World Congress on Osteoporosis highlights changing face of bone health

Datamonitor attended this year's International Osteoporosis Foundation World Congress on Osteoporosis and 10th European Congress on Clinical and Economical Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis, the most important meeting on the osteoporosis calendar. A number of major pharmaceutical firms had a presence at the meeting, indicating the significance of this market.

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Vaccines: sales show global growth

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Upper GI disorders: prevalence in the seven major markets

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UK recommendation for Merck's Simponi but it may struggle to make an impact

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended Simponi for psoriatic arthritis. Based on this, Datamonitor believes that the drug will gain further positive recommendations in other rheumatology indications. However, while Simponi does have dosing advantages over other approved biologics, it is unlikely to make a huge impact on the UK market.

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UK Arthritis Sufferers Receiving Second Best in Pain Medication

Many rheumatoid and osteoarthritis sufferers in the UK may have to settle for second best in pain medication and are being put at risk of developing serious gastrointestinal side effects (GI) according to market analysts, Datamonitor.

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UCB: innovative payment scheme behind Cimzia approval sets precedent in rheumatology

UCB's new rheumatoid arthritis drug, Cimzia, has been recommended for use on the NHS but only in conjunction with a company-sponsored patient access scheme. As such, UCB will cover all treatment costs for the first 12 weeks of therapy. This is a shrewd way of ensuring Cimzia's use by the cost-conscious NHS, and could herald change in both prescribing practices and future NICE submissions.

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UCB: European submission for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

UCB's certolizumab is marketed under the brand name Cimzia. The submission for rheumatoid arthritis treatment, if accepted, will make it the first and only PEGylated, Fc-Free anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) alpha biologic therapy in Europe. Certolizumab has some advantages over current treatments but its late arrival on the market will work against it as it tries to claim market share.

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UCB: Cimzia making good progress

A phase II clinical trial involving Cimzia, UCB and Nektar's anti-TNF alpha antibody, has demonstrated it to be effective and safe in treating psoriasis. However, despite this latest positive news, and Cimzia's advantages over other biologics, the drug candidate's anticipated late entry to the psoriasis drug market will have a negative impact upon its chances of success.

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Transplantation: Astellas takes the lead

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TeGenero: bankruptcy beckons

German biotech firm TeGenero has filed for bankruptcy just four months after a catastrophic safety trial with its immunomodulatory drug candidate TGN1412 left six healthy volunteers fighting for their lives. However, this does not necessarily signal the end for TGN1412, which may still have a future if anyone is brave enough to take it on for further research.

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