GLG News by Physicians in the U.S. who Treat Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

11% drop in physician re-imbursement vs HMO sponsored Medicare "advantage" programs. Who will win out?

Extraordinarily expensive Avastin makes all think twice before using, due to ?? efficacy data as well as questions re: quality of life v survival benefits.

Lilly has devoted substantial energy/expense in developing Cymbalta for many indications.  Is this at the expense of developing novel agents? 

Several Chinese companies are set to enter the generic drug market ove the next year.  If these agents are demonstrated to be safe, they could have a large impact on the generic drug industry.

Roche has elected not to provide information on the cost effectiveness and clinical effectiveness of Avastin in breast cancer to the medicine advisory board of the British government.  As such, the drug will not be able for first line treatment of these diseases in Britain.

Drugs are released to the market without adequate study, then, after around 70 to 100 patient deaths due to the drug are reported, the drug is pulled from the market.  Getting in front of this "problem" would improve the safety of our drug supply.

We may be able to analyze EGFR mutations from periperal blood of lung cancer patients. Very frequently enough tissue fromm needle biopsies are not available for analysis. This may replace the need for new biopsies.

This oral Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitor appears to have activity in radioresistant differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Drug company (Roche) retaliates against an agency that speaks the truth about their chemical - that it's cost is not worth the minimal benefit.  This will become more common as time goes on, even here in the bastion of capitalism.

Patients who wish to receive Avastin for breast and lung Cancer will need to pay for it themselves.