Articles

The development of innovative therapeutics and complimentary technologies for the effective management of pain 7th – 8th October 2008, BSG Conference Centre, London, UK.
“The market revenue from drug-delivery technologies in the pain management market is US$1.9billion, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% to reach US$2.6billion by the end of 2012.” [‘Pain Market Outlook Report’ - Business Insights] - Dr Emanuele Sher, Research Advisor, Pain Migraine Team Leader, Eli Lilly & Co - Dr Mark Field, Global Research & Development, Pfizer - Dr Adnan Al-Kaisy, Senior Physician, Pain Management Clinic London - Professor Peter McNaughton, Professor of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge - Professor Praveen Anand, Professor of Clinical Neurology, Imperial College London - Dr Dic Williams, Research…

Arthritis is not just a disease of older people – it can affect people of all ages, including children. It is not clear what causes arthritis and there is no cure at present. However, there is plenty you can do to manage yourcondition and lead a full and active life.
Arthritis is not just a disease of older people – it can affect people of all ages, including children. It is not clear what causes arthritis and there is no cure at present. However, there is plenty you can do to manage yourcondition and lead a full and active life. Two of the most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoarthritis is a very common condition, affecting the joints, often described as "wear and tear" arthritis. This can start from our teens and…

Finally a comprehensive source for the very latest performance metrics and trend analysis on every key aspect of the new drug approval processThe US Drug Approval Trends and Yearbook 2006/2007!
In this first-of-its-kind compendium, we examine hundreds of key trends and metrics to provide industry with all-new benchmarks and metrics on which to assess their own performance, to plan their own R&D projects, and to assess the various drug approval options and strategies available to them. The US Drug Approval Trends and Yearbook 2006/2007 provides an unprecedented number of in-depth analyses and benchmarks, including the following: - NDA and NME first-cycle success rates, review outcomes, and trends - Complete review and approval profiles for each NME and NDA, including cycles to appro…

In recent years Negative Pressure Wound Therapy has revolutionised the way clinicians manage and treat a wide range of wounds, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a mechanical wound care treatment that uses controlled negative pressure to assist and accelerate wound healing (Bryant, R. 2000).
The growth in patients being treated with NPWT products has been dominated historically by KCI and their open cell polyurethane foam technology and V.A.C® product range. However over the last few years a number of new products have been launched into this market using alternative gauze based dressing technique. This gauze based dressing technique used and first described by Chariker–Jeter et al in 1989 involves the application of a moistened anti-microbial dressing (AMD) gauze and a silicone dr…

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is the first and so far, only, PEGylated, Fc-Free, anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha treatment in development for rheumatoid arthritis. Data presented at the Annual European Rheumatology Congress (EULAR) suggest that, in combination with methotrexate, Cimzia acts fast to significantly suppress disease activity, prevent structural damage to joints, preserve physical function and help patients continue working productively.
Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) is a PEGylated Fc-free anti-TNF alpha agent, administered subcutaneously, and currently licensed in the US and Switzerland for treatment of Crohn’s Disease. By not having the Fc region present in conventional anti-TNFs, Cimzia retains the potency of anti-TNFs without the possible cytotoxicity mediated by Fc. In…

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the third leading cause of death in recent times and with an unprecedented patient potential, this disease area attracts awareness from a broad base of stake holders. With the grey population being the single most influencial factor in driving the economic growth within this sector, Visiongain believes the real market of the AD industry still remains untapped.
Over the past decade the AD market has been flagged by a quartet of approved pharmacological agents; acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs), N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and other non-AD specific therapeutics for management of comorbidities. The AchEIs comprise products from some of the leading larger pharmaceutical companies; • Esia/Pfizer’s Aricept (Donepizel) • Novartis Exelon (Riv…

Of patients with lung cancer, 80 per cent have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and of those, 40 per cent are not diagnosed until their disease is advanced and has spread to other organ sites. Current targeted treatment has improved survival but is not suitable for all. Now a new trial, FLEX, shows adding the targeted therapy Erbitux (cetuximab) to chemotherapy increases survival for all types of NSCLC.
Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women – breast cancer being the most common. Almost one million men and 376,00 women die from the disease each year. Overall, five-year survival is about 16 per cent, which compares poorly to five-year survival rates for colon cancer (65 per cent), breast cancer (89 per cent) and…

