ASCO Launches Cancer.Net Mobile, a New App for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's leading professional organization representing cancer physicians, released Cancer.Net Mobile for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch - a free app designed by oncologists to help people with cancer and their caregivers plan and manage cancer treatment and care. The app includes comprehensive, doctor-approved information on more than 120 cancer types, together with a package of interactive tools for patients. Cancer.Net Mobile is available for download in Apple's App Store and is the mobile companion to ASCO's award-winning Cancer.Net website.
"Cancer.Net Mobile puts up-to-date, accurate cancer information and interactive tools at the fingertips of people living with cancer and their families and caregivers, wherever they are," said ASCO CEO Allen S. Lichter, MD. "Cancer.Net Mobile was developed by leading cancer doctors with patients and their caregivers in mind, to help them take charge of their cancer care and get the most out of doctor's visits."

In addition to its comprehensive cancer guides covering more than 120 common and rare types of cancer, Cancer.Net Mobile includes interactive tools for patients and caregivers to:

Keep track of questions to ask their doctors, record voice answers, and choose from frequently-asked questions suggested by Cancer.Net experts
Save important information about prescribed medications, including photos of medicine labels and bottles (on camera-enabled devices)
Track the time and severity of symptoms and side effects during treatment, to aid in reporting them during doctor’s visits
Learn about new cancer care topics through weekly podcast and video interviews with ASCO member physicians
Cancer.Net Mobile offers a portable version of the extensive cancer information library available on the Cancer.Net website, with expert information about treating cancer, managing side effects, managing the cost of care, and coping with a cancer diagnosis. All Cancer.Net content is reviewed for accuracy and completeness by an editorial board composed of more than 150 medical, surgical, radiation, and pediatric oncologists; oncology nurses; social workers; and patient advocates. This ensures that the cancer information provided reflects the latest advances in cancer science and clinical practice. Cancer.Net is supported by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO.

Cancer.Net Mobile is available for download in Apple's App Store at http://itunes.com/apps/cancernetmobile (iTunes required). It is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices running iOS version 3.2 or later. Cancer.Net Mobile is a free tool provided by ASCO. Cancer.Net Mobile app updates will be issued regularly as the cancer guide content is updated.

About ASCO
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With nearly 30,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs, and peer-reviewed journals.

About the Conquer Cancer Foundation
The Conquer Cancer Foundation is working to create a world free from the fear of cancer by funding breakthrough research, by sharing knowledge with physicians and patients worldwide, and by supporting initiatives to ensure that all people have access to high-quality cancer care. Working in close collaboration with a global network of top scientists and clinicians, as well as leading advocacy and research organizations, the Foundation draws on the passion and expertise of the nearly 30,000 oncology professionals who are members of its partner organization, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The British Pharmaceutical Industry Issues Social Media Guidance for Adverse Event Reporting

Once again the Brits have beaten the US in issuing useful guidelines for social media use by the pharmaceutical industry! As I reported back in April, 2011, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), which oversees the self-regulatory code of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), published "informal guidance" providing the drug industry advice on how to use online communications (see here).

I learned today from a tweet by @dawidge (a Pfizer employee) that the ABPI Pharmacovigilance Expert Network (PEN) published GUIDANCE NOTES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ADVERSE EVENTS AND PRODUCT COMPLAINTS FROM PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY SPONSORED WEBSITES (find the document here).

The guidance addresses three different ways that pharmaceutical companies may learn of adverse events (AEs) through social media:
"Listening in" -- Monitoring social media sites allows a company to "listen to" or "see" what the public are discussing, saying or sharing about the company itself, diseases, conditions, and treatment options.
"Giving out" -- Many social media sites allow companies to initiate one-way communications to deal significant messages with the public, where interactive dialogue is not permitted or practical.
"Engaging with" -- Engaging, exchanging and participating in interactive communication with the public. This type of activity is performed in both company and non-company sponsored sites.
I found a couple of interesting suggestions in these guidelines:

Companies Should Declare Involvement and Responsibilities
The guidelines state that "The company’s involvement in the social media site must be transparent to the users." Even when just "listening in," the company "should declare its presence by registering on the site using the company name." The ABPI concedes that "this may not be practicable or possible for buzz-monitoring type activities" that are usually carried out by third parties. "In addition," says ABPI, "it is also recommended that the company disclose the length of time it intends to sponsor the site (if known) and how it intends to screen and use any user-generated content."

