Here are some highlights from current pharma and clinical research news, views and data-
FDA To Decide On Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine.
Prostate cancer strikes more American men than any other cancer. In fact, "just last year there were nearly 200,000 new cases" and "more than 27,000 deaths." But, Dendreon Corp. scientists have been hard at work on a new vaccine that may "extend the lives of" patients with an advanced form of the disease. More importantly, the FDA this week is expected to decide "whether to approve" the nation's "first therapeutic cancer vaccine."
What makes Provenge so novel is the fact that it "uses the patient's own blood cells to trick the tumor cells in to stimulating the body's own immune system to attack that tumor" without inducing "widespread toxicity," Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained in an article posted on the outlet's website. "She said these are personalized vaccines, so it's not one size or one-size fits all." And "that makes the" vaccine "more complicated and expensive to make, but the patient will reap the benefits in treatment."
Accordingly, "many cancer patients were disappointed when the FDA failed to approve the treatment in 2007, even though the agency's own advisory panel had voted overwhelmingly in favor of it." However, officials "appear poised to approve" the new treatment, which "may cost as much as $75,000." Notably, the "science behind the vaccine could also have applications for other kinds of cancers."
Concurrent Use Of PPIs, Clopidogrel In Heart Disease Linked To Fewer Gastroduodenal Bleeding Hospitalizations.
Concurrent use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with serious coronary heart disease treated with clopidogrel is associated with fewer hospitalizations for gastroduodenal bleeding," Vanderbilt researchers found after reviewing data on "20,596 patients (including 7,593 concurrent users of clopidogrel and PPIs) who received clopidogrel between 1999 and 2005." According to the paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine, "compared with nonusers of PPIs, concurrent PPI users had a 50% lower adjusted incidence of hospitalization for gastroduodenal bleeding." PPI use was also "associated with an absolute reduction of 28.5 (95% CI, 11.7 - 36.9) hospitalizations for gastroduodenal bleeding per 1000 person-years, for those patients at highest risk of bleeding."
Metformin May Improve Ability Of Bicalutamide To Slow Proliferation In Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.
The commonly prescribed anti-diabetes drug metformin appears to improve the ability of bicalutamide (Casodex), an androgen ablation drug, to slow proliferation in hormone-resistant prostate cancer cell lines," according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Researchers said that "combining metformin with bicalutamide significantly reduces prostate cancer cell colony formation rates more effectively than either drug in monotherapy." The researchers also said that "this combination regimen may potentially improve prostate cancer specific survival through a direct anti-proliferation mechanism."
NSAID Use May Not Reduce Risk Of Ovarian Cancer.
Regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs did not reduce the risk of ovarian cancer," according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting. Researchers found that "neither weekly nor daily use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) influenced the relative risk of ovarian cancer." However, "self-reported daily use of acetaminophen almost doubled the risk of ovarian cancer." References- http://www.pharm-education.com/2010/04/pharmaceutical-research-updates.html Disclaimer- The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
FDA To Decide On Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine.
Prostate cancer strikes more American men than any other cancer. In fact, "just last year there were nearly 200,000 new cases" and "more than 27,000 deaths." But, Dendreon Corp. scientists have been hard at work on a new vaccine that may "extend the lives of" patients with an advanced form of the disease. More importantly, the FDA this week is expected to decide "whether to approve" the nation's "first therapeutic cancer vaccine."
What makes Provenge so novel is the fact that it "uses the patient's own blood cells to trick the tumor cells in to stimulating the body's own immune system to attack that tumor" without inducing "widespread toxicity," Dr. Jennifer Ashton explained in an article posted on the outlet's website. "She said these are personalized vaccines, so it's not one size or one-size fits all." And "that makes the" vaccine "more complicated and expensive to make, but the patient will reap the benefits in treatment."
Accordingly, "many cancer patients were disappointed when the FDA failed to approve the treatment in 2007, even though the agency's own advisory panel had voted overwhelmingly in favor of it." However, officials "appear poised to approve" the new treatment, which "may cost as much as $75,000." Notably, the "science behind the vaccine could also have applications for other kinds of cancers."
Concurrent Use Of PPIs, Clopidogrel In Heart Disease Linked To Fewer Gastroduodenal Bleeding Hospitalizations.
Concurrent use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with serious coronary heart disease treated with clopidogrel is associated with fewer hospitalizations for gastroduodenal bleeding," Vanderbilt researchers found after reviewing data on "20,596 patients (including 7,593 concurrent users of clopidogrel and PPIs) who received clopidogrel between 1999 and 2005." According to the paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine, "compared with nonusers of PPIs, concurrent PPI users had a 50% lower adjusted incidence of hospitalization for gastroduodenal bleeding." PPI use was also "associated with an absolute reduction of 28.5 (95% CI, 11.7 - 36.9) hospitalizations for gastroduodenal bleeding per 1000 person-years, for those patients at highest risk of bleeding."
Metformin May Improve Ability Of Bicalutamide To Slow Proliferation In Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.
The commonly prescribed anti-diabetes drug metformin appears to improve the ability of bicalutamide (Casodex), an androgen ablation drug, to slow proliferation in hormone-resistant prostate cancer cell lines," according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. Researchers said that "combining metformin with bicalutamide significantly reduces prostate cancer cell colony formation rates more effectively than either drug in monotherapy." The researchers also said that "this combination regimen may potentially improve prostate cancer specific survival through a direct anti-proliferation mechanism."
NSAID Use May Not Reduce Risk Of Ovarian Cancer.
Regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs did not reduce the risk of ovarian cancer," according to a study presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting. Researchers found that "neither weekly nor daily use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) influenced the relative risk of ovarian cancer." However, "self-reported daily use of acetaminophen almost doubled the risk of ovarian cancer." References- http://www.pharm-education.com/2010/04/pharmaceutical-research-updates.html Disclaimer- The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
