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Patent litigation the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies

Patent litigation remains the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies. 71% of drug companies have used legal battles to defend their patents in the past three years, according to research from pharmaceutical business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information.

4 Nov 2004

The Royal Society of Medicine Press has published new Primary Care Guidelines for the Management of Females with Epilepsy

These guidelines were produced following a multidisciplinary consensus meeting of epilepsy experts and cover such topics as the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, preconception counselling and the management of epilepsy during and after pregnancy.

3 Nov 2004

Less risks for patients participating in early phase cancer drug trials

The risk of treatment-related (toxic) death for cancer patients enrolled in phase 1 clinical trials had decreased significantly over the past 12 years (from 1991 to 2002), according to an article in the November 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Nov 2004

High-dose statin therapy for aggressive cholesterol-lowering outperforms typical care

Patients treated with high doses of atorvastatin had about a one percent lower annual rate of heart attacks than similar patients receiving usual care, according to a new study in the Nov. 2, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

2 Nov 2004

Smart stethoscope for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments to shatter kidney stones

Professor Tim Leighton from the University of Southampton's world-renowned Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR) and Dr Andrew Coleman, of Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust are developing with industry a 'smart stethoscope' for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments to shatter kidney stones.

2 Nov 2004

Reproductive hormones have effects on all of these stages of brain growth and development

Scientists are now uncovering increasing evidence that the brain not only responds to hormones produced by the reproductive system, but that these hormones-the so-called "female hormones," estrogen and progestin, and the "male" androgens, such as testosterone-play an important role in the development of differences between male and female brains.

2 Nov 2004

Possible treatment for the fatal lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

They found that the anti-cancer drug imatinib mesylate — commercially known as Gleevec and produced by Novartis Pharmaceuticals — can target a gene critical to controlling the disease process. Previously, there had been no treatment and patients usually did not survive beyond three years of diagnosis. Now the treatment is undergoing clinical trials at Mayo Clinic.

2 Nov 2004

An errant enzyme linked to bipolar disorder impairs awareness, perception and reasoning

The disturbed thinking, impaired judgment, impulsivity, and distractibility seen in mania, a destructive phase of bipolar disorder, may be traceable to overactivity of protein kinase C (PKC), suggests the study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the Stanley Foundation.

1 Nov 2004

Improved risk classification for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia offers hope for eliminating irradiation

Improved risk classification for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), coupled with more intensive intrathecal chemotherapy for high risk patients and the use of a drug called dexamethasone, could one day permit physicians to omit irradiation as a part of routine treatment.

1 Nov 2004

New approaches for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Data from two ongoing studies testing new approaches for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) this afternoon.

1 Nov 2004

Tentative approval of testosterone gel product

Par Pharmaceutical Companies today announced that its partner, Paddock Laboratories, has been granted tentative approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for testosterone gel 1%.

1 Nov 2004

No evidence that Glatiramer acetate slows multiple sclerosis progression

In this week's issue of the Lancet Neurology, glatiramer acetate, known as Copaxone(R), was subjected to an independent review. The systematic review, called a Cochrane Review, performed by Dr. Luca Munari and colleagues, challenges the claims of benefit from previous industry- based publications.

1 Nov 2004

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

International researchers will, for the first time, present findings from the landmark 4D trial about whether a cholesterol-reducing drug decreases the risk of heart attacks and strokes with type 2 diabetics on dialysis at the American Society of Nephrology’s 37th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.

1 Nov 2004

Hormone therapy findings suggest a complex relationship between marketing, scientific evidence and prescribing patterns

Pharmaceutical companies slashed their promotional spending for hormone therapies by more than a third following reports in July 2002 of health risks associated with the drugs, but within the year they beefed up their marketing efforts to promote lower-dose forms of the medications

1 Nov 2004

Discovery of a number of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of the hepatitis C (HCV) NS3/4 protease

InterMune announced today the presentation of preclinical data on the discovery and characterization of a number of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of the hepatitis C (HCV) NS3/4 protease.

1 Nov 2004

New research into psychotropic drugs

Issues surrounding the prescription of psychotropic drugs for people with learning difficulties are highlighted in a newly completed research project, Medication Matters, by Dr Jackie Rodgers and colleagues at the Norah Fry Research Centre at the University of Bristol.

1 Nov 2004

Drugs News and Research

Patent litigation the most commonly used generic defense strategy among pharmaceutical companies

The Royal Society of Medicine Press has published new Primary Care Guidelines for the Management of Females with Epilepsy

Less risks for patients participating in early phase cancer drug trials

High-dose statin therapy for aggressive cholesterol-lowering outperforms typical care

Smart stethoscope for monitoring the effectiveness of treatments to shatter kidney stones

Reproductive hormones have effects on all of these stages of brain growth and development

Possible treatment for the fatal lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

An errant enzyme linked to bipolar disorder impairs awareness, perception and reasoning

Improved risk classification for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia offers hope for eliminating irradiation

New approaches for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Tentative approval of testosterone gel product

No evidence that Glatiramer acetate slows multiple sclerosis progression

Do cholesterol-reducing drugs decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes in diabetics?

Hormone therapy findings suggest a complex relationship between marketing, scientific evidence and prescribing patterns

Discovery of a number of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors of the hepatitis C (HCV) NS3/4 protease

New research into psychotropic drugs

Warning on Alzheimer drug mix up

Cellular enzyme represents a potential new target for developing improved HIV drugs

Pegasys with ribavirin combo may best for reducing hepatitis C viral levels

Discovery of new method for visual impairment treatment

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

One Health, One Mission: The World Organisation for Animal Health on the AMR Frontline

Uniting Against Resistance: The World Health Organization for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2023

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: A Conversation with Dr. Beverley Isherwood

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