ABPI also recommends that regulated companies "ensure that all staff involved in the social media channel are appropriately trained for performing pharmacovigilance related activities." That would include moderators and third-parties hired by the companies.

These are EXACTLY the kinds of disclosures from pharmaceutical companies that I suggested in a previous Pharma Marketing Blog post (see "Fair Social Media Practice Principles: Rules for Third-Party Engagement in Patient/Physician Social Networks" and respond to my survey).

Collecting AEs on Social Media Sites
ABPI recommends that company owned sites "be designed to facilitate the pharmacovigilance process" through use of "free text fields" and access to "internal/external reporting based tools which allow users to report suspected adverse drug reactions." One such tool might be a Adverse Event Reporting Widget (see "Using Social Media in a Crisis: Distribute a Product Safety Widget Is One Idea").

ABPI says that details of ALL AEs "should be collected and document, regardless of:
Seriousness of the event
Whether there is an identifiable reporter
Whether any adverse events are listed in the product’s Summary of Product Characteristics
Whether a definite causal relationship or link to the product has been stated
Whether the stakeholder or patient has already reported the event to the competent authority or says they have reported it to the company"
That's quite different than what commenters from the US drug industry told the FDA (see "Social Media and the Future of Adverse Event Reporting"). The US industry said such a collection regime would be too onerous.

Regarding the identity of the reporter of an AE, ABPI says an e-mail address would be considered acceptable and even a screen name would be acceptable IF the screen name allowed for contact to be made. ABPI recommends companies implement "a formal site registration process" that can be utilised to obtain information enabling regulated companies  to "identify and contact users in order to validate and follow-up on safety information." During registration, users should give consent for the company to follow-up with a user should they report AEs, says ABPI. "It should also be made clear that personal information may be processed on internal company databases and sent to regulators."

CPHI China - 21 to 23 June 2011- CPHI China Information - CPHI China Shanghai.

CPHI China - June 2011, Shanghai, China Information :

CPHI China @ Shanghai New Internation Expo Center (SNIEC)
Date @ 21 June 2011 to 23 June 2011
City @ Shanghai
Country @ China.

CPHI China - June 2011: Description:
CPhI China is a committed exhibition for the Medical & Pharmaceutical industry and has been organized in China since its launch in 2001. The latest edition of the fair has been organized by UBM Asia Limited and will start from 21st June 2011. Last year’s event was attended by 26, 547 pharma professionals and included 7, 806 international visitors. With such a large visitor base, this trade fair has been widely acclaimed as one of the best in the Pharmaceutical industry. CPhI China mirrors the growth of Chinese industries over the last decade and it showcases its excellence in the medical and pharma industry. With China’s initiative in the R&D and innovation, this fair opens up the doors for international exhibitors to affect an eager Chinese market. This 3 day event will happen at Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Highlights of CPHI China - 2011

• Trading with massive and untapped Chines market will be possible at the event.
• Exhibit in front of global leaders and decision makers.
• Opportunity to build important relations and partnership with other pharma companies.
• Face to face meeting with potential customers.
• Over 1, 600 exhibitors and 23, 000 visitors.

For More Information Please Click Here or Use this link

http://www.cphi-china.com/

Optimer Pharma antibacterial drug gets Food and Drug Administration (FDA) favorable reception

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, a finder, developer and commercializer of hospital specialty products, has received the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval for its antibacterial drug Dificid (fidaxomicin) pills.

Dificid tablets are pointed for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age or older.

The FDA approval was given on the basis of the positive results from II Phase 3 randomized, multi-center, double-blinded trials involved 1,164 patients suffering from CDAD that compared Dificid with vancomycin, a usual antibiotic drug used to treat CDAD.

