Low Rate Of Problems With Statins In Study Of Quarter Million Patients
A very large analysis of previously published studies finds that statins are generally safe and well tolerated, but helps confirm previous links to a small increased risk for diabetes and elevation of liver enzymes. Some statins were better tolerated than other statins and lower-dose statins were better tolerated than high dose statins. In a paper published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, Huseyin Naci and colleagues report their findings from a systematic review of clinical trials with statins for both primary and secondary prevention. The data from 55 placebo controlled trials and 80 trials inclu...
Source: CardioBrief - July 9, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Larry Husten Tags: Prevention, Epidemiology & Outcomes atorvastatin Pravastatin primary prevention Rosuvastatin secondary prevention Simvastatin Source Type: blogs
For AZ's Onglyza SAVOUR is not a saviour
AstraZeneca has suffered another drug trial setback.
Its diabetes drug Onglyza, developed with Bristol-Myers Squibb, failed to reduce heart risks or strokes in a large scale clinical trial. Despite investor hopes, the Savor trial showed the drug was no better than placebo or standard treatments.
Panmure Gordon analyst Savvas Neophytou issued a hold recommendation on the shares, which have dipped 2.5p to £32.48, saying:
AstraZeneca's eagerly anticipated Savor trial has read out without success in providing a differentiation on cardiovascular risk for diabetes product Onglyza.
This disappointment should be moderat...
Source: PharmaGossip - June 19, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
May Diabetes-Related News Snippets
Conclusion: "Compared with pravastatin, treatment with higher potency statins, especially atorvastatin and simvastatin, might be associated with an increased risk of new onset diabetes."22% higher risk with Lipitor (atorvastatin) and 18 percent higher with Crestor (rosuvastatin).In mainstream press coverage, Drug company shills,, a.k.a. well known cardiologists, bend over backward to ignore this latest confirmation of a phenomenon that has been public knowledge for more than a year. The reason that statins cause diabetes may have to do with the fact that they impair the operation mitochondria--the part of the ce...
Source: Diabetes Update - June 3, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: Jenny Source Type: blogs
United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading: Accuses GlaxoSmithKline for Pay for Delay
In January of this year, we noted that the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case to decide whether agreements between brand-name pharmaceutical companies and generic makers to delay the entry of generic drugs to the market—so called “pay for delay” deals—violate antitrust laws. “In a typical case, a generic rival challenges the patent of a brand-name competitor, which then pays the rival a sum of money to drop its challenge,” reported Reuters.
A study by RBC Capital Markets Corp. of 371 cases during 2000-2009 found brand-name companies won 89 at trial compared to 82 won by generic drugmakers. Anothe...
Source: Policy and Medicine - May 16, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs
Another Blow To AstraZeneca: S&P Lowers Its Outlook
Three weeks ago, Pascal Soirot unveiled a months-long effort to rebuild AstraZeneca, which he joined last fall as ceo amid a disheartening lack of new drugs and increased generic competition. His plan revolves around consolidating R&D and global marketing operations over the next two years, a move that will eventually eliminate 1,600 jobs by 2016 and save some $900 million annually. Earlier this year, Soirot also booted the former head of global commercial activities and created a new position to bridge R&D and sales (read more here).
Initially, the response to his plan was enthusiastic, at least among investors. ...
Source: Pharmalot - April 9, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
Near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIRS) along with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)
A new combination catheter system with ability for intravascular ultra sound imaging (IVUS) along with near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIRS) has been developed as the TVC Imaging System TM (MC 7 system, InfraReDx, Burlington, Massachusetts). NIRS is able to detect lipid rich core of the plaques and assigns red colour to low probability and yellow colour to high probability. IBIS-3 (Integrated Biomarker and Imaging Study 3) [Simsek C et al. EuroIntervention. 2012 Jun 20;8(2):235-41. The ability of high dose rosuvastatin to improve plaque composition in non-intervened coronary arteries: rationale and design of the Integ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - April 3, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin Tags: Angiography and Interventions Source Type: blogs
March Diabetes News Snippet Post
Here are all the news items posted in March: Jennysaid... People taking Byetta, Victoza, Januvia, and Onglyza had less heart failure than those not on these drugs. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130310164109.htmHowever, it is likely this is because Avandia and Actos CAUSE heart failure, rather than that these other drugs prevent it. People are rarely put on both families of drugs at once. It may also be because these GLP-1 related drugs are mostly prescribed to affluent, younger people with diabetes and good health insurance, while poorer people are put on the cheap sulfonylurea drugs which are now known to ...
Source: Diabetes Update - March 11, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: Jenny Source Type: blogs
Shire to Forest on Deal List for AstraZeneca: Real M&A - Bloomberg
For AstraZeneca Plc to reverse its worst profit slide, the drugmaker needs to make its biggest purchase since at least 2007. AstraZeneca reported a 37 percent drop in 2012 earnings and forecast profit this year will decline “significantly more than revenue” after the $59 billion company suffered setbacks in developing new therapies to replace best-selling drugs that are losing patent protection. While Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot said he will focus on internal efforts and purchases of $3 billion to $4 billion to help boost the lowest valuations in the industry, Exane BNP Paribas said only a “transformationa...
Source: PharmaGossip - February 12, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Baby Boomers Living Longer, But Less Healthy Lives!
I just read some surprising results of a study published in Arch Intern Med. (2013;173(2):1-2) regarding the overall health status of aging baby boomers compared with the previous generation. The authors analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including NHANES III (1988-1994) (for previous generation) and the NHANES for 2007 to 2010 (for baby boomers), focusing on respondents who were aged 46 to 64 years during either period. "The 2 cohorts were compared with regard to health status, functional and work disability, healthy lifestyle characteristics, and presence of chronic disease....
Source: Pharma Marketing Blog - February 4, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Tags: statins Cholesterol baby boomers diabetes Life Expectancy Source Type: blogs
Ace and XL sued by AZ
A court case that got under way this week could have implications for reinsurers around the world.
The case is AstraZeneca Insurance Company (the pharmaceutical giant’s captive insurance company) versus XL Insurance (Bermuda) and Ace Bermuda Insurance.
The dispute is over whether the two Bermuda-based reinsurers can be held liable for settlements and costs incurred by the world’s fifth largest pharmaceutical company following several class-action product liability lawsuits related to its prescription drug Seroquel.
The claims alleged personal injury, namely, that Seroquel, an antipsychotic drug prescribed for schizo...
Source: PharmaGossip - January 29, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Pascal Soriot rings the changes in AZ
AstraZeneca in new management shake-up
Both Martin Mackay, president of research and development, and Tony Zook, global commercial executive vice president, have had their roles "eliminated" and are to leave the company at the end of January.
Under a significant management restructure, Mr Soriot has also promoted three members of research and development staff, responsible for drug discovery and development from early to late stages, to his senior executive team, in a sign that the company sees organic drug making as crucial to its future success.
There will also be another three roles at senior executive level represe...
Source: PharmaGossip - January 15, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
