Category: Pharmaceuticals
Global drug sale forecasts decline as industry pricing face scrutiny
Analysts’ worldwide drug sale forecasts fell down for the first time in 10 years – going down to US$1.06 trillion in 2022from last year’s US$1.12 trillion forecast – as industry pricing continues to face scrutiny and pressure, especially in the key US market, according to a report. It is the first time in 10 years [...]
Vaccine that could lower cholesterol starts phase I human trial
A new vaccine that could potentially help lower high levels of cholesterol is now starting a phase I trial in human patients following successful results in mice. The study is the first to show that it is possible to immunize genetically modified mice with a molecule that causes the body to produce antibodies against an [...]
WHO releases new essential drug list to curb antimicrobial resistance
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new “essential medicines list” categorizing antibiotics into three groups in an attempt to fight antimicrobial resistance. The new classification list includes 39 antibiotics for 21 common syndromes classified into “Access”, “Watch” and “Reserve” groups, with penicillin-type drugs recommended as the first line of defense and others only [...]
Prostate cancer drug improved patient survival in large clinical trial
A prostate cancer drug therapy targeting cancer that has already spread was found to improve patient survival in one of the largest clinical trials for the disease, UK researchers said. The drug, called abiraterone, was used in the trial as an additional treatment in patients with prostate cancer who were about to start long-term hormone [...]
Doctors, pharma execs worry over India’s generics-only plan
Doctors, health experts and pharmaceutical executives in India have expressed their worries over the country’s plan to enact a law that will ensure doctors will only prescribe medicines by their generic names as the move might increase the sale of substandard drugs in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last month that the government [...]
US FDA approves first ALS drug treatment in over 20 years
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug to treat the fatal neurological disorder ALS, becoming the first such regulatory approval in the US in more than 20 years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare condition that affects between 12,000 and 15,000 Americans, according [...]
US prescription drug spending forecasted to reach US$610 bn by 2021
US spending on prescription drugs is expected to rise by 4-7% through 2021, reaching US$580 to US$610 billion, according to a report released by Quintiles IMS Holding, lowering its previous forecast. Drug makers are facing increasing pricing pressure and competition in the market. In addition, 2016 saw fewer new medicines being approved than prior years. [...]
UK scientists find drug that could stop neurodegenerative brain diseases
Scientists at the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) may have found a drug to stop all neurodegenerative brain diseases, including dementia. In 2013, a UK MRC team stopped brain cells dying in an animal for the first time, creating headline news around the world. But the compound used was unsuitable for people, as it caused [...]
Huge progress made in fight against neglected tropical diseases –Bill Gates
The world has made a huge progress in its fight against neglected tropical diseases, and efforts have been ramped up since a key meeting in London five years ago, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says. The London meeting resulted in a pledge to control or eliminate 10 neglected tropical diseases – including guinea worm, [...]
Malaria vaccine developed by Australian scientists passes early human trials
A new malaria vaccine developed by Australian scientists has passed early human trials, marking a world-first breakthrough in vaccine development for the mosquito-borne disease that kills up to half a million people each year. The vaccine, called PlasProtecT, developed by researchers at Queensland’s Griffith University consists of inactivated human malaria parasites which have been prevented [...]