The results of the trial suggested that Dificid was higher-up to vancomycin in sustaining clinical response through 25 days on the far side the end of treatment.

Optimer president and chief executive officer(CEO) Pedro Lichtinger said the clinical development program for DIFICID was designed to address one of the greatest challenges in managing CDAD, disease recurrence.

"We are proud to provide the medical community and patients with an effective treatment proven to produce confirmed clinical response in CDAD, and are now moving into the commercialization stage where we'll partner with physicians and health systems to ensure that DIFICID reaches patients in urgent demand of an important new treatment option," Lichtinger said.http://www.pharmaexhibtion.blogspot.com

Diamyd Replaces CEO - Diamyd Medical - Pharmaceutical News

Diamyd Medical AB annunciates that Elisabeth Lindner today has left her position as President and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Company. Excecutive Vice President Peter Zerhouni has been appointed Acting President and CEO.

Elisabeth Lindner has left her position as President and CEO due to disagreement with the Board concerning certain important matters.

Peter Zerhouni has been involved in all aspects of the Company since 2006, including a key role in driving the Company's business and clinical trials forward. Zerhouni has a combined financial and biotechnology background, and studied at Lund University in Sweden, and University of California at Berkeley in USA. He has been working as head of business development for the last three years and played an instrumental part in securing the Company's agreement with Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and commercialize the Diamyd® diabetes therapy.

The Board acknowledges Elisabeth Lindner's contributions to successfully progress the Phase III program with Diamyd® in recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Top line results from a European Phase III study are expected to be available later this spring. Work is currently ongoing to compile and process all the study data, which remains fully blinded to Investigators and patients as well as to Diamyd Medical AB.

About Diamyd Medical

Diamyd Medical is a Swedish pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of growth-onset diabetes and pain. The Diabetes business area consists of the antigen-based drug candidate Diamyd® for the treatment and prevention of autoimmune diabetes. Phase III studies of Diamyd® are currently in progress in Europe and the US. In 2010 the Company signed an agreement with Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for the development and commercialization of Diamyd®. The Pain business area consists of development projects that use the Company's proprietary NTDDS (Nerve Targeting Drug Delivery System) platform to administer drugs directly to the systema nervosum to treat chronic pain. A Phase II study of the candidate drug NP2 Enkephalin for cancer pain is ongoing in the US.

Diamyd Medical has offices in Sweden and in the US. Shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX in Stockholm (ticker: DIAM B) and on OTCQX in the US (ticker: DMYDY) administered by the Pink OTC Markets and the Bank of New York Mellon (PAL). Further information is available on the company's website: www.diamyd.com.

This information is disclosed in accordance with the Swedish Securities Markets Act, the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act, or the requirements stated in the listing agreements.

Diamyd Medical AB (publ.) Karlavägen 108,
SE-115 26 Stockholm,
Sweden. Tel: +46 (0)8 6610026,
Fax: +46 (0)8 661 63 68 ,
E-mail: info@diamyd.com.

Source: Cisionwire

Genzyme Corp presented Sanofi MS drug, Dermatology unit to be sold?

Genzyme corporation has demonstrated brighter data on its investigational disseminated multiple sclerosis treatment alemtuzumab, a drug which played a pivotal role in the firm acquiring a higher price from acquirer Sanofi-Aventis.


In Feb, the French drugmaker upped its $18.50 billion bid to $20.1 billion and also agreed a tradable 'contingent value right', entitling Genzyme shareholders to payments linked to the success of alemtuzumab, which will be sold as Lemtrada, for MS; it is already approved, as Campath, for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Now, additional five-year data from a completed phase II clinical trial trial, presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s yearly meeting in Hawaii, shows that about two-thirds of MS patients in the analyse remained free of clinically-active disease as much as four years after receiving their last course of Lemtrada.


The master test, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008, compared alemtuzumab with Merck KGaA's big-selling Rebif. The new five-year data shows that 65% of patients were free of clinically-active disease, compared to 27% on Rebif, while 72% of alemtuzumab-treated patients were relapse-free compared to 41% for Rebif.


