Pharmaco - Articles

Depression is the most common mental disorder worldwide affecting around 120 million people globally. The depression market is the largest segment of the CNS market with global sales of US$15.5 billion in 2003 although this figure is dropping as generic equivalents of past blockbusters are launched. Although the depression market has matured, key areas of unmet clinical need will have to be addressed in order to drive further growth of the market. These include improvements in the safety/tolerab
  Depression is the most common mental disorder worldwide affecting around 120 million people globally. The depression market is the largest segment of the CNS market with global sales of US$15.5 billion in 2003 although this figure is dropping as generic equivalents of past blockbusters are la…

According to the WHO, 350-400 million individuals are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic infection with hepatitis viruses causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, both devastating diseases with few treatments and the demand for effective treatments for hepatitis infection is therefore high. Lamivudine dominates first-line therapy for HBV (see our feature on hepatitis B & C). Gilead's Adefovir prodrug (Hepsera) represent a second line option although nephrotoxici
According to the WHO, 350-400 million individuals are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Chronic infection with hepatitis viruses causes cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, both devastating diseases with few treatments and the demand for effective treatments for hepatitis inf…

Beta blockers reduce heart rate and myocardial contractility thereby reducing myocardial work load. Diastolic perfusion time is also lengthened by beta blockers supporting the use of this drug class as acute and chronic treatment following myocardial infarction. Studies have demonstrated that beta blockers can reduce total mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction and sudden death in patients who have already suffered a myocardial infarction by 20-30%. Despite the potential benefit of beta block
  Beta blockers reduce heart rate and myocardial contractility thereby reducing myocardial work load. Diastolic perfusion time is also lengthened by beta blockers supporting the use of this drug class as acute and chronic treatment following myocardial infarction. Studies have demonstrated that…

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
  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 ne…

Imagine the benefits of working for a global organisation which turns over over £4 billion per year worldwide but is primarily family owned and complete with family values? This is exactly what Merck offers.
Company in View The best of both worlds – A global Organisation with family values Imagine the benefits of working for a global organisation which turns over £4.5 billion per year worldwide but is primarily family owned and complete with family values?  This is exactly what Merck offers. Merck, (not to be confused with MSD) is a company with over 34,000 employees, working in 55 countries, producing a financial output which places it as a major player in the world wide market.  The future pipeline is impressive with new products to be launched in key growth areas of Oncology…

Sankyo and Daiichi Pharmaceutical are considering merging in October 2005 to become Japan's number two drugmaker, as competition in the market continues to intensify. Following the announcement of mergers between Yamanouchi and Fujisawa, and Dainippon and Sumitomo, will continuous domestic consolidation ensure a place for global integration in the face of western pressure?
Following the announcement of a possible merger with Daiichi, Sankyo is expected to take the lead in the planned integration by putting up more than half the capital of the resulting holding company, although neither company has yet confirmed its intention to merge. There is some speculation as to whether or not the resulting company would maintain Sankyo's number two position after Takeda in the short to medium terms - o…

Bipolar affective disorder – previously referred to as manic depression – is a psychiatric disorder affecting at least 1% of the UK population, and depending on the definition used, may affect as many as 5% of the population. A recent World Health Organization analysis of the major global causes of disability, economic and social burden, indicated that bipolar affective disorders are ranked in the top ten, and account for 2.5% of total years lost to disability across all age groups.
Bipolar affective disorder – previously referred to as manic depression – is a psychiatric disorder affecting at least 1% of the UK population, and depending on the definition used, may affect as many as 5% of the population. A recent World Health Organization analysis of the major global causes of disability, e…

The oncology market is the third largest pharmaceutical market, behind the cardiovascular and CNS therapy areas, and is currently experiencing strong growth. Worth an estimated $35 billion in 2003, analysts predict that the sector will grow to $60 billion by 2010, yielding a compound annual growth rate of 8% over this period. Major changes are however occurring in the oncology market. Cytotoxics, a cornerstone of oncology, are reaching patent expiry and the last cytotoxic genericization is expec
Emerging oncology treatments: A focus on targeted therapeutics, supergeneric reformulations and supportive care (LeadDiscovery Special Feature - February, 2005) The oncology market is the third largest pharmaceutical market, behind the cardiovascular and CNS therapy areas, and is currently experienc…

Despite being the current gold standard and sales heavyweight of the antipsychotic market with $4 billion in global sales, Eli Lilly's Zyprexa (olanzapine) is facing legal action in the US over alleged side effects. Along with other blockbuster drugs in the market, it may also run into intense competition from generics earlier than expected, according to new research from Datamonitor.
Today, the antipsychotic market is one of the largest and most commercially attractive central nervous system (CNS) markets, with annual revenues of $10.4 billion in 2003 and a growth rate of 24.1%. There are two main classes of antipsychotics: the older conventional dopamine antipsychotics, first launched in 1950s; and the new second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs), which currently drive the antipsychotic ma…

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) currently affects 0.5-1% of the Western world’s population. This translates to over one million people in America (525,000 Ulcerative Colitis, 490,000 Crohn's Disease) and four million people worldwide. Sufferers experience a range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, rectal bleeding and abdominal pain resulting in weight loss as well as other extraintestinal manifestation such as skin and
Emerging treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Febuary, 2005- Source LeadDiscovery) Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) currently affects 0.5-1% of the Western world’s population. This translates to over one million people in Amer…

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…