| Vertex Makes Historical Advancements in Hepatitis C Management Prohost Biotech submits:Better than expected results were announced from a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled ADVANCE study with Vertex’ (VRTX) hepatitis C drug telaprevir. Around 1,095 patients suffering from the genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus took telaprevir, which has tremendously increased the cure rate at record treatment duration. Many liver experts considered this news a historical advancement in the management of progressive disabling, life-threatening and sometimes deadly chronic hepatitis C viral infection. First, the drug deals directly with the virus and, second, it wipes it out in a short limited time. The good news will be hailed by 3 millions people infected with the virus in the U.S. and by 170 million worldwide if they hear the news. Telaprevir’s trial results demonstrate that 75% of chronically infected patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) who had not previously been treated achieved a sustained viral response (SVR or viral cure) after receiving a 12-week telaprevir-based combination regimen followed by the conventional drugs pegylated-interferon and ribavirin. A slightly smaller number, 69%, of patients, achieved the same results after an 8-week treatment with the same regimen. On the control arm, where the conventional treatments pegylated-interferon and ribavirin were given alone without telaprevir, only 44% achieved viral cure, but only after 48 weeks duration, i.e., four times the treatment duration with telaprevir. These results are better than scientists’ expectations, including those responsible for developing the drug. Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
New Effort Launched for Clinical Drug Trials New York state medical centers and drug makers are launching an initiative to address a nettlesome problem for clinical drug trials: getting patients to sign up. online.wsj.com |
Chelsea Therapeutics: Not Just a Short-Term Trade BioShockers submits:Chelsea Therapeutics (CHTP) is a biopharmaceutical development company that acquires and develops innovative products for the treatment of a variety of human diseases. Their pipeline consists of Droxidopa (indicated for use in Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension, Fybromyalgia, and Intradialytic Hypotension, Adult ADHD, and Chronic Fatigue), and CH-4501 (indicated for use in Rheumatoid Arthritis). Chelsea’s latest stage drug is Droxidopa (also known as Northera), which is currently in two pivotal phase 3 trials for the treatment of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension (NOH). They completed one phase 3 trial last year, which missed the primary endpoint, yet did very well in other endpoints. This caused the stock to drop from ~$7.50 to ~2.80s. Chelsea then announced they were going to meet with FDA to discuss changing the primary endpoint in their second phase 3 trial – the FDA said yes, and Chelsea changed the primary endpoint of Study 301 to an endpoint that had previously demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in NOH patients. Data from Study 301 are expected in September.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |
Cord Blood America Says Outreach Program to OB/GYN Nurses, Insurance Case Workers, Paying Significant Dividends [PR Newswire] - Cord Blood America, Inc. , the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life-saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, said today Dr. us.rd.yahoo.com |
BSD Medical: Christmas Could Come Early for Investors Investment U submits: By Alexander MoschinaIt’s the future of cancer treatment. Plus, at just three feet tall, and weighing a mere 25 pounds, it’s also one of the smallest devices of its kind. In addition, it uses a fraction of the power used by other machines, but generates much higher temperatures. That means the doctors that use it can spend less money and kill more cancerous cells.Complete Story » seekingalpha.com |