21 Feb 06

Tremendous impetus to discovery of novel CB1 antagonists by first-in-class CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant under review by FDA and EMEA
La Merie Business Intelligence

20 Feb 06

Although COPD is a devastating disease affecting an estimated one in 10 people aged 45 and older, up to 80% of sufferers are unaware they have it. Furthermore, even for patients who do receive treatment, current therapies do not stop the disease's progression. Until better treatments are available, then, efforts must focus on improving smoking cessation therapies and increasing awareness of COPD.
Datamonitor

14 Feb 06

The TOP 20 blockbuster recombinant proteins and antibodies achieved record sales of US$ 37.7 bln in the year 2005 while combined sales of the 12 TOP selling classes of recombinant proteins and antibodies reached the US$ 50 bln threshold.
La Merie Business Intelligence

10 Feb 06

The approval of Novartis’ Glivec in 2001 represents one of the real success stories in the treatment of Chronic myeloid leukaemia. Already generating $2.2 billion in global sales (2005 figures), Glivec is Novartis’ second highest revenue generator and the continued development of this blockbuster seems certain to increase these figures still further. Here we focus on clinical studies aimed at advancing Gleevec as a treatment of small-cell lung cancer
LeadDiscovery

10 Feb 06

Therapeutic vaccines have faced numerous setbacks recently. The only three vaccines to reach the market so far have had insignificant sales, and have failed to gain approval in the critical US market. Meanwhile, numerous high-profile pipeline failures and the lack of new product launches have seriously dampened investor enthusiasm. However, the industry's fortunes could be set for a major change.
Datamonitor

09 Feb 06

The prevalence of obesity has increased by 61% in the US during the period 1991-2001. According to Datamonitor’s report, Obesity - commercial opportunities and therapeutic pipeline analysis 127m people were classified obese in the seven major markets in 2003. Obesity is an active area of R&D and numerous novel molecular targets are currently being evaluated. One target, ghrelin was the subject of a major target discovery report from LeadDiscovery published in 2003 Ghrelin: Pharmaceutical & Ther
LeadDiscovery

09 Feb 06

With bacteriological diseases such as SARS and MRSA on the increase and with concern about these diseases at an all time high, the medical community is under tremendous pressure to implement measures in order to minimise the risk of potential outbreaks.
Maureen Bott

07 Feb 06

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be treated by a class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI’s), which increase the availability of acetylcholine in the brain by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE).
Stephen Cull

06 Feb 06

Twice-daily injection is the benchmark set by exenatide, the first GLP-1 analog launched in the US by Lilly in June 2005 and half-year sales of US$ 74.6 mln, which now faces competition by GLP-1 analog treatment modalities with less frequent dosing.
La Merie Business Intelligence

03 Feb 06

The size of the cytotoxic market in the seven major pharmaceutical markets is estimated to be approximately $9.6 billion. Datamonitor expects it to reach a peak of $12.8 billion by 2009. However, mainly due to major patent expiries, it is expected to drop to $11.3 billion by 2014. Topoisomerase inhibitors represent a subgroup of the plant alkaloid class of cytotoxics. DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors are among the most efficacious drugs for the treatment of cancer although they are associated wi
LeadDiscovery

03 Feb 06

The market for antibacterials, valued at $24 billion in the seven major markets, faces significant revenue loss in the period 2005-2007 due to major patent expiries. In exception, considerable success has been met by those targeting drug resistant infections. This is highlighted by the rapid uptake of products focused on drug-resistant infections, such as Pfizer's Zyvox (linezolid). Here we highlight a promising early stage candidate being developed by Replidyne, REP8839
LeadDiscovery

02 Feb 06

AstraZeneca's SMART is an experimental new regimen for its leading asthma drug Symbicort. A successful approval of this regimen may provide a major incentive to switch patients from GlaxoSmithKline's Seretide and keep new rivals at bay. However, recent labeling changes proposed by the FDA have significant implications for the possibility of future US approvals of variable dosing regimes.
Datamonitor

31 Jan 06

OX40 (CD134) is one of the newer tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family members. Expressed on CD4+ T-cells, its activation by OX40L, a type II membrane protein expressed on activated B-cells, dendritic cells and macrophages, plays an important T-cell co-stimulatory role. Today we highlight additional involvement in heart disease
LeadDiscovery

30 Jan 06

The complexity of glucose metabolism and the number of cellular processes affected by diabetes provides ample space for new drug targets and for first-in-class molecules. Some of them have reached or are close to early clinical development in type 2 diabetes.
La Merie Business Intelligence

