Pharmaco - Articles

Although cytotoxics agents represent a cornerstone of oncology, toxicity and drug resistance has driven the development of targeted anticancer therapies. The current study highlights a novel antimitotic agent, PTX-2. This molecule, like the Taxol and Taxotere, blocks the cell cycle in late mitosis channelling cells into an apoptotic program. In direct contrast to Taxol and Taxotere, PTX-2 targets cells with p53 mutations; the plant alkaloids on the other hand are relatively insensitive in such c
Cytotoxic agents represent a cornerstone of oncology however many established agents are reaching patent expiry and the last cytotoxic genericization is expected in 2011 (Xeloda). One good example of the effects of genericization is the plant alkaloid Taxol (paclitaxel). Taxol, one of a group of al…

Despite the cardiovascular risks that have recently emerged following prolonged treatment with COX-2 inhibitors, this class of drug continues to receive interest as an approach to chemoprevention. Celebrex, which was approved in 1998 for the treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) has been shown to reduce the development of precancerous colorectal polyps by 28%. Data recently highlighted in the FASEB journal suggests that at least part of the efficacy of celebrex may be related to the
Until preventative and diagnostic approaches to cancer are significantly improved patients will continue to present to clinicians with tumors that have progressed to a stage where metastasis will in many cases be inevitable. This is particularly the case for the 160,000 patients seen yearly in the…

Clinical Research Academy has decided to implement a sure-fire way of finding top candidates for Clinical Research Associate (CRA) posts – by running a Selection and Assessment Day. The first was held at the end of July in Marlow in the UK.
Clinical Research Academy has decided to implement a sure-fire way of finding top candidates for Clinical Research Associate (CRA) posts – by running a Selection and Assessment Day. The first was held at the end of July in Marlow in the UK. The company has set up a three-month traineeship scheme which incorporates the Introduction to Clinical Trials Practice course, in conjunction with the UK's Institute of Clinical Research. While following the course, trainees are actively assigned to a pharmaceutical sponsor. The 25 candidates for the Selecti…

This alert is brought to you by LeadDiscovery and concerns today's announcement by Celera Genomics that clinical evaluation of their HDAC inhibitor CRA-024781 is about to commence. The press release is featured on today's edition of DailyUpdates-Oncology.
Special alert from DailyUpdates-Oncology: Milestone in the development of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors This alert is brought to you by LeadDiscovery and concerns Celera Genomics' July 14th today's announcement that clinical evaluation of their HDAC inhibitor CRA-024781 is about to commence. The press release is featured on today's edition of DailyUpdates-Oncology. Click here to access this bulletin or read our editorial below. Editorial Comment The field of histone deacetylase (HDACs) inhibition has recently start…

The worldwide analgesic market was worth $38 billion during the year 2002 and is expected to nearly double to $75 billion by the year 2010. The vanilloid receptor TRPV1 (VR1) has become an attractive molecular target for multiple sub-types of pain. Abbott researchers have recently described the development of A-425619
The worldwide analgesic market was worth $38 billion during the year 2002 and is expected to nearly double to $75 billion by the year 2010 (for a recent and in depth insight see Pain Therapeutics - Drugs, Markets and Companies). The vanilloid receptor TRPV1 (VR1) has now become an attractive molecular target for multiple sub-types of pain. Abbott researchers have recently described the development of A-425619, a low nanomolar TRPV1 antagonist. This molecule blocks heat hyperse…

Acute neurodegeneration caused by stroke or trauma as well as more chronic disease resulting from Alzheimers’s disease or Parkinson’s disease has inflammatory and direct neurotoxic components. Bayer Healthcare researchers have developed a compound with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective active resulting is therapeutic activity in models of head injury and Parkinson’s disease
Acute neurodegeneration caused by stroke or trauma as well as more chronic disease resulting from Alzheimers’s disease or Parkinson’s disease has inflammatory and direct neurotoxic components. There is an urgent need for improved neuroprotective agents driving the development of a market expected to be worth $11.5 billion by the year 2010 (see Neuroprotection - Drugs, Markets and Companies). The transcription factors…