The analysis also found that alemtuzumab patients were more than doubly as likely to experience sustained improvement in vision, a common complication of MS, compared to Rebif. Two phase III clinical trial analyses on Lemtrada are underway and filings in Europe and the USA in early 2012. Alemtuzumab has been granted fast track status by the Food and Drug Administration.


Dermatology sale could bring in 300 million euros


Meantime, Sanofi is looking to sell off its US dermatology business and pocket as much as 300 million euros.


Bloomberg, citing two people with knowledge of the matter, says that the first round of offers were submitted last week and Deutsche Bank is handling the sale. The sources claim that private equity groups are the most likely buyers for the dermatology division, which was formerly known as Dermik Laboratories and whose products include Sculptra (injectable poly-L-lactic acid), a filler to correct wrinkles and other effects of facial fat loss.


The two sources told the news organisation that a sale could bring in 200-300 million euros, but claimed the valuation has been hurt due to the introduction of generic versions of the acne treatment BenzaClin (clindamycin/benzoyl peroxide).


Sanofi confirmed to Bloomberg that it is "exploring strategic alternatives for the US dermatology business in keeping with its strategy to reallocate resources to high-growth areas including diabetes, oncology and atrial fibrillation”.

AVI BioPharma annunciates Proposed Public Offering of common shares

AVI BioPharma annunciates Proposed Public Offering of common shares


Source : Business Week, AVI BioPharma


AVI Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII) today annunciated its intention to offer, subject to market and other circumstances, contributions of its common shares in an underwritten public offering. The Company also expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day choice to purchase adequate to an additional 15 % of the shares of common stock offered in the public offering to cover over-allotments, if any. The Company presently intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including research and product development, such as backing clinical trials, pre-clinical analyses and otherwise moving product candidates towards commercialization. The offering is expected to price before 9:30 am EDT on Friday April 1, 2011.


Lazard Capital Markets LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.


The Company intends to offer and trade these securities pursuant to the Company's existing shelf registration statement (File No. 333-160922) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2009, which was declared effective on August 13, 2009. A prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will form a part of the effective registration statement. When available, copies of the red herring supplement, the final prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov or Lazard Capital Markets LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 60th Floor, New York, NY 10020 or via telephone at (800) 542-0970 or by contacting Piper Jaffray & Co. at 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55402, or via telephone at (800) 747-3924.


This handout doesn't constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of offers to buy any securities of the Company, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any security in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.


About AVI BioPharma

AVI BioPharma is concentrated on the discovery and development of novel RNA-based therapeutics for rare and infectious diseases, as well as other select disease targets.


Advanced Statements and Information


This press release contains statements that are forward-looking, including statements about AVI's funding plans and prospects, including the statements about the proposed public offering of AVI's common shares. These advanced statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond AVI's control. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties AVI faces, you are encouraged to review the official corporate documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AVI doesn't undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Medivation, Astellas begin prostate gland cancer drug analyse

Medivation and Astellas pharmaceutical company have proclaimed the discourse of first patient in a stage 2 study of MDV3100, a triple-acting oral exam androgen receptor antagonist, in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer patients who have shaped up while on LHRH analogue therapy or accompanying surgical castration.

The stage 2 study is configured to compare MDV3100 with bicalutamide - a typically used anti-androgen, and is expected to enroll approximately 370 patients in North America and European Union.

The basic endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival.

Astellas Pharma Global Development president Steven Ryder said this is the first of two Phase 2 trials in earlier stage disease i.e. being initiated to evaluate the potential benefit of MDV3100 in a broad spectrum of prostate cancer patients.

"The second of our new Phase 2 trials will analyse MDV3100 in an even earlier-stage population, and we expect to start the test in the first half of this year," Ryder said.

MDV3100 decelerates development and induces cell death in bicalutamide-resistant cancers via three complementary actions - blocks testosterone binding to the androgen receptor, impedes movement of the androgen receptor to the nucleus of prostate cancer cells (nuclear translocation) and inhibits binding to DNA.

