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Prescription Drug Use Dropped In 2008, Though Spending Increased, Medco Research Indicates
Use of prescription drugs in the U.S. declined in 2008 -- the first such decrease in a decade -- but total spending on such treatments increased by 3.3%, according to a report released on Wednesday by Medco Health Solutions, the AP/Washington Post reports. The report attributed the decline in sales to fewer new drugs being introduced in 2008, popular medications becoming available as non-prescriptions and concerns about certain drugs" safety. Total spending increased largely because of increased use of "specialty" medications for chronic and complicated illnesses, which often are more costly and sometimes require special considerations for storage or delivery to patients, according to the AP/Post. Profits on specialty drugs in 2008 increased by about 16%. The average costs for other brand-name drugs increased by more than 8% in 2008, the largest increase in five years. According to the report, spending on prescription drugs would have been higher but less costly generic medications accounted for 64% of all prescriptions in 2008.The report predicted that prescription drug use in the U.S. will increase by no more than 1% in 2009 and 2010. However, price increases are expected to contribute to an increase in total spending of 3% to 5% in 2009 and 4% to 6% in 2010 (Seaman, AP/Washington Post, 5/13).

Even Healthy Lungs Labor At Acceptable Ozone Levels
Ozone exposure, even at levels deemed safe by current clean air standards, can have a significant and negative effect on lung function, according to researchers at the University of California Davis.
News of the day
World's First Deep Brain Stimulation Device Approved For Treatment Of Psychiatric Condition In Europe
Medtronic announced that Reclaim(R) Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy has received CE (Conformite Europeene) Mark approval for the treatment of chronic, severe treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is the first time that a deep brain stimulation therapy has gained approval in Europe for the treatment of a psychiatric disorder.
Cardiovascular

AstraZeneca Submits New Drug Applications For ZACTIMA(TM) In Second-Line Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced the company has submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for an investigational drug, vandetanib 100 mg for use in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in patients previously treated with one prior anti-cancer therapy. The U.S. and European submissions are supported by data from Phase III clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of vandetanib 100 mg in combination with chemotherapy. Pending approval, the treatment will be marketed as ZACTIMA(TM). Evaluation of vandetanib is ongoing, as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-cancer therapies in a range of tumour types, including thyroid cancer. Results from the ZEPHYR (300mg monotherapy study in EGFR failures in advanced NSCLC, Phase III) and ZETA (300 mg monotherapy in advanced medullary thyroid cancer, Phase III) studies will be presented in the first half of 2010. Howard Hutchinson, MD, Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca said, "Lung cancer is an area of high unmet need and these submissions are an important step toward potentially broadening the treatment options available for patients." About Vandetanib Vandetanib has a unique profile that fights cancer through two clinically proven mechanisms -- by blocking the development of tumour blood supply (anti-angiogenesis or anti-VEGFR), and by blocking the growth and survival of the tumour itself (anti-EGFR). Vandetanib also inhibits RET-tyrosine kinase activity, an important growth driver in certain types of thyroid cancer. About Vandetanib Phase III Studies ZODIAC (ZACTIMA in cOmbination with Docetaxel In non-smAll cell lung Cancer) is a Phase III randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the combination of vandetanib 100mg once daily plus docetaxel versus docetaxel alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, treated with one prior anti-cancer therapy. It enrolled 1391 patients at 250 centres throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia Pacific. ZEAL (ZACTIMA Efficacy with Alimta in Lung cancer) is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study evaluating the combination of vandetanib 100mg with pemetrexed versus pemetrexed alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, treated with one prior anti-cancer therapy. It enrolled 534 patients at 160 centres across 23 countries. ZEST (ZACTIMA Efficacy Study versus Tarceva) is a Phase III randomised, double-blind, multi-centre study to assess the efficacy of vandetanib 300mg versus erlotinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure of at least one prior anti-cancer therapy. It enrolled 1240 patients at 171 centres across 22 countries. ZEPHYR (ZACTIMA Efficacy trial for NSCLC Patients with HistorY of EGFR-TKI and chemo-Resistance) is a Phase III, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multi-centre study evaluating the efficacy of ZACTIMA 300mg plus best supportive care versus best supportive care in patients with locally advanced or metastatic (stage IIIB-IV) NSCLC after prior therapy with an EGFR inhibitor. The study is running in approximately 170 centres across 23 countries. ZETA (Zactima Efficacy in Thyroid Cancer Assessment) is a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre study, evaluating once-daily ZACTIMA 300mg as a monotherapy in advanced medullary thyroid cancer. About lung cancer -- Over 1.35 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year and nearly 1.2 million people die as a result of this devastating disease -- more than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined(i) -- Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for around 85% of all lung cancers(ii) -- If lung cancer is detected at early stages, before it has spread to other organs or lymph nodes, around half of patients can survive for five years or more. However, few lung cancers are found at this early stage and it is normally diagnosed at the advanced stage, when five year survival falls to approximately 15%(iii) About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful prescription medicines and in the supply of healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world"s leading pharmaceutical companies with global healthcare sales of $ 31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious disease medicines. In the United States, AstraZeneca is a $13.5 billion dollar healthcare business. (i) Ferlay, J. et al. GLOBOCAN 2002: Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide. IARC CancerBase No. 5. version 2.0. Lyon: IARC Press, 2004. (ii) Ginsberg RJ. et al. Cancer: Principles and Practices of Oncology. 5(th) ed; 858-911. 1997. 6(th) ed. 925-983. 2001. (iii) Bepler G. Lung cancer epidemiology and genetics. J Thorac Imaging 1999; 14(4):228-234. AstraZeneca


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