25 Jan 06

Genomics and proteomics comprise a fundamental area of bioinformatics however exploiting the wealth of information gained using such disciplines remains a rate limiting step in the drug discovery process. Today’s edition of DailyUpdates (Jan 25th 2005) describes ground breaking work that has allowed researchers to identify candidate therapeutics for the treatment of SARs virus infection in under a month using the virus genome as a starting point
LeadDiscovery

23 Jan 06

A plethora of SGLT inhibitors in the patent literature and seven compounds in early clinical development indicate an abundance of interest in the therapeutic use of SGLT inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
La Merie Business Intelligence

18 Jan 06

In 1999 Human Genome Sciences researchers published a study in the journal Science describing a new member of the TNF super-family which they named BLyS. Since that time our understanding of this protein, also known as BAFF, and its homologue APRIL has progressed rapidly. The BAFF sub-family has emerged as a candidate target for therapies of various autoimmune diseases and hematological cancers with breathtaking speed.
LeadDiscovery

17 Jan 06

The oral DPP-IV inhibitors vildagliptin (LAF237), sitaglitpin (MK-0431) and saxagliptin (BMS-477118) from Novartis, Merck & Co., and BMS are in advanced phase III development and compete to be “First in Class” of a new oral treatment modality for type 2 diabetes.
La Merie Business Intelligence

16 Jan 06

A new study shows the oral iron-chelator Ferriprox (deferiprone) prevents patients with thalassaemia experiencing heart complications and dying of heart failure. Patients with the condition require frequent blood transfusions with the unwanted effect of excess iron that can build up in organs and endocrine glands. Iron overload in the heart can produce fatal complications so effective treatment with iron chelation therapy to remove iron is vital. The finding that an oral treatment achieves bett
Olwen Glynn Owen - PharmiWeb Field Reporter

11 Jan 06

There is little mystery about what the next few years hold for the clinical research industry –it comes down to one word: speed. It is all about speed. The gauntlet has been thrown down and the companies that are able to demonstrate an effective and consistent approach to truncating the timeline of clinical trials will be very successful.
Brian S. Robinson

11 Jan 06

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing global drug development is the scarcity of new clinical research professionals entering the industry, bringing refreshing energy and ideas to their work, but lacking practical experience. Those involved in recruiting CR staff will be aware of this shortage and that experienced employees are seeking greater career management/development and rapid progression.
Iain Jessup

11 Jan 06

Electronic Data Capture (EDC), three little words that can divide the clinical research community like few others. To some, EDC is a panacea for all the troubles and rising costs of the clinical development process, whilst to others it spells broken promises, and forms the butt of many less than flattering anecdotes.
Andrew Salomon

11 Jan 06

Free Job Postings for UK Charity Organisations in the Healthcare Sector.
Mike Wood

22 Dec 05

New data presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Atlanta this month suggest the problems associated with iron overload in frequently-transfused patients can now be managed simply with an oral treatment rather than continuous infusions of several hours duration.
Olwen Glynn Owen PharmiWeb Field Reporter

20 Dec 05

It is easy to take a surf on the internet and look at the priorities stated in NHS policy and strategy documents. However, does this really reflect the true picture on the ground? What are the big issues for NHS customers at the moment?
Miriam George

14 Dec 05

Together, the four major cancer markets, which include colorectal, prostate, lung and breast cancer, were valued at well over $16 billion in 2005, which was an increase of 14 percent in value since 2004. Driving this growth are innovative new products, line extensions for existing products, and the coming of age of the biotech industry.
Arrowhead Publishers

07 Dec 05

The end of year appraisal is something that many people dread, some people think that it is a complete waste of time and while others actually look forward to it. Which one of the previous descriptions fits you the best?
Sue Birch

02 Dec 05

Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presents unique problems. While treatments for both leukemias have advanced significantly in recent years, Datamonitor research shows that drug resistance to the gold standard treatment for CML is emerging, while current immunotherapeutic treatment for CLL is hampered by prognostic difficulties.
Datamonitor

30 Nov 05

Abbott Diabetes Care today introduced the new Precision Xtra™ Plus (Optium™ Plus in some markets) Glucose Test Strip in Europe for use with the Precision™ Xceed (Optium Xceed™ in some markets) Advanced Diabetes Management System at the 41st Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Athens, Greece. The new test strip offers results in just five seconds and requires a small blood sample of only 0.6 micro litre. The new Precision Xtra Plus test strip provides reliabl
Sebastian Stokes

30 Nov 05

Dronedarone, a new Class III multi-channel blocking anti-arrhythmic drug currently in Phase III development by Sanofi-Aventis for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) may help fill the unmet need for a safe pharmacologic treatment that effectively controls atrial fibrillation, cardiologists said this month. Sanofi-Aventis presented new data on dronedarone at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) annual scientific sessions held in Dallas.
Olwen Glynn Owen - PharmiWeb Field Reporter