Pharmaco - Articles

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

Study data presented at a major recent conference has demonstrated that Wyeth's novel antibacterial tigecycline acts against drug-resistant pathogens in some serious bacterial infections, including MRSA. While Wyeth will have to work hard to establish tigecycline in this competitive area, its encouraging tolerability profile could give it a useful advantage over existing treatments.
pharmaceuticals company Wyeth presented a range of clinical data at the 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in October, including Phase III data from a clinical trial in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections and from another in complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSI). The first trial, which compared tigecycline to Merck & Co's carbapenem Pr…

The recent calamity surrounding Vioxx is one example of what can go awry in the pharmaceutical industry. US drug company Merck (NUSE: MRK) was forced to withdraw this painkiller after in-house studies showed that patients could be at greater risk of suffering heart attacks.
The pharmaceutical industry has over the decades developed an almost unending crop of drugs that has helped to contain disease and improve global health. However, every now and again things can go wrong, and when it does, some investors obviously run for cover. The recent calamity surrounding Vioxx is one example of what can go awry in the pharmaceutical industry. US drug company Merck (NUSE: MRK) was forced to withdraw this painkiller after in-house studies showed that patients could be at greater risk of suffering hear…

Influenza is a global disease which imposes a huge medical and economic burden inevery country of the world. The UK is no exception with one caveat - the virus is probably monitored and tracked more in the UK than any other country around the globe. Over the years, GPs have played a leading role in estimating the quantitative impact of influenza. This started with the pioneering work of William Pickles in the Wensleydale villages and continued with Edgar Hope-Simpson in Cirencester.
Influenza is a global disease which imposes a huge medical and economic burden inevery country of the world. The UK is no exception with one caveat - the virus is probably monitored and tracked more in the UK than any other country around the globe. Over the years, GPs have played a leading role in estimating th…

School can be a difficult place at the best of times, however for the 20 million plus children in the seven major pharmaceutical markets that suffer from attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it can be especially troubling. This exacerbated by the fact that many patients aren't receiving the best available treatment, according to new research from Datamonitor.
The report suggests that many patients ADHD patients are adversely affected because physicians are sticking with older immediate release, short duration drugs rather than a number of newer long-acting therapies that are on the market. Hugely undiagnosed Datamonitor estimates that 23 million children and adolescents across the seven major pharmaceutical markets suffer from ADHD, a physician perceived prevalence rate o…

As pharmaceutical companies attempt to increase productivity and remain financially viable, the prospect of a merger or acquisition is always on the horizon.
As pharmaceutical companies attempt to increase productivity and remain financially viable, the prospect of a merger or acquisition is always on the horizon. In particular, the problem for the major pharmaceutical companies is that investors have become accustomed to double-digit growth performance and thus there is pressure to develop an ever-greater number of new products with high sales potential. However, the rising costs and risks of drug development combined with the lengthy drug development timescales and increasing competition have made it difficult for companies to keep pace with such expectations. The pharmaceutical industr…

Over the past 30 years, numerous clinical trials evaluating a variety of different classes of drugs have conclusively shown the benefit of blood pressure reduction in reducing the risk of strokes and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, such trials have clearly demonstrated that blood pressure is unlikely to be controlled with a single drug and often two or more therapies are required to achieve blood pressure targets.
Over the past 30 years, numerous clinical trials evaluating a variety of different classes of drugs have conclusively shown the benefit of blood pressure reduction in reducing the risk of strokes and cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, such trials have clearly demonstrated that blood pressure is unlikely to be controlled with a single drug and often two or more therapies are…

Altana has announced the delay of its US application for Daxas until late 2005 due to clinical trial enrolment taking longer than originally anticipated. The news will be of further concern to the company's investors, coming on the back of the recent announcement that another of its respiratory drugs, Alvesco, failed to win full FDA approval.
Daxas is Altana's selective phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-IV) inhibitor that is being investigated as a treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in partnership with Pfizer the and . Altana confirmed earlier this year that a US 12-month long-term efficacy study in COPD was still in the recruiting phase, which is likely to be the 1,100-patient OPUS study that will determine the effect of Daxas (roflumilast) in the treatment of…

Prostate cancer is the most common male malignancy in Western countries. Surgery and radiological procedures for localized prostate cancer offer the possibility for curative treatment. Prostate cancer also represents one of the most lucrative oncology indications for the pharmaceutical industry because drug-based treatment is often very effective at delaying disease progression, even in advanced disease, which encourages high-volume and long-term usage. The use of hormonal manipulation for advan
Prostate cancer is the most common male malignancy in Western countries. Surgery and radiological procedures for localized prostate cancer offer the possibility for curative treatment. Prostate cancer also represents one of the most lucrative oncology indications for the pharmaceutical industry beca…

The pharmaceutical and biotech industries are important contributors to the economies of European countries and are also major employers. If companies in these sectors are to continue to base themselves in Europe they must be seen as positive forces in the field of technology and healthcare rather than a negative drain on a country's finances.
A healthy environment for R&D is essential for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to successfully bring new products to market. In recent years, the general R&D environment in Europe has become less attractive to companies than that in the US and a number of companies have preferentially shifted investment across the Atlantic (1). The European pharmaceutical industry's own figures demonstrate how dramatic this shift has been. In 1990,…

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth commonest cancer worldwide with about one million new cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the seven major pharma markets will continue to rise over the next decade. There is no gold standard therapy - the market is characterized by high levels of unmet need, large patient potential and high commercial potential. To mark the publication of its new feature "Hepatocellular Carcinoma" LeadDiscovery's analys
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth commonest cancer worldwide with about one million new cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the seven major pharma markets will continue to rise over the next decade. There is no gold standard therapy - the m…