. These approaches as well as the more established field of anticance…

The outlook for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) sufferers is bleak - current medication has a five-year survival rate for those with liver cancer of less than 5% in the developed world and even lower in developing countries. However, patients in trials of a new drug called Sorafenib have seen their survival times double. Datamonitor's Dr Lorna Fern investigates...
Liver cancer is currently the fifth most common cancer in the world, responsible for about one million cases and half a million deaths globally every year. HCC is a tumor of the liver that arises from focal scarring points in cirrhotic liver tissue, and its global incidence is on the increase, concurrent with a global increase in the number of cases of viral hepatitis and of alcoholic cirrhosis in developed countries. Some specia…

This report introduces the emerging field of oncolytic viruses and the various benefits that oncolytic virology can offer in the treatment of cancer. Clinical data suggest that oncolytic viruses may offer therapeutic advantages over existing cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation and may even act synergistically with these conventional approaches. This report evaluates preclinical and clinical data on oncolytic viruses that have entered the clinic.
Oncolytic virus therapy is successful in providing an alternative treatment for cancer. Viruses have now been engineered to selectively replicate and kill cancer cells. Over the past few years, new insights into the molecular mechanisms of viral cytotoxicity have provided the scientific rationale to design more effective oncolytic v…

The recent announcement by the FDA's associate director for science and medicine that sales of GlaxoSmithKline's asthma drug Serevent should be restricted, or halted, led to an estimated 3.8% fall in the company's share price. However, Datamonitor's Laura Harris comments that, with Seretide accounting for the majority of GSK's asthma sales, the panic may be premature.
During a senate hearing, convened following the withdrawal of Merck & Co.'s COX-2 Vioxx (rofecoxib) in September, the FDA's David Graham commented that the safety profile of five other currently marketed drugs should be closely examined. Pfizer's COX-2 Bextra (valdecoxib), similar to Vioxx, was mentioned, as were Astra-Zeneca's cholesterol-lowering statin Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium), Roche's acne treatment Accutane (iso…

PharmaSolutions Expo is a unique event gathering the drug discovery, drug development and informatics communities under one roof. Meet face-to-face with solution providers and make comparisons of new technologies. This exhibition will showcase the latest tools and solutions for R&D scientists and Pharma IT professionals. Free exhibition features include: dedicated poster areas and “meet the author” poster sessions, free seminars, lunchtime roundtable discussion groups, biotech start-up presentat
PharmaSolutions Expo is a unique event gathering the drug discovery, drug development and informatics communities under one roof. Meet face-to-face with solution providers and make comparisons of new technologies. This exhibition will showcase the latest tools and solutions for R&D scientists an…

The premier annual global forum for top-level Pharma IT executives, examining innovative IT systems and applications to support and accelerate R&D. This exciting programme is the result of research with well over 100 industry professionals and the InfoTechPharma® scientific advisory board. The programme contains only original content tackling key subjects that are currently impacting R&D in pharma and biotech. The format of this years conference will provide an environment that will facilitate i
The premier annual global forum for top-level Pharma IT executives, examining innovative IT systems and applications to support and accelerate R&D. This exciting programme is the result of research with well over 100 industry professionals and the InfoTechPharma® scientific advisory board. The p…

Distinct, original scientific and business content focusing on R&D productivity presented by an international line-up of industry experts. Drug Discovery Technology® Europe is known for its high standard of speakers and coherent case studies, which guarantee that delegates grasp an understanding of the pressing issues that affect their industry. This year, for the first time, the conference will be co-located with two other events, InfoTechPharma® 2005 and PharmaSolutions Expo.
  Distinct, original scientific and business content focusing on R&D productivity presented by an international line-up of industry experts. Drug Discovery Technology® Europe is known for its high standard of speakers and coherent case studies, which guarantee that delegates grasp an understanding of th…

At a recent hearing into the Vioxx affair, the FDA's Dr David Graham named five drugs that he considers too dangerous to be on the market. However, in his testimony, Dr Graham also cited Sanofi-Aventis' Arava as a drug he has recommended be withdrawn. Unlike the other five drugs, Arava has largely escaped the media spotlight, but there may yet be some tough questions asked about its safety.
Arava (leflunomide) is marketed by Aventis, part of Sanofi-Aventis, and recorded sales of $288 million in 2003. It is an oral disease modifying treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and may be next in the firing line for increased regulatory scrutiny, in the wake of the withdrawal of Vioxx (rofecoxib). Dr Graham, the Associate Director for Science and Medicine in the FDA's Office of Drug Safety, cite…

Unique intelligence from eyeforpharma: 'Barriers, best practices and measuring ROI for patient compliance programmes'
Get your hands on this unique intelligence from eyeforpharma: This report will : Deliver first-hand insight into the present and future concerns for implementing successful patient compliance programs Identify the most pressing issues facing patient compliance teams across the industry Recommend potential solutions to overcome adherence barriers and to maximize compliance program ROI http://www.eyeforpharma.com/pceuro05/report/4 For more information contact Izzy Wakeling on iwakeling@eyeforpharma.com or +44(0) 20 73 75 8522