GLG News by Physicians who Treat Malignant Melanoma (US)

The recent FDA warning on Botox is unlikely to limit the cosmetic use of the product because the dose is relatively low. The warning only applies to significantly  higher doses in patients with neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy. Serious adverse events like allergic reactions are very...

Botox is  highly effective cosmetic product, albeit not long lasting. Patient satisfaction is high, and the cost is still not prohibitive. However the predictable and not always justified increases in price have forced many physicians to eagerly await the newer agents. The include products from...

This study will expand the use of Enbrel in newer populations. this is important in that Humira just received approval for adults, and the market has become more competitive. This is good news for children with severe resistant psoriasis.

Intron-A is currently the only FDA approved medicine to treat melanoma patients without active disease but at high risk for future recurrence. On March 12, 2008, the Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) will discuss newly available data on the effectiveness and safety profile of PEG Intron, a longer...

The Supreme Court, in refusing to hear arguments in a case brought that would make it easier for patients to gain access to non-approved drugs, brought a legal end to the request of the Abigail Alliance. This suit would have circumvented the drug approval process while leading to patients receiving...

The medical and scientific worlds lost a great man when Dr. Judah Folkman recently passed away. His work in anti-angiogenesis was very inspiring and created a whole new area of scientific research to fight cancer, which eventually led to new drugs and treatments, principally Avastin. Dr. Folkman was...

The announcement by Wellpoint that it will offer online evaluations of doctors and their offices is very interesting. Using a tool developed by Zagat's, patients in targest markets will be able to rate their physician "experience" on several unspecified factors, presumably dealing with things like doctor/office...

Interleukin-21, or IL-21, is a protein that regulates immunomodulatory cell function. It appears to stimulate the activity of NK cells and cytotoxic T cells, which may be particularly relevant in targeting cancers that more responsive to the immune system, such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma....

 The new Centecor psoriasis product, Ustekinumab, is impressive in its efficacy. The PASI 75 reduction is equal or surpasses Remicade, the current leader in efficacy in psoriasis. This product has the advantage of being a self administered injection at home, rather than a prolonged IV injection...

 This topical Botox product is promising in that it would require no injection, and would be better accepted by patients. Medicis investment in the company is a wise adjunct to their Reloxin product, which was recently submitted to the FDA. Both these products would offer significant competition...