Antihypertensives: mature pipeline reflects market

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Antihypertensives: misconceptions driving prescribing practice

A survey has revealed that physicians perceive diuretics as less effective and beta blockers as less well tolerated than other classes of antihypertensive. This misconception is down to the strong marketing of the newer, more expensive antihypertensives. Counter promotion of older, but still highly effective classes needs to put into place to re-educate US physicians.

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Antithrombotic market: novel agents will dampen generic incursion

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Antithrombotics: blockbuster potential for novel anticoagulants

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Apotex: generic launch accelerates threat to Plavix

Apotex has launched 'at risk' its generic version of Plavix, delivering a blow to Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis' efforts to fend off generic competition. Apotex' bold move, along with the big pharma firms' willingness to settle over ongoing patent litigation, indicates there is a good chance the patent will be invalidated, casting serious doubt over the future of this key revenue stream.

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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: 'authorized generics' strategy could be extended

AstraZeneca's third biggest-selling drug, Toprol XL, has come up against generic competition sooner than anticipated after losing its protection against copycat launches. AstraZeneca has responded by reaching an agreement with US generic firm Par Pharmaceutical to distribute and supply a 25mg generic version of Toprol XL, a strategy that could be used with its other drugs facing patent expiry.

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AstraZeneca: Atacand gets a better label

Atacand is now the only ARB to boast superiority in its labeling, in terms of blood pressure lowering, over the market leader and first entrant, Merck's Cozaar. However, the unique claim could be short-lived. Other newer agents in the class, also with proven superiority over losartan, are applying for similar labeling changes.

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AstraZeneca: Crestor edges towards approval

The letter, which indicates the FDA is prepared in principle to approve AstraZeneca's drug, comes nearly one month earlier than expected. However, AstraZeneca has neither commented on the FDA's remaining demands nor changed the drug's launch schedule. This could mean that the agency wants additional safety data before approving Crestor.

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AstraZeneca: Exanta shows promise in stroke prevention

Results from the SPORTIF V trial have shown that AstraZeneca's [AZN.L] Exanta (ximelagatran) is non-inferior to warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolic events. However, elevated liver enzymes remain a cause for concern, and may leave room in the market for compounds with a better safety profile.

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