The 'Scanning New Horizons in Rheumatoid Arthritis' Media Briefing is an innovative global press event featuring presentations by internationally renowned experts: Professor Paul Emery, Professor Robert Moots and Professor Bengt Jansson.
The 'Scanning New Horizons in Rheumatoid Arthritis' Media Briefing is an innovative global press event featuring presentations by internationally renowned experts: Professor Paul Emery, Professor Robert Moots and Professor Bengt Jansson. Key Highlight: • New radiographic remission data from the COMET (COmbination of Methotrexate and ETanercept in early active rheumatoid arthritis) study and what the one year results will mean for patients and for the future management of inflammatory conditions Live Webcast Details Journalists who are unable to attend…

The EU GMPs were updated this year in February. As a result, Risk Management is a regulatory requirement and ICH Q9 is now Annex 20. EU regulators have also indicated that ICH Q10 on Pharmaceutical Quality Systems will become Annex 21 to the GMPs in June 2008 – sometime this month!
The EU GMPs were updated this year in February. As a result, Risk Management is a regulatory requirement and ICH Q9 is now Annex 20. EU regulators have also indicated that ICH Q10 on Pharmaceutical Quality Systems will become Annex 21 to the GMPs in June 2008 – sometime this month! In line with these proposed revisions, Magenta Global is pleased to bring you 2 courses on critical issues in biopharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing. This is your timely chance to review the latest global initiatives…

Kidney cancer patients who receive treatment with the orally-administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib (Sutent) are living twice as long as patients who receive only interferon alpha treatment, according to data from a Phase III study presented at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. Survival now exceeds two years.
Overall survival data from a randomised double blind study comparing first-line sunitinib (Sutent) with the previous standard therapy in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC), interferon (IFN) alpha, show sunitinib extends median survival to almost two and a half years. This finding breaks new ground and more than doubles the survival time typically observed with IFN alpha treatment, say experts. Sunitininb, a multi-targete…

A great summary of points to remember when writing your job application covering letter. The main purpose of a covering letter is to present your CV in support of your job application. This may be obvious, but it’s surprising how many people appear to think that a covering letter needs to be long and complicated and somehow justify its own existence..
The main purpose of a covering letter is to present your CV in support of your job application. This may be obvious, but it’s surprising how many people appear to think that a covering letter needs to be long and complicated and somehow justify its own existence.. They create a covering letter which repeats all the information in the CV only in different words. In fact, a covering letter needs to be quite short and certainly never more than o…

10 simple points to remember when writing a great CV. Your CV is the first point of contact between you and a prospective new employer. It is unlikely that the reader will know anything about you except what’s in the CV – so try to see it from their perspective.
1. Remember the purpose of the CV Your CV is the first point of contact between you and a prospective new employer. It is unlikely that the reader will know anything about you except what’s in the CV – so try to see it from their perspective. Make sure the employer understands what you have to offer and how you could be an asset to their organisation. 2. Make sure it’s easy to understand When you use your CV in support of a job application it will usually arrive along with a large number of others. The person reading it will only a…

We have an enviable position of being visited by over 150,000 people each month looking for pharmaceutical news and jobs, and we need to satisfy their desire for content.
To do this, we need your expertise and your contributions. We are currently compiling a list of contributors who can either provide us with ad-hoc content through our news distribution service (press releases and features) or whom we can contact when we have specific requirements for editorial features. To become part of the PharmiTeam simply complete this quick registration form. PharmiWeb Statistics • 150,000+ visitors each month • 6500+ live jobs opportunities • 3000-4000 job applications processed each month • 20,000+ subscribed users receive our eNewsletter each week. • We publish on average 100 press releas…

