GLG News by General Cardiologists (US)

Lipitor is the dominant statin on the market and has an indication for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Crestor is more potent than Lipitor, but, because it was approved later, has less data to show for and no indication for lowering the risk of clinical events. Moreover, Zocor (Simvastatin)...

Impressive data on Ranexa in HGBA1c. The result of a decrease of 0.64 vs baseline and 0.43 vs placebo are at first glance underwhelming.  But a closer looks shows that the results are realy quite impressive

The Supreme Court has rejected the use of experimental drugs by the dying patients on the grounds that "The framers (of the US constitution) understood that the pursuit of life is an inalienable right that should not be abridged without due process of law." Over the years our patients with terminal...

Apparently doctors aren't quite as easily manipulated by pharma as we all thought.  Despite a vigorous marketing effort, Bidil was seen by cardiologist as what it is- an expensive combination of two generics and was not used- even after insurance companies started to pay for it.

My expertise in the clinical research of Torcetrapib and reports presented at the latest American College of Cardiology meetings made me conclude that the failure of  Torcetrapib in rendering clinical benefits were related to intrinsic problems of the drug which effected the nature of the HDL which...

Those like myself who have more extensive knowledge on the rational used by the FDA to reject the approval of Rimonabant and know the differences between Rimonabant and Taranabant do not believe that there is an error in judgment by Merck in developing their new cannabinoid receptor antagonist. This...

Merck and Schering Plough has finally released the ENHANCE trial. The results were bad- and the cover up was worse. Those who predict no fall out from this study are kidding themselves.

vWF is one of a number of attractive antiplatelet targets which include P2Y112, GIIb/IIIa, to name a few. Currently Medicines Company's Cangrelor, a small molecule against P2Y12 is quite far along in development.  In addition, Archemix just published results of its Phase I trial with its anti-vWF...

Niacin is the most potent approved HDL-raising agent with evidence for cardiovascular benefit. Flush is the limiting side-effect. EPA (a major component of omega 3 fish oil) decreases triglycerides and may have antiarrhythmic properties.

Challenges to pharmaceutical patents prior to the "official" expiration of the patent are proliferating; if they are allowed to stand, that is, if the "original" patent is successfully voided one of the crucial financial incentives to novel pharmaceutical research will be abridged and the "profit" motive...