Here are some highlights from current pharma and clinical research news, views and data-
Resveratrol May Help Prevent Age-Related Deterioration Of Eyesight.
Resveratrol, found in particularly high levels in grape skin (and consequently red wine)," may help prevent age-related deterioration of eyesight, according to a study published in the American Journal of Pathology. "The substance...is believed to work because it protects against abnormal angiogenesis -- the formation of damaged or mutated blood vessels," a condition which "is linked to cancer, heart disease, and eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration." More at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7851772/Drinking-wine-could-protect-your-eyes.html
Pfizer Suspends Clinical Trials Of Tanezumab As Potential Osteoarthritis Treatment.
Pfizer Inc. Spokesperson said Wednesday it has suspended clinical trials of its drug tanezumab as a potential osteoarthritis treatment, after some patients' conditions worsened." The drugmaker "said it halted the worldwide program following a request by the Food and Drug Administration after reports of a 'small number' of patients experiencing more severe osteoarthritis that led to joint replacement."
FDA has also asked the company to show data on potential effects in clinical studies of the drug among patients with cancer pain, interstitial cystitis, chronic low back pain and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Pfizer said." The FDA "will then decide whether to halt Pfizer's remaining trials of tanezumab after reviewing company data." However, "trials for other conditions haven't reported similar adverse events, MacKay Jimeson, a Pfizer spokesman, said."
The drugmaker recently reported that patients using the drug for knee pain related to osteoarthritis had positive responses. More at-
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/23/business-health-care-us-pfizer-halts-study_7714952.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-23/pfizer-suspends-trial-of-tanezumab-for-osteoarthritis-pain-at-u-s-request.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703900004575325320800502744.html
Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sales Remain Strong Despite Evidence They May Be Ineffective.
Despite a 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that suggested that "for most people, glucosamine and chondroitin do not soothe knee pain much better than a placebo," Americans nevertheless "spent $838 million on glucosamine and chondroitin in 2008," according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Rheumatologist Sean Whelton, MD, who "attended the American College of Rheumatology meeting where" results of the NEJM study were presented, tells his osteoarthritis patients that the products are safe, but also points out that they may not be "particularly effective."
SSRI Antidepressant Use Associated With Cataracts.
According to a study published online in the journal Ophthalmology, "SSRI antidepressants raise the risk of cataracts by about 15% -- enough to cause 22,000 extra cataract cases in the US each year." After analyzing "data collected from 18,784 cataract patients and 187,840 comparison patients between 1995 and 2004," researchers found that risk for cataracts was associated with the antidepressants Luvox (fluvoxamine, 39%), Effexor (venlafaxine, 33%), and Paxil (paroxetine, 23%), while overall "use of any SSRI antidepressant raised cataract risk by 15%." The authors theorized that SSRI antidepressants may cause more serotonin to be deposited into receptors in the lens of eye, over time making the lens more opaque.
Resveratrol May Help Prevent Age-Related Deterioration Of Eyesight.
Resveratrol, found in particularly high levels in grape skin (and consequently red wine)," may help prevent age-related deterioration of eyesight, according to a study published in the American Journal of Pathology. "The substance...is believed to work because it protects against abnormal angiogenesis -- the formation of damaged or mutated blood vessels," a condition which "is linked to cancer, heart disease, and eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration." More at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7851772/Drinking-wine-could-protect-your-eyes.html
Pfizer Suspends Clinical Trials Of Tanezumab As Potential Osteoarthritis Treatment.
Pfizer Inc. Spokesperson said Wednesday it has suspended clinical trials of its drug tanezumab as a potential osteoarthritis treatment, after some patients' conditions worsened." The drugmaker "said it halted the worldwide program following a request by the Food and Drug Administration after reports of a 'small number' of patients experiencing more severe osteoarthritis that led to joint replacement."
FDA has also asked the company to show data on potential effects in clinical studies of the drug among patients with cancer pain, interstitial cystitis, chronic low back pain and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Pfizer said." The FDA "will then decide whether to halt Pfizer's remaining trials of tanezumab after reviewing company data." However, "trials for other conditions haven't reported similar adverse events, MacKay Jimeson, a Pfizer spokesman, said."
The drugmaker recently reported that patients using the drug for knee pain related to osteoarthritis had positive responses. More at-
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/06/23/business-health-care-us-pfizer-halts-study_7714952.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-23/pfizer-suspends-trial-of-tanezumab-for-osteoarthritis-pain-at-u-s-request.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703900004575325320800502744.html
Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sales Remain Strong Despite Evidence They May Be Ineffective.
Despite a 2006 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that suggested that "for most people, glucosamine and chondroitin do not soothe knee pain much better than a placebo," Americans nevertheless "spent $838 million on glucosamine and chondroitin in 2008," according to the Nutrition Business Journal. Rheumatologist Sean Whelton, MD, who "attended the American College of Rheumatology meeting where" results of the NEJM study were presented, tells his osteoarthritis patients that the products are safe, but also points out that they may not be "particularly effective."
SSRI Antidepressant Use Associated With Cataracts.
According to a study published online in the journal Ophthalmology, "SSRI antidepressants raise the risk of cataracts by about 15% -- enough to cause 22,000 extra cataract cases in the US each year." After analyzing "data collected from 18,784 cataract patients and 187,840 comparison patients between 1995 and 2004," researchers found that risk for cataracts was associated with the antidepressants Luvox (fluvoxamine, 39%), Effexor (venlafaxine, 33%), and Paxil (paroxetine, 23%), while overall "use of any SSRI antidepressant raised cataract risk by 15%." The authors theorized that SSRI antidepressants may cause more serotonin to be deposited into receptors in the lens of eye, over time making the lens more opaque.
