USA: a study on diabetes was partially suspended
(The Wall Street Journal online - February 7, 2008)
The US National Institutes of Health has suspended part of a study, conducted on 10,251 subjects, which aims to find the best strategy for preventing heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular problems in patients with type 2 diabetes. Indeed, more deaths occurred among those who received more aggressive hypoglycemic therapy, 14/1,000 years, than those who took the milder treatment, 11/1,000 years. However, deaths were less than 50/1,000 per year for patients treated with current therapies.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15649
Heart attacks: best to aspirate before stenting
(The Wall Street Journal online - February 7, 2008)
Dutch research has shown that patients survive heart attacks better if doctors aspirate the occlusion before inserting the stent, instead of squeezing it against the walls to restore blood flow. The study, paid for by the manufacturer of small surgical aspirators, Medtronic, looked at 1,071 heart attack patients who needed emergency angioplasty. Heart attack resolved in 57% of half treated with aspiration, versus 44% of those who underwent conventional intervention.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15648
To counter the competition, Sandoz focuses on 'high-tech' generics
(Les Echos online – February 7, 2008)
The generics market, according to Novartis forecasts, will only grow by 6% in the USA and Western Europe over the next 5 years. This is due to the massive competition and barriers created by the countries' regulatory authorities. Sandoz, a Novartis subsidiary specializing in the production of generics, is focusing on Japan and emerging countries where the demand for generics has exploded in an attempt to solve this problem. On Western markets, however, it focuses on generic 'high-tech' products that are more difficult to develop. Transdermal patches, injectable or inhaled drugs require technologies that not all countries have. Furthermore, Sandoz has decided to invest in biosimilars to counter competition: development and production are much more expensive and complex than those of chemical origin.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15647
USA: controversial advertising
(International Herald Tribune: p. 15 – February 7, 2008)
In the USA, Robert Jarvik, inventor of the artificial heart, has lent himself as a testimonial for the advertising of the anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) by Pfizer, represented while he faces a rowing race and with a slogan which states that this is possible thanks to this medicine. According to David Triggle, pharmacologist at the State University of New York, in this situation, a doctor so well known to the general public sends a rather misleading message, given that the advertisement was made with a stunt double.
http://www.aboutpharma.it/notizia.asp?id=15646
"Italians put Healthcare on the bar"
(Bloomberg Finance & Markets: page 19 – 7 February 2008)
The 2nd Europ Assistance barometer on euro attitudes, expectations and concerns
