Future Prescriber最新文献

This series of company profiles looks at some of the major players in the UK pharmaceutical industry, their current areas of expertise, and forthcoming products and initiatives that will have an impact on therapeutics and prescribing in the near future. In this article we provide an overview of Shire and its current portfolio, and look at its current pipeline and areas of research interest. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

It is estimated that depression carries the greatest burden of disability in established economies. A range of treatments are available, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant. In this article, the author discusses agomelatine, a novel antidepressant recently licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), the evidence for its use, and its potential place in therapy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the UK, accounting for one in seven new cases, 24% of cancer deaths among men and 20% among women.¹ In this article, Dr Fiona Blackhall and Steve Chaplin consider the use of gefitinib for lung cancer its mechanism of action, efficacy and adverse effects are described, followed by its effect on quality of life and its potential place in disease management. Pharmacist Geoff Saunders provides a commentary on the article and remarks on the selective use of gefitinib in lung cancer therapy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Many antiarrhythmic agents exploiting new mechanisms of action (as well as modified analogues of traditional antiarrhythmic drugs, with different combinations of ion channel- and receptor-blocking effects and less complicated metabolic profiles) are currently being investigated. Dronedarone is an amiodarone derivative that is devoid of iodine atoms and is believed to have a better safety profile than amiodarone. It is the only antiarrhythmic drug for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) that has been shown to improve survival in high-risk patients. This review provides a contemporary insight into the clinical development of dronedarone, its efficacy and safety in preventing recurrent AF, and its potential additional advantage of improving outcome in patients with AF. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in the UK.¹ Blood choleserol levels are a key risk factor for CVD, and can be modified by both drug treatment and lifestyle changes. In this article, Steve Chaplin considers the available clinical data on a new lipid-modifying therapy, a modified-release formulation of nicotinic acid and laropiprant; and Marc Evans comments on its potential contribution to reducing the risk of CVD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Affecting approximately 400 000 people in England and Wales,¹ rheumatoid arthritis (RA) creates a considerable economic burden. NICE estimates that five years after diagnosis, 40% of RA patients will be incapable of work.¹ Some treatment options for RA look to control inflammation in order to rein in the disease. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) invokes inflammation via TNF-α, although the reason for this is unknown. Some researchers are beginning to turn their attention to IL-6 in their search for novel RA treatments, and believe that drugs inhibiting this inflammatory cytokine could halt disease progression. In this article, we consider tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

According to NICE, prostate cancer constitutes about 25% of new diagnoses of malignant cancer in men in England and Wales.¹ The largest single area of spending on cancer drugs is on hormonal therapy, accounting for about 40% of the £292 million total. This article focuses on a novel hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, degarelix. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chronic pain is common, and opioid therapy is often required for pain management. Unfortunately, opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OIBD) is a frequent and debilitating side-effect of opioid use. A new prolonged-release (PR) preparation of oxycodone/naloxone has been developed for moderate-to-severe pain that reduces OIBD in patients. In this article, we consider the mode of action and efficacy of this combination opioid therapy for chronic pain. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pain specialists discuss the key issues around vaccination against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) at the Sanofi Pasteur MSD-sponsored Satellite Symposium at the British Pain Society Meeting, Liverpool. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.