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Cost differences of methotrexate and cyclosporine to treat psoriasis neglible

The difference in cost associated with using two common treatments for psoriasis over the course of one year with treatment lasting 16 weeks are small.

21 Jun 2004

WHO removes two antiretroviral products from the WHO List of prequalified products

The World Health Organization (WHO) removed two antiretroviral products from the WHO List of prequalified products

20 Jun 2004

Further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk

Results of a study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET provide further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk. The study also emphasises the importance of early blood-pressure lowering after the start of treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

17 Jun 2004

Research on the potential oral delivery of a current intravenous cancer drug using polymeric nano-delivery systems technology

Labopharm Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Debiopharm S.A. under which Debiopharm has engaged Labopharm to conduct research on the potential oral delivery of a current intravenous cancer drug using Labopharm’s proprietary polymeric nano-delivery systems technology (also referred to as micelles technology).

16 Jun 2004

Results from study of Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis show promise

Genentech, Inc., Biogen Idec and Roche have announced that the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a Phase IIa study showing that two doses of Rituxan® (Rituximab), administered two weeks apart, improved symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for up to 48 weeks when combined with methotrexate (MTX), compared to MTX alone.

16 Jun 2004

Cancer drug gefitinib (Iressa) may be able to restore tamoxifen's anticancer activity

A new study has found a possible mechanism for tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer and provides evidence that another cancer drug--gefitinib (Iressa)--may be able to restore tamoxifen's anticancer activity.

15 Jun 2004

Benefits of current therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer are eclipsed by their toxicity and inconvenience

Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that the benefits of current therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer are eclipsed by their toxicity and inconvenience, especially in advanced stages of the disease.

15 Jun 2004

Report shows unacceptably high variations in access to cancer drugs across the UK

Cancer information charity CancerBACUP welcomes today’s report into variations of usage of cancer drugs (postcode prescribing) issued by the Department of Health but says the vital issue of accountability and enforcement has been left unresolved, leaving patients still vulnerable to postcode prescribing.

15 Jun 2004

Investigational drug Abraxane is active and well tolerated in women with metastatic breast cancer

Investigational drug Abraxane™ (albumin nanoparticle paclitaxel), administered weekly without steroid premedication, is active and well tolerated in women with metastatic breast cancer whose disease had progressed while they were treated with paclitaxel (Taxol®) and/or docetaxel (Taxotere®).

15 Jun 2004

Fair access to recommended drugs in Britain

Health Secretary John Reid has set out plans to ensure patients across the country have equal access to treatments recommended by the independent National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

15 Jun 2004

Topiramate may protect newborns from brain injury and long-term neurologic problems caused by excitotoxicity

An existing drug already approved by the FDA may protect newborns from brain injury and long-term neurologic problems caused by excitotoxicity, or over-activation of neurons, report two NIH-funded studies from Children's Hospital Boston.

14 Jun 2004

New Drug Application for a novel dosage format of citalopram for the treatment of depression

Biovail Corporation has announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review (effective date June 13, 2004) Biovail's submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for a novel dosage format of citalopram for the treatment of depression.

14 Jun 2004

Retirees taking COX-2 anti-inflammatory drugs on a long-term basis also take aspirin therapy

Findings reported in a study published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that over half of patients within a predominantly retiree population taking COX-2 anti-inflammatory drugs on a long-term basis were also taking aspirin therapy for its cardio-protective benefit.

14 Jun 2004

New vaccine to stop cocaine addiction

Xenova Group plc has announced the presentation of results of two dose escalation Phase II studies of TA-CD, a vaccine being developed for the treatment of cocaine addiction, at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence 66th Annual Scientific Meeting in Puerto Rico, June 12-17.

14 Jun 2004

Outsourcing the way to control spiraling R&D budgets in drug industry

Companies developing new drugs for the global market must deal with the rising costs of the R&D process – and outsourcing may well be the best route. That's the verdict of Dr Faiz Kermani, a specialist in outsourcing and research development for the pharmaceutical industry.

14 Jun 2004

Cannabis extract drug may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The multi centre double blind, randomised, parallel group study in 58 patients assessed the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Sativex®, a whole plant medicinal cannabis extract, compared with placebo for the treatment of pain caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis. Study medication was administered by means of a spray into the mouth as an evening dose only and measures were assessed the following day.

11 Jun 2004

Sirolimus-based therapy following early cyclosporine withdrawal improves transplanted kidney structure and function

Kidney histology and function three years after transplantation are better in kidney-transplant patients who remain on sirolimus-based therapy following early withdrawal of cyclosporine than in patients who continue on this calcineurin inhibitor, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Transplantation.

11 Jun 2004

Enbrel therapy allowed more rheumatoid arthritis patients to achieve clinical remission

New results from TEMPO (Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic Patient Outcomes) demonstrated that Enbrel® (etanercept) therapy allowed significantly more rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to achieve clinical remission at two years compared to patients treated with methotrexate alone.

11 Jun 2004

Canadians advised of stronger warnings for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and other newer anti-depressants

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer anti-depressants, now carry stronger warnings. These new warnings indicate that patients of all ages taking these drugs may experience behavioural and/or emotional changes that may put them at increased risk of self-harm or harm to others.

11 Jun 2004

New York State accuses GlaxoSmithKline of fraudulent behaviour

This week's editorial calls on GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to make all its research on paroxetine (Seroxat/Paxil) publicly available. This follows the filing of last week's law suit by the state of New York against GSK: the state accuses the company of fraud

11 Jun 2004

Pharmaceutical News

Cost differences of methotrexate and cyclosporine to treat psoriasis neglible

WHO removes two antiretroviral products from the WHO List of prequalified products

Further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk

Research on the potential oral delivery of a current intravenous cancer drug using polymeric nano-delivery systems technology

Results from study of Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis show promise

Cancer drug gefitinib (Iressa) may be able to restore tamoxifen's anticancer activity

Benefits of current therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer are eclipsed by their toxicity and inconvenience

Report shows unacceptably high variations in access to cancer drugs across the UK

Investigational drug Abraxane is active and well tolerated in women with metastatic breast cancer

Fair access to recommended drugs in Britain

Topiramate may protect newborns from brain injury and long-term neurologic problems caused by excitotoxicity

New Drug Application for a novel dosage format of citalopram for the treatment of depression

Retirees taking COX-2 anti-inflammatory drugs on a long-term basis also take aspirin therapy

New vaccine to stop cocaine addiction

Outsourcing the way to control spiraling R&D budgets in drug industry

Cannabis extract drug may help patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Sirolimus-based therapy following early cyclosporine withdrawal improves transplanted kidney structure and function

Enbrel therapy allowed more rheumatoid arthritis patients to achieve clinical remission

Canadians advised of stronger warnings for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and other newer anti-depressants

New York State accuses GlaxoSmithKline of fraudulent behaviour

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