Central Neuropathic Pain: Cymbalta--- Another Failed Trial
December 29, 2010
Duloxetine in patients with central neuropathic pain caused by spinal cord injury or stroke: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Treatment of neuropathic pain remains an enigmatic dilemma for most physicians. Presently there are no drugs FDA approved for central neuropathic pain. The use of drugs utilized for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia, most notably Cymbalta (Eli Lilly), Lyrica (Pfizer) and Savella (Forest), as well as generics such as gabapentin, tricyclic antidepressants and older anticonvulsants remain the mainstay of therapy.
CVS vs. Walgreen's and the latest....
June 12, 2010
As a consultant and clinical pharmacist with over 30 years experience, I am glad someone.... and in this case... Walgreen's finally woke up to fees that are insulting low and a losing proposition. It has been well established the the "average expense to dispense a prescription" (the pharmacy's actual costs including rent, payroll, overhead, etc) is in the $10 range per prescription. Why would any pharmacy sign a contract with a fee of $1.50 per prescription?
Fampridine-PR -- The First Drug Proven to Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients Walk!
January 19, 2010
Biogen Idec Submits Application in Europe for the Approval of Fampridine-PR Tablets to Improve Walking Ability in People with Multiple Sclerosis | www.pipelinereview.com
Being confined to a wheelchair is the most common fear of patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS) from the time of diagnosis. Up until now, there have been no therapies demonstrated to improve walking in multiple sclerosis.Fampridine-PR is the first drug application for a product which has clearly shown to improve walking speed in a significant portion of MS patients, and may become the first drug specifically approved for this indication.
Acorda's Fampridine: The First FDA Approval to Help MS Patient's Walk
December 14, 2009
FDA Questions Efficacy of Acorda's MS Drug (Fampridine SR) | www.thestreet.com
Fampridine SR improves multiple sclerosis patient's ability to walk. In demonstrating this, Acorda has successfully demonstrated that a new class of therapeutics, potassium channel blockers, can be effectively employed to address MS symptoms effectively and safely.
Fampridine-SR -- anxiously awaited new MS therapeutic
June 2, 2009
Acorda’s Fampridine-SR Gets Priority Review | phoenix.corporate-ir.net
A major unmet need in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis is a medication to increase walking ability. Since disease modifying therapies have only been available for 16 years, MS starts at a mean age of 29, and the disease has only a minimal effect at shortening lifespan, the majority of MS patients presently have progressive forms of MS. Ten percent have primary progressive disease, progressive from the onset, and others, start with relapsing remitting MS, and progress after approximately 15 years to progressive illness. In the early years of progressive MS, patients loose the ability to walk, hence the prior motto of the National MS Society, "MS, the great crippler of young adults." FAMPRIDINE SR IS THE FIRST MEDICATION FOUND TO IMPROVE MS PATIENTS ABILITY TO WALK. Standard disease modifying agents, the interferons (Avonex, Betaseron, Rebif), Copaxone and Tysabri, decrease relapse rate and may slow progression, however do not improve one's ability to walk.
NUVIGIL for Jet Lag -- An Important Broad New Indication for Cephalon
June 2, 2009
Cephalon to apply for FDA approval for Nuvigil for jet lag | www.reuters.com
NUVIGIL, Cephalon's single isomer longer effective half-life follow-up product to Provigil is coming to market only after careful strategic planning. While extremely successful, Provigil, a unique wake promoting agent, suffered in many ways. When introduced, it had only FDA approval for narcolepsy, a relatively uncommon, yet severe sleep disorder. Sales increased markedly when Provigil became approved for other common conditions associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), treated obstructive sleep apnea with residual EDS and sleep wake shift disturbance (SWSD). If approved for Jet Lag, there is the promise that Nuvigil will become available for an increasing enlarging marketplace.
May 4, 2009
UPDATE 2-Sequenom delays Down Syndrome test; shares plunge | uk.reuters.com
This delay is not good for the company, especially since there are already tests in place that are effective to screen for Down's syndrome. These tests now are the standard of care, so the longer it takes for Sequenon to launch it's test the worse, for the company.
"Tamper-Proof" -- A Significant Gain to Whom??
November 17, 2008
FDA Asks if Pain Pill Is Tamper-Proof | online.wsj.com
Abuse resistant long acting narcotics offer benefit as they are less desirable to those who might wish a quick high via snorting, injecting crushed time-release narcotic. Unfortunately, given the higher cost than long acting generics and increased pressure on physicians to prescribe generics, expect pick up in the marketplace (assuming approval) to be slow.
Tamper Proof Narcotic Pain pill? YES
November 13, 2008
FDA Asks if Pain Pill Is Tamper-Proof | online.wsj.com
This drug will allow patients in severe pain to get the necessary pain relief and not have to worry about the other patients that abuse the drug.
Novartis and Multiple Sclerosis: A Major Commitment
June 5, 2008
Extavia® approved in E.U for treatment of multiple sclerosis, first in planned portfolio of therapies from Novartis | www.asia-manufacturing.com
Extavia, Novartis' brand of interferon beta 1b, has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis by the European Union. With FTY72, Fingolimod, Novartis has the eye on filing NDA by the end of 2009. While essentially identical to Bayer's Betaferon interferon beta 1b, and similar to EMD Serono's Rebif and Biogen's Avonex, Extavia does not offer a new therapy to MS patients, simply a new face. With this launch, Novartis presumably hopes to work closer to key opinion leaders in multiple sclerosis, allowing an accelerated launch of Fingolimod.
February 7, 2012
What do the cloud, collaboration and virtualization have in common?
January 27, 2012
Clinical diagnostic acquisitions dominate 2011 top ten list
January 12, 2012
Gene therapy success threatens drugs for hemophilia and rare diseases
December 13, 2011
Medtech M&A activity accelerates in 2011
November 30, 2011