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Celebrex provides a two pronged attack against prostate cancer

Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor with promising anti-cancer properties, has now been found to attack prostate cancer cells in a second way that differs from Vioxx (rofecoxib), another anti-inflammatory drug that also inhibits COX-2.

1 Mar 2005

New cancer drug Avastin keeps cancer under control

Data published for the first time today in the leading Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that the unique new cancer drug Avastin keeps cancer under control for a significantly longer duration, even when used in a group of elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer who are too sick to tolerate traditional aggressive chemotherapy.

1 Mar 2005

Aggressive industry promotion of prescription drugs may be a danger to patients and doctors

Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra hit the market in the late 1990s & 2001, as a breakthrough class of drugs for arthritis that would help avoid ulcers and other digestive ailments linked to medicines such as aspirin.

28 Feb 2005

Wyeth advances diet drug settlement discussions

Wyeth has announced that plaintiffs' attorneys representing a substantial number of claimants who have opted out of the National Diet Drug Settlement have agreed to participate in a proposed process for settling downstream opt-out cases, and that the Company is prepared to move forward with the process.

28 Feb 2005

Fear of botulism as a bioterrorist weapon is to be reduced by British vaccine technology

Fear of botulism as a bioterrorist weapon is to be reduced, as the US government announces its support for a new British vaccine technology, which promises for the first time to provide an effective defence against botulism – the most deadly naturally occurring substance.

28 Feb 2005

New compounds for the treatment of HIV/AIDS

Scientists from Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd. presented data on several new compounds for the treatment of HIV/AIDS at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), held February 22-25 in Boston, MA, USA.

27 Feb 2005

European approval of Pegasys for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

The approval is granted for both types of the disease – HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Pegasys offers the hope of a treatment-free life for thousands of people with chronic hepatitis B as this innovative drug has been shown to achieve lasting remission for a significant proportion of patients.

27 Feb 2005

Caution against FDA approval of race-based pharmaceutical

New York University Sociologist Troy Duster concludes that a pharmaceutical to combat heart disease among blacks is based on faulty research and urges the Food and Drug Administration to obtain more reliable data before approving the drug.

27 Feb 2005

Americans believe drug industry cares more about profits than people

Americans believe prescription drugs are improving their lives, but most also say that the drug industry cares more about profits than people, according to the latest Kaiser Health Poll Report issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

27 Feb 2005

Second-generation Antidepressants

A recent article in the prestigious British Medical Journal seems to confirm an increased risk for suicidal behavior among adults taking popular antidepressants. This follows evidence that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have a similar effect among children and adolescents.

27 Feb 2005

Genzyme begins gene transfer trial for peripheral arterial disease

Genzyme Corporation announced today that the first patient has been treated in a new phase 2 clinical trial examining the safety and effectiveness of locally delivered gene transfer for patients with peripheral arterial disease.

24 Feb 2005

Pfizer acquires Idun Pharmaceuticals

Pfizer today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Idun Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of therapies to control apoptosis, a process of cell death that occurs in a broad range of diseases.

24 Feb 2005

$71 million to launch a new drug

Mid-level pharmaceutical brands invest an average of $71 million in marketing between Phase III trials and the first year on the market, according to a new report from Cutting Edge Information.

24 Feb 2005

FDA approves Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) for the treatment of heart failure

AstraZeneca today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) Tablets for the treatment of heart failure (NYHA class II-IV and ejection fraction less than or equal to 40%) to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular causes and reduce hospitalizations for heart failure.

23 Feb 2005

Lack of early market research spending lowers drug success rates

Pharmaceutical market research spending during Launch exceeds all market research spending from Pre-Clinical to Phase III, according to a new industry report by Cutting Edge Information. This lack of early market research spending dramatically reduces a product's viability in the competitive marketplace.

23 Feb 2005

Amgen's AMG-162 for treatment of osteoporosis will become a blockbuster by 2013

Decision Resources, Inc., forecasts that Amgen's novel biological agent for the treatment of osteoporosis, AMG-162, will become a blockbuster by 2013. Premium pricing of AMG-162 will propel the sales of this agent.

23 Feb 2005

Taipan venom used as a new drug to treat heart failure

A venom component from the Taipan, the world’s deadliest snake, is being developed by Brisbane biotechnology company ElaCor, as a new drug to treat heart failure.

23 Feb 2005

FDA approval of Vaccinia Immune Globulin to treat adverse reactions to smallpox vaccination

Computer Sciences Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIGIV), an intravenous immune globulin, to treat rare adverse reactions to smallpox vaccination.

22 Feb 2005

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the new EU countries presents considerable potential

In contrast to subdued growth in the pharmaceutical markets of the former 15-state European Union (EU), pharmaceutical markets in the 'new' EU accession markets are expanding vibrantly.

22 Feb 2005

Pharmaceutical companies will be named and shamed for misleading advertising

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be naming and shaming companies which engage in misleading advertising of their pharmaceutical products, or which show poor practice in the way they set about their advertising and promotional campaigns.

22 Feb 2005