Regardless of the amount that a pharmaceutical company decides to invest in its new drug pipeline, there is no chance of success unless a project is effectively managed. At present the pharmaceutical industry is under pressure to improve its productivity, as the number of new products reaching the market has been on the decline for a number of years.
Pharma pressures Pharmaceutical companies find themselves in an awkward position because if they are to remain profitable and wish to justify to patients and governments the high prices that they charge for their medicines, they must demonstrate that their considerable R&D investment is resulting in new medicines. In 2000, the pharmaceutical industry was estimated to have spent US$58 billion on R&D, with around 40% of this being devot…

Each year, 750,000 strokes occur in the US and resultant deaths account for stroke being one of the top three causes of mortality as well as a major economic burden on healthcare systems. One candidate molecular target for stroke is 20-HETE. Taisho Pharmaceutical have developed a potent and selective 20-HETE synthesis inhibitor, TS-011 for the treatment of stroke.
Each year, 750,000 strokes occur in the US and resultant deaths account for stroke being one of the top three causes of mortality as well as a major economic burden on healthcare systems (see Acute Stroke - Symptom Awareness Will Reduce Headache). Most strokes are ischemic however 20% are hemorrhagic; irrespective of the subtype treatments are limited. One candidate molecular target for stroke is 20-HETE, an ecosanoid that has bee…

Tourists love France and why not you… to work and live in France.
Tourists love France and why not you… to work and live in France. France is the country of wine and cheese and is also a major country for clinical research. Apart from all the leading French companies, many affiliates of international big pharma have their European headquarters here. i3 Pharma Resourcing have been resourcing our clients’ projects in France for over eight years, developing strong relationships within the French market, and are proud to work in partnership with a number of major pharmaceutical companies as well as with biotechnology companies. Our team is involved in Phase I-IV innovative projects. Our employees are mainly clinical research specialists (CRAs, PMs) and Drug Safety Assistants. In early 2005,…

The vanilloid capsaicin has long been known to desensitize pain pathways leading to long-term analgesia. Recent data from Novo Nordisk A/S suggests that sensory afferents might also be implicated in the development of glucose intolerance.
The vanilloid capsaicin has long been known to desensitize pain pathways leading to long-term analgesia through selectively binding to small unmyelinated sensory afferent nerves.  However the pungency and systemic toxicity of capsaicin has largely precluded its therapeutic utility. Recent data published by Dorte X. Gram from Novo Nordisk A/S are now emerging to suggest that sensory afferents might also be implicated in the development of glucose intolerance. The present study reports that sensory nerve desensitization by resiniferatoxin, a…

It is now the norm for clinical and medical departments to work with a mixture of headcount, freelance and contract employees as well as outsourcing whole projects and there is no indication that going into 2005 and beyond, that there will be any change in this trend.
It is now the norm for clinical and medical departments to work with a mixture of headcount, freelance and contract employees as well as outsourcing whole projects and there is no indication that going into 2005 and beyond, that there will be any change in this trend. Mergers and acquisitions often mean a loss of staff but no reduction in clinical trial requirements and skills and company-specific knowledge are often stretched, putting existing trials at risk, as well as creating frustration. This can delay a clinical trial p…

The course of drug development is unpredictable and therefore it is critical to have realistic expectations for any given project. Regardless of the amount that a pharmaceutical company decides to invest in its new drug pipeline, there is no chance of success unless a project is effectively managed.
Pharma pressures Pharmaceutical companies find themselves in an awkward position because if they are to remain profitable and wish to justify to patients and governments the high prices that they charge for their medicines, they must demonstrate that their considerable R&D investment is resulting in new medicines. In 2000, the pharmaceutical industry was estimated to have spent US$58 billion on R&D, with around 40% of this being devoted to clinical trials (1).   The cost of success…

The antihypertensive market was valued at $31 billion in 2003. The kidney plays an important role in regulating blood pressure and the renal enzyme renin is a target for what is expected to be the next blockbuster class of anti-hypertensives. The report highlighted here identifies a further renal enzyme, renalase that may be another target for the treatment of hypertension.
The antihypertensive market was valued at $31 billion in 2003. Although the development of generic equivalents has reduced the market value of the four major antihypertensive classes, the angiotensin II receptor blocker class has experienced strong growth (see Antihypertensives - Together We Stand, Divided We Fail).  The kidney plays an important role in regulating blood pressure and the renal enzyme renin is a tar…