IGCW- 2011: Industrial Green Chemistry World - 2011

IGCW- 2011: Industrial Green Chemistry World - 2011
Source : Industrisal Green Chem


Industrial Green Chemistry World is the platform to brings together the mainstream issues concerning Green Chemistry and Green Engineering to all stakeholders of Chemical Industry.

IGCW 2011 will provides, business leaders at all levels with insights into developing and enhancing profitable and sustainable means for implementing Green Chemistry and Green Engineering practices. Successful practitioners and experts in the field will present on the many current and future green and sustainable opportunities in the chemical industry.

Intoduction of IGCW 2011

The Industrial Green Chemistry World (IGCW) is a global platform for the Chemical Industry to explore, engage and exchange emerging trends and innovations implemented in the field of Industrial Green Chemistry and Engineering.

IGCW is an initiative by the Green ChemisTree Foundation, a philanthropic expression founded by Newreka Green Synth Technologies Pvt. Ltd for promoting, Green Chemistry and Green Engineering (GC&E) practices amongst diverse sections of societies, i.e.: Industry, Govt. bodies, Research Institutes, Academia, Students, etc.

The IGCW-2011 Symposium & Expo is primarily designed to bring forth GC&E initiatives by various chemical companies. It is an apt platform for Chemical companies to showcase their products & processes as adapted to GC&E principles, while providing an opportunity for many chemical companies to get inspired and see how at source changes are being incorporated for greening the processes.

Join, at the IGCW-2011 Symposium & Expo in Mumbai, India. Through your participation, be assured of an enriching exposure to diverse successful endeavors in the industry that can transform your thinking on your technological and business practices with world leading practices and global trends.


Contact:
Newreka Green Synth Techonologies Pvt.Ltd

405, Mastermind IV,
Royal Palms, Aarey Colony,
Goregaon ( East)
Mumbai – 400 065, India
T : +91-22-2879 1835.
    +91-22-2879 1275.
F : +91-22-2879 4790.
E : krishna.dave@newreka.co.in

XOMA 052 Disappoints - Pharma Research

Source: ZA QUOTE  - Xoma Drug Disappoints

Xoma Ltd. (XOMA) recently reported negative results, when trail is at mid-stage of type II diabetes treatment, XOMA  052. The stage IIb trial failed to meet the primary endpoint of reducing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in type II  diabetes patients after six months of treatment with XOMA 052, compared to placebo. In the trial, patients were given one of the four XOMA 052 doses or placebo subcutaneously, once a month over a period of 6 months.

However, it was observed that biological activity of XOMA 052 significantly supported the candidate’s potential in cardiovascular diseases like a decline in C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for the risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, versus placebo. Moreover, considerable improvement was observed in high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) in two of four XOMA 052 dosage strengths versus placebo.

Xoma Ltd....

Xoma has a collaboration agreement with Servier for the development and commercialization of XOMA 052 in the US. Per the terms of the agreement, Xoma retained the US and Japanese commercial rights to the candidate for Behcet's uveitis and other inflammatory and oncology indications. Further, Servier has worldwide rights to XOMA 052 for diabetes and cardiovascular disease indications. Servier also has rights for other indications in territories excluding the US and Japan.

Servier is to bear 100% of the first $50 million and 50% of additional development expenses for the Behcet's uveitis indication and will fully fund the development expenses for the cardiovascular disease and diabetes indications. Xoma is responsible for the manufacturing and launch of XOMA 052. As part of the deal, Xoma is eligible to receive milestone payments of up to $470 million and tiered royalties up to the mid-teens percentage rate.

For the Behcet's uveitis indication, the company has successfully completed a mid-stage trial, where all seven
patients displayed rapid reduction of intraocular inflammation and improvement in visual acuity or other ophthalmic measures after a single treatment with XOMA 052.

The drug has orphan drug status in the US and European Union for Behcet's uveitis and is scheduled to enter phase III clinical trials in 2011. The company also plans to move XOMA 052 into clinical development for cardiovascular disease in 2012.

Once XOMA 052 is approved, it will face competition from products of companies like Eli Lily and Co. (LLY), Novartis AG (NVS), AstraZeneca plc (AZN) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (REGN).