A trip to the doctor is the start of a conversation that provides the link between our everyday lives and the medical profession. Each day in the UK more than a million conversations take place between doctors and patients. When governments, policy makers and others talk about healthcare, these conversations often fade into the background. But conversations are the foundation for our health, with enormous potential impact.
An interesting article written by Faizal Farook and Jack Stilgoe of  Demos (http://www.demos.co.uk) as a result of the Healthy Conversations Project. "Approaching its sixtieth birthday, the NHS faces some tough challenges. Success in treating acute illness and failure in prevention mean that medicine will have to manage a flood of chronic illness. This mean…

It is estimated that one in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease, causing, on average, six to eight years of life lost per smoker. Smokers can also impact the health of those around them, for example their children, through passive smoking.
It is estimated that one in two smokers will die from a smoking related disease, causing, on average, six to eight years of life lost per smoker. Smokers can also impact the health of those around them, for example their children, through passive smoking. Facts : What does a cigarette contain? Tobacco smoke contains around 4,000 chemicals - here's just a few of them and their impact on the body: Nicotine : A drug that stimulates the brain and keeps people hooked on smoking.  If you are a regular smoker, when the blo…

New book from informa Healthcare presents controlling lifestyle risk factors as best weapon to fight onset of Breast Cancer
NEW YORK—April 25th, 2008—informa Healthcare, one of the premier medical scientific publishers, published earlier this month a revised and updated Second Edition of its bestseller: Breast Cancer: Prognosis, Treatment, and Prevention. According to the Global Cancer Facts and Figures report, in 2007 cancer killed some 7.6 million people around the world. By 2020 the World Health Organization estimates the cancer death rate will grow to 10 million per year. Breast cancer alone affects one in every nine women worldwide. But there is hope. The rapid pace of research—whereby findings quickly are integrated into standard therapy and treatment protocols—promises significant…

“By 2010, almost 50 percent of children in North America and 38 percent of those in the European Union will be overweight, research has found”. For pharmaceutical companies looking to target growing successful markets, the anti-obesity drug treatment market offers unique opportunities.
A new Report from Visiongain. “By 2010, almost 50 percent of children in North America and 38 percent of those in the European Union will be overweight, researcher has found”. For pharmaceutical companies looking to target growing successful markets, the anti-obesity drug treatment market offers unique opportunities. This high-level management report examines the commercial prospects for anti-obesity prescription drugs in the global healthcare market. With obesity now the most common nutritional disorder…

The symptoms of IBS and coeliac disease can often be very similar as a result the diagnosis of coeliac disease can be delayed or missed and IBS is misdiagnosed. The new guidelines regarding the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) announced recently by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) could ensure this should no longer happen by introducing new diagnostic criteria, which ensures testing for coeliac disease should be undertaken before a final diagnosis o
The symptoms of IBS and coeliac disease can often be very similar as a result the diagnosis of coeliac disease can be delayed or missed and IBS is misdiagnosed.  The new guidelines regarding the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) announced recently by the National Institute for Healt…

PharmiWeb.com May monthly focus feature highlighting the symptoms and various treatments for Crohn’s disease.
Who's affected?Approximately 1 in 1,500 people have Crohn's disease, and the condition affects slightly more women than men. It can develop at any age, but usually starts between the ages of 15 and 40. In Europe and North America, it most commonly affects Caucasians. The precise cause of Crohn's is unknown. The condition can run in families and is three times more common in smokers. Not smoking may reduce the risk of developing the disease. What are the symptoms?Symptoms occur when part of the gut becomes inflamed. Typical symptoms include: Diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss, feeling generally unwell, and extreme tiredness. The symptoms vary depen…

Obesity is the heavy accumulation of fat in your body to such a degree that it rapidly increases your risk of diseases that can damage your health and knock years off your life, such as heart disease and diabetes.
The fat may be equally distributed around the body or concentrated on the stomach (apple-shaped) or the hips and thighs (pear-shaped). For medical purposes, the body mass index (BMI) is used to determine if your weight is in the healthy range. Doctors use BMI because it compares your weight against your height. Work out your BMI The BMI figures used in this article apply to adults only. Doctors use special charts to work out BMI for children to take account of differing rates of growth and development. Take your weight (kg) and divide it by the square of your height (m). For e…