Analysis of:
Abbott signs deal to promote Crestor in U.S. (www.chicagotribune.com)
The co-marketing with Abbott will undoubtedly help Crestor sales, if they can effectively develop a fenofibrate-rosuvastatin combination, and avoid over-burdening physicians with reps. However, there are other factors that will probably have a larger impact.
Analysis of:
AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb Submit New Drug Application in the United States and Marketing Authorisation Application in Europe for ONGLYZA™ (Saxagliptin) for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (www.astrazeneca.com)
Given what happened to Galvus, and the similar poor selectivity of saxagliptin for DPP-4 over other isoforms, I think that FDA approval is unlikely. There was also some data on changes in white count presented at the ADA that will hurt this agent. The FDA move to recommend outcome studies for DM treatments...
Analysis of:
Lilly Diabetes Drug Shows a Life-Extending Promise (www.nytimes.com)
This will probably help Byetta sales modestly. However, the numbers ere small, it was a non-randomized comparison, and may be that Byetta use was a surrogate for less sulfonurea use, lower doses of insulin or no insulin at all (any of which may be harmful). However, the main barrier to more widespread...
Analysis of:
Heart Stents No Better Than Drugs for Chest Pain Over Time (www.bloomberg.com)
This study pretty convincingly shows that there is only a short term symptom and quality of life improvement associated with coronary stenting, as compared to good quality pharmacological treatment. This will decrease the pressure for aggressive revascularization of any and all coronary lesions...
Analysis of:
National Trends in Psychotherapy by Office-Based Psychiatrists (archpsyc.ama-assn.org)
Given the increased awareness for toxicities related to SSRIs, this article is quite important.
Analysis of:
8-Year-Olds on Statins? A New Plan Quickly Bites Back (www.nytimes.com)
The potential market for treatment of lipids(cholesterol)continues to grow. Recent recommendations regarding potential for treatment of children as young as 8 are controversial, primarily because of the lack of data to demonstrate efficacy in terms of "hard" endpoints(i.e. mortality/MI)vs. morbidity...
Analysis of:
Blood pressure drugs may protect against Alzheimer's (www.washingtonpost.com)
Over the past 15 years there have been several long-term trials which have provided evidence that reduction of systolic pressure in an elderly population prevents the cognitive decline associated with ageing. The most recent studies have demonstrated the prevention of Alzheimer's-like symptoms. These...
Analysis of:
Patients Curb Prescription Spending (online.wsj.com)
Given the economic pressures on patients, they are now more likely to ask for generic medications than they were in the past. Given that there are generic versions of several classes of medications, physicians such as me are more likely to comply with a patient's request for a generic than in...
Analysis of:
Rivaroxaban versus Enoxaparin for Thromboprophylaxis after Total Knee Arthroplasty (content.nejm.org)
The major impact of this article is that if a strategy of longer term prophylaxis is employed (6 weeks vs in hospital) that better outcomes will be seen in DVT prevention after TKA and THR. While the drugs work differently, the difference in duration of treatment likely explains all of the difference...
Analysis of:
Doctors Say Medication Is Overused in Dementia (www.nytimes.com)
Many times, nursing homes will call doctors practically demanding some sort of medicne for delusional or combative patients. They will even suggest medicines by name. Often, these phone calls occur at 3:00 AM, and the doctor gives a quick yes to give them an answer and get back to sleep....