Despite the decline of some antihormonal therapy classes, opportunities for new growth within the market do exist. The aromatase inhibitor class is expected to experience significant growth, particularly in light of recent trial data and America Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations that will serve to increase the profile of this class and significantly increase uptake.
Worth $4.8 billion in 2004, the cancer antihormonal therapies market is forecast to reach $5.5 billion in value by 2014, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.9%. This low growth rate is due to the maturity and relative saturation of the market, as well as the increasing threat of key patent expiries and entry of generic competition. However, opportunities within the market do remain, as with aromatase inhibi…

Like other major business sectors, the pharmaceutical industry is under constant scrutiny regarding the way it operates. In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility has grown in importance. CSR is often discussed at the highest levels of companies, but there are a variety of interpretations as to what it actually means.
Image damage Like other major business sectors, the pharmaceutical industry is under constant scrutiny regarding the way it operates. Since there is an ever-continuing rise in interest by the media and the public in the type of healthcare service being offered, pharmaceutical companies cannot avoid being caught up in the discussion of such issues. Medicines produced by the pharmaceutical industry are a key part of the delivery of an effective health serv…

Assaying therapeutic agents requires the availability of apparatus to dose experimental animals as well as to measure biological effect. Available dosing systems for inhalation agents are suboptimal generally causing stress to the animal as well as exposing the operator to potentially harmful agents. Texas based researchers have developed an improved system for the delivery of agents to the airway
Assaying therapeutic agents requires the availability of apparatus to dose experimental animals as well as to measure biological effect.  Available dosing systems for inhalation agents are suboptimal generally causing stress to the animal as well as exposing the operator to potentially harmful agents.  based researchers have developed apparatus that allows mice to be dosed with reprodu…

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection produces cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer and by 2010 38,000 deaths will result from infection. Anemia associated with ribavirin, a common treatment of infected patients represents a major problem. Valeant Pharmaceutical have developed a prodrug of ribavirin, viramidine which is activated within the liver resulting in reduced levels of ribavirin accumulating in red blood cells thus overcoming the problem of anemia.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection produces cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer and by 2010 38,000 deaths will result from infection. The current standard of care for chronic HCV infection is a combination of an interferon-alpha product and ribavirin however under-use of available treatments as well as anemia as…

Pfizer has announced that it is to discontinue the development of its pipeline HIV drug capravirine, after phase II studies highlighted limited efficacy and tolerability issues compared to other products. However, Pfizer has another, and perhaps more impressive, trick up its sleeve, namely its promising CCR5 inhibitor maraviroc.
The global HIV pipeline is relatively strong, with 27 drugs currently in clinical development. However, it is unlikely that any major treatment advances will be experienced before 2009/10. The only drugs that had looked likely to reach the market before then were Boehringer Ingelheim's tipranavir and Pfizer's capravirine. While tipranavir was approved by the FDA in June 2005, Pfizer has discontinued development of capravirine. Preclinical studies of capravirine see…

The field of histone deacetylase inhibitors is moving into a new phase of development with candidates advancing nicely through clinical development. Milkana hasve recently developed a series of non-hydroxamic histone deactylase inhibitors which are likely to demonstrate an improved toxcity profile
The field of histone deacetylase inhibitors is moving into a new phase of development.  LeadDiscovery's report on Histone deacetylase inhibitors highlights the biology of the HDACs and the potential of their inhibitors. In profiling the various HDAC inhibitors in development we discuss the toxicological risk of hydroxamic acid, a moiety found in early inhibitors including SAHA. Our strategic evaluation discusses the development of HDAC inhibitors in which the hydroxamic acid has been re…

Anxiety disorders affect 20% of the total population across the seven major markets. Recent data demonstrates the efficacy of MPEP, the prototypical mGlu5 receptor antagonist as a an anxiolytic. Efficacy was similar compared to that of diazepam but at anxiolytic doses produces less cognitive decline
Anxiety disorders affect 20% of the total population across the seven major markets (see our feature Anxiety Disorders - More Than Just a Comorbidity) and are commonly treated with antidepressants.  Adverse effects lead to treatment discontinuation in as many as 16% of patients driving the drug development sector to identify alternative approaches to anxiety.  Benzodiazepines are treated cautiously by many physicians for reasons of dependency and withdrawal problems, as well as adver…