Analysis of:
Doctor Shortage Hurts A Coverage-for-All Plan (online.wsj.com)
Improving patient access to health care is needed. In Massachusetts, the supply and demand curve in primary care has changed. How quickly can market forces recover?
Analysis of:
Bristol-Myers Drug, First in New Family, Controls Blood Sugar (www.bloomberg.com)
Dapagliflozin has a long way to go to prove its efficacy and safety as a potential diabetes medication. However, innovative medications are welcome as they will be pieces of the diabetic solution puzzle.
Analysis of:
Galvus(R), a new oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, receives positive opinion recommending European Union approval (www.pipelinereview.com)
Galvus does not seem to have a competitive edge over Januvia, its main competition. Galvus needs to demonstrate a yet unknown significant advantage to gain significant market share.
Analysis of:
Older and cheaper pills just fine for diabetes (www.reuters.com)
Long-term comparisons of glycemic control are lacking between newer and older diabetes medications. However this is a one-dimensional comparison. Newer medications have significant other advantages over the older medications, but both are needed to safely reach glycemic goals.
Analysis of:
UPDATE: Novartis Wins FDA OK For Alzheimer's Drug Patch (money.cnn.com)
Alzheimer's drug patch could change quality of life of the patient and their family. Usually patients with Alzheimer's disease have more than one disease and takes three up to fifteen different medications a day. Long span release patches are very convenient to this patients for many reasons, not only...
Analysis of:
UPMC draws up severe code on freebies (www.post-gazette.com)
Unilateral decisions about pharmaceutical detailing makes policy makers feel good, but the bottom line, the patients, are the ones that could pay.
Analysis of:
SYMLIN(R) Used in Conjunction with Basal Insulin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (www.pipelinereview.com)
Symlin requires a significant burden on patients without much benefit. For the lucky few that can get away with basal insulin and Symlin and don’t mind the shots, it may be of some benefit.
Analysis of:
Pfizer To Launch Antiretroviral Maraviroc In July After FDA Tests Conclude, Official Says (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
Maraviroc will aid decrease HIV drug resistence. Because maraviroc's mechanism of action is different from the other antiretrovirals, its use can help those patients with HIV resistant mutations.
Analysis of:
U.S. urges strongest warning on 2 diabetes drugs (www.iht.com)
Avandia and Actos can contribute to heart failure. This is old news and should be known by all prescribers of these medications. Black Box warnings do not address the underlying cause of inappropriate prescriptions. Education and electronic auditing do.
Analysis of:
Pfizer Compound Shrinks Thyroid Tumors in Small Study (online.wsj.com)
Pfizer’s Axitinib phase 2 trial suggests a response on metastatic thyroid cancer. However, crucial variables such as pathology, site of metastasis and comparison to a placebo may not have been studied. Therefore, time will tell if this rarely dangerous tumor has a significant treatment.