Novartis overtakes major stake of Chinese firm Zhejiang Tianyuan

Novartis has successfully finished its acquisition of 85% of Chinese vaccines firm Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical. The deal of $125 million announced in the year 2009. Novartis Swiss based drugs giant says the acquisition will provide it with an expanded presence in the Chinese vaccines market and facilitate the introduction of additional Novartis vaccines into the country. The firms claim China represents the world’s third largest vaccines market, with annual industry sales of over $1 billion, and the expectation of double-digit growth over coming years. “This agreement combines the strength of our vaccines R&D strategy and pipeline with Tianyuan’s deep knowledge of the vaccines market in China,” remarks Andrin Oswald, head of Novartis vaccines and diagnostics.

Novartis.......

Novartis and Tianyuan will work jointly to expand the Chinese firm’s product portfolio and R&D pipeline through targeted investments in technology, manufacturing and commercial networks. “We have already identified several joint development programs that could be implemented in China over the next ten years, with the potential of launching key products responding to unmet medical needs in the mid-term”, claims Mr. Ding Xiaohang, founder, chairman and CEO of Tianyuan

FDA Grants 510(k) for "Life Technologies"

Source: GEN

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for Life Technologies’ StemPro® MSC SFM culture medium for the ex vivo tissue and cell culture of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Designed to culture MSCs in an undifferentiated state, StemPro MSC SFM was first introduced in May 2009 as a research-use-only product. Life claims the serum-free culture medium is the only product of its kind to have received FDA approval.

Clearance for clinical applications means there will be one less hurdle for the development of potential cell therapies based on MSCs, the firm maintains. “A key component for stem cell research to advance into clinical trials and beyond is the ability to put validated tools into the hands of researchers,” remarks Joydeep Goswami, head of primary and stem cells at Life. “The 510(k) clearance by FDA of our STemPro MSC SFM is a pivotal step in that direction.”

Life Technologies’ Cell Therapy Systems™ portfolio already comprises a range of 510(k)-cleared products for stem cell culture, isolation, expansion, differentiation, and characterization.
These include: AIM V® Medium, DMEM, KnockOut™ SR Medium, and KnockOut® SR XenoFree Medium.

Pharmassist – Pharmaceutical Contract Research Organisation, Athen, Greece

Pharmassist is a contract research organisation located in Athens, Greece, areas of services were regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, clinical trials, medical economics and biostatistics.

In a rapidly changing and demanding pharmaceutical market, our mission is to deliver timely, accurate, highly specialised and cost-effective services to our clients. Composed of integrally skilled and highly trained personnel, Pharmassist can guarantee high-quality services.

Pharmassist's range of services includes:

• Regulatory affairs
• Pharmacovigilance
• Clinical trials
• Pricing and market access strategy
• Medical information
• Scientific and medical training
• Support in business development
• Marketing and sales support
• Expanding country-specific services

Founded in 1999, Pharmassist has, over the years, established a network of experienced professionals and expert consultants in Greece and abroad. The breadth and depth of our experience has led to successful collaborations with multinational pharmaceutical enterprises and industries all over the world, reinforcing and confirming our excellent reputation within the healthcare arena and building the ground for new ventures.

Pharmassist is in the process of expanding the geographic coverage of the company to Balkan countries and Turkey as it is our aim to reflect the growing need for both multi-national and country-specific services within the healthcare arena.

Contact Pharmassist
Pharmassist Limited
262 Mesogion Avenue
155 62 Holargos
Athens
Greece
Tel: +30 210 65 60 700
Fax: +30 210 65 12 210
info@pharmassist.gr
www.pharmassist.gr

Fast, accurate (Automated MRI) test for Alzheimer's Disease

Fast, accurate (Automated MRI) test for Alzheimer's Disease 

Researchers at the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the King's College London Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) are the first to use an advanced computer programme to accurately detect the early signs of Alzheimer's disease from a routine clinical brain scan.  This advance Automated MRI scan can return 85 per cent accurate diagnostic results in under 24 hours. 

This 'Automated MRI' software automatