Drug | Page 233 of 280 | SpiritIndia.com

Cholesterol :: Pfizer’s torcetrapib/atorvastatin clinical trials – raising good cholesterol HDL

Pfizer Inc provided an update on the preliminary results of its torcetrapib/atorvastatin clinical trials in connection with the release of an American Heart Association abstract of a Phase 3 study in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) that shows the drug significantly raising ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol (56 percent) and additionally lowering ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol (27 percent) versus patients taking atorvastatin alone.

Salmonellosis :: CDC investigating salmonella outbreak in US – 171 cases, 19 states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state departments of health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is investigating an outbreak of infections caused by a type of Salmonella called Salmonella Typhimurium.

Baby Care :: Defective serotonin pathways in the brainstem may increase infants’ vulnerability – SIDS

New autopsy data provide the strongest evidence yet that sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is not a “mystery” disease but has a concrete biological basis. In the November 1 issue of JAMA, researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston document abnormalities in the brainstem — a part of the brain that regulates breathing, blood pressure, body heat, and arousal — in babies who died from SIDS. The term cot death is often used in the United Kingdom, and crib death in North America.

Pregnancy :: Hair samples show babies exposure to ‘crystal meth’ – a Canada study

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is a serious health problem of epidemic proportions. Exposure to this drug, particularly during pregnancy, is difficult to ascertain. Sparse information on gestational exposure is available. Crystal meth boosts alertness and promotes a sense of wellbeing, euphoria, and exhilaration. It also curbs appetite and enhances sexual arousal. But long term abuse damages nerves in the brain and can lead to psychotic behaviour and aggression.

Cholesterol :: Patent Victory in Spanish Court Favoring Ranbaxy on Atorvastatin Unaffected

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited said that recently, in two separate rulings, the Spanish courts (the Mercantile Court of Barcelona, No. 2) found Spanish patent ES 2,167,306 (counterpart of Pfizer’s EP 409 281) to be invalid for lack of novelty. The two rulings made on September 26, 2006, in Lek Pharmaceuticals v. Warner Lambert Co. and in Laboratorios Cinfa et al. v. Warner Lambert, found claims 1 to 3 of Pfizer to be invalid. These decisions came after considering the views of the Spanish Patent Office (SPO), in addition to technical expert reports.

Breast Cancer :: Breast cancer gene offers promising target for drugs

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have for the first time described how multiple copies of a gene are responsible for metastases in early-stage breast cancer and poor prognosis for patients. In a study published in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the gene, called uPAR, offers a promising target for therapeutic drugs to stop or slow the progression of the disease and could serve as a screening tool for assessing which types of drugs a patient will respond to.

Alzheimer’s Disease :: Alzheimer’s vaccine trial successful, can reverse the processes of Alzheimer’s

The first human Alzheimer’s vaccine trial in the UK is being resurrected in a study launched by the Alzheimer?s Research Trust. The charity hopes it will indicate whether immunisation against Alzheimer’s is an effective method of tackling the disease.

Contraception :: Adjudin male pill – contraceptive pill with no side effects for men

A new study has revealed that a drug targeting the testicles could be an effective male contraceptive without unwanted side effects. Chuen-yan Cheng at the Population Council?s Center for Biomedical Research in New York City, US, and colleagues, injected a drug into the bloodstream of rats that stopped immature sperm cells from maturing properly.

HIV :: Increase in HIV among injecting drug users

A report released by the Health Protection Agency shows that around one in 50 Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in the UK are now infected with HIV. This is around twice the level seen at the beginning of the decade. In particular the HIV prevalence amongst those injecting for less than three years has increased since 2002. Increasing evidence suggests that crack cocaine is a major factor.

Hepatitis :: PEG-INTRON, peginterferon and REBETOL, ribavirin in Hepatitis C — Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough reported data from EPIC3, a large ongoing clinical study, showing that retreatment with PEG-INTRON(R) (peginterferon alfa-2b) and REBETOL(R) (ribavirin, USP) combination therapy can result in sustained virologic response(1) (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed previous treatment with any alpha interferon-based combination therapy, including peginterferon regimens. In this study, 56 percent of patients who had undetectable virus (HCV-RNA) after 12 weeks went on to achieve SVR with a 48-week course of therapy. Of the first 1,354 patients retreated, approximately 38 percent had undetectable virus at week 12. Importantly, patients who did not have undetectable virus at 12 weeks had little chance of achieving SVR. Overall, 23 percent of patients achieved SVR.