Acute respiratory distress syndrome: searching for effective therapies

Acute respiratory distress syndrome has an annual incidence of up to 75 cases per 100,000 in the US. The condition remains very difficult to treat with a mortality rate between 30% and 60%. Although much research into ARDS has been carried out, the lack of a standard definition for the condition has made trial results unclear, so what hope is there of a treatment breakthrough in the near future?

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Alzheimer's disease: an opportunity for expansion?

Alzheimer's disease is reaching epidemic proportions. However, less than half of those affected seek diagnosis, mistakenly believing that there are no effective treatments available. With the number of sufferers set to triple in the next 30-40 years, many drug companies are battling to grab a share of this lucrative market, but will they be able to develop drugs effective enough to capitalize?

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Antipsychotics: a third of R&D is taking place in the US

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Arcoxia: a not so Mercky future

The first months of 2002 has seen a number of significant events in the COX-II market, including the launch of Dynastat and Arcoxia in Europe and Bextra's US launch. In an already competitive market, the entry of the second-generation COX-II inhibitors will further heighten the rivalry, so who will prevail?<BR />

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Are new multiple sclerosis treatments about to rock the market?

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and unpredictable disorder, with debilitating physical and mental symptoms. However, there are few approved treatments - and most of the ones that do exist are largely confined to speeding recovery from acute attacks of the disorder or to managing symptoms. Will new pipeline MS drugs steal the market leaders' hold?

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AstraZeneca/Merck/Schering-Plough: room for everybody

Results were presented for 'superstatin' Crestor and absorption inhibitor Zetia at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress. Despite advances in cholesterol lowering therapy over the last decade, there is still unmet need in this market. Although Zetia is less effective on its own than a statin, it has strong potential as an adjunct therapy.

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AstraZeneca: Arimidex is the new gold standard

The cancer drug showed outstanding results compared to the current gold standard, tamoxifen. Indeed, Arimidex could be the ideal aromatase inhibitor - and judging by these results, AstraZeneca's marketing power will ensure that the drug becomes a major cancer product.

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AstraZeneca: Exanta results biased by design

Although a new trial has found AstraZeneca's Exanta more effective than Aventis' Lovenox at cutting venous thromboembolism incidence, the trial's design does not inspire confidence in the results - or in Exanta as a VTE drug. AstraZeneca's anticoagulant has far greater potential as a replacement for warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients.<BR />

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AstraZeneca: new Crestor worries will delay approval further

Although AstraZeneca's Crestor has received an FDA approvable letter, the agency requires additional safety data for approval. Given the drug's side effects in high-dose formulations, which have led to the withdrawal of the 80mg dose, getting this data will result in continued delays for the beleaguered 'superstatin'.

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AstraZeneca: only a short-term setback for Arimidex

Trial results showed a slight advantage for Arimidex over tamoxifen in treating early breast cancer in post-menopausal women. However, ASCO has advised caution in replacing tamoxifen with AstraZeneca's drug. Although this verdict will hold sales back in the short term, there is still huge long-term potential for Arimidex as the preferred breast cancer therapy.

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