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1) New drug, Tysabri ,
approved for
MS (with a new name as well)
(Old name was Antegren).
My
previous education into Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was from the
University of Minnesota Medical School, which I attended as part
of my Pharm. D. training. This was before the advent of many of
the treatments now available that appear to modify the disease
itself. In the past we would divide 100 patients into quartiles.
About 25% would be relatively unaffected by the disease, about
25% would experience minor effects, about 25% would have
significant effects and about 25% would be devastated by the
disease. While the new drugs have not eliminated all of the
effects they have shifted everything to the positive.
While the diagnosis will send chills down the spine, there is
not better time in history to receive such a diagnosis as today.
It is important, from my observations of those with the disease,
to keep a positive attitude in order to both cope with the
disease and maintain the immune system responses.
Because this is an area of intense research and that advances
are being made daily MS patients, new and old, will likely
benefit from these advances as they learn to live with the
disease. The numbers on this new drug are quite impressive.
There are different types of MS and the drug therapy is tailored
to the disease based upon research. It is best to see a
neurologist that is familiar (even sub-specializing) with the
diagnosis and treatment of MS.
http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh38356_2004-11-24_00-33-16_n23123728_newsml
2) New
“Over-active-bladder” drug FDA approved….. I can wait for the
ads…
As the “baby
boomers” age and start suffering from such maladies I expect the
demand to grow in the therapeutic category. Many of the drugs
have anticolinergic effects and can precipitate mental changes
that look a lot like Alzheimer’s. (Cholinegic drugs are given to
treat Alzheimer’s). Vesicare (solifenacin), is one drug in the
class called “selective
muscarinic receptor antagonists”.
The class name might just be hype or a true medical advance. The
cholinergic system consists of both muscarinic and nicotinic
receptors so it interesting to see the side effect profile
includes typical “anticholinergic” effects of urinary tract
infections and eye problems. Will have to keep an eye on
developments. The drug will be promoted in the US by
GlaxoSmithKline.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/494487?src=mp
Package
insert is at
http://www.vesicare.com/assets/vesicare_prescribing_info.pdf
3) WHO warns of
inevitable “bird flu” pan-demic.
This one has been
kicking around in Asia for a few years. Hasn’t been able to make
a wholesale jump to human but expect it at some point. This is
getting a lot of play in the virus-manipulation circles with
fears that any experimental tampering will escape into the
population. Some are suggesting a HUGE percentage of fatalities
from either source. I’ll keep you posted.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6928426
4) Work-stress
healthy?…
Decreased rates of
dementia (commonly read as Alzheimer’s) for those with
challenging jobs with increasing responsibilities. May be
related to other factors but interesting all the same.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=6930710
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