Study Group: Cardiologists who Treat Angina (US)

GLG News^SM Analyses by this Study Group's Leading Experts(?)

If it seems too good to be true...it probably is.

December 9, 2008

Analysis by:Joshua Feuer, Owner,

Analysis of:Generic Heart Drugs as Good as Brand-Name Counterparts | www.washingtonpost.com

This article implies that physician's have no justifiable reason for prescribing brand-name drugs. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

“You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there.” Yogi Berra

December 8, 2008

Analysis by:Joshua Feuer, Owner,

Analysis of:Patients Taking Lipitor Had a Significantly Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Events Compared with Patients Taking Simvastatin, New Observational Study Shows | pharmalive.com

There is a question of bias in this study. It is not prospective, not randomized and not blinded and thus no valid conclusions can be made. The study should be ignored. It will have no impact on sales.

Outsourcing of compassionate use of drugs?

January 18, 2008

Analysis by:Dan Streja, Clinical Professor of Medicine,

Analysis of: No right to experimental drugs for dying patients: Supreme Court | news.yahoo.com

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 illness have traveled outside the US to purchase hope when our management was offering none. Although in the majority of cases the hope was unjustified, the current decision will encourage healthcare providers residing outside the US to advertise for their services through the internet. The issue should be addressed by the legislators sooner rather than later. Drugs who improve quality of life, awaiting approval for survival indication or drugs looking promising in early clinical trials could be made available to dying patients with informed consent addressing our limitations.  

Risk Versus Benefit

November 23, 2007

Analysis by:Ramin Ebrahimi, Director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab,

Analysis of:Study Shows Weight-Loss Drug Rimonabant is Associated with Severe Adverse Psychiatric Events | pharmalive.com

The pooled analysis of Rimonabant trials point to a significant increase in psychiatric disorders. These studies also point to significant improvements in markers of cardiovascular risk. Risks versus benefits must be considered before the final decision is made on this class of medications.

Another piece of good news for a very good drug

November 8, 2007

Analysis by:Howard Weintraub, Clinical Director,

Analysis of:Ranexa(R) Significantly Reduces Incidence Of CV Death, MI Or Recurrent Ischemia In MERLIN TIMI-36 Patients With Elevated BNP | www.medicalnewstoday.com

By restoring function in the late Na channel and hence improving diastolic function (amongst other things), Ranexa has worked terrifically in my patients with any evidence for diastolic dysfunction. This typically manifests with shortness of breath and can be associated with an elevated level of BNP. This has not been as successful in patients without myocardial ischemia, but in those with ischemia the shortness of breath and associated chest discomfort has been helped in many. Including the most recent patient with a severe ischemic cardiomyopathy who has responded very very well with a significant increase in his functional capacity. Hopefully this news along with the safety from MERLIN and the A1C data and reduction in arrhythmias in that study will awaken docs to the benefits of Ranexa.  

View All GLG News by members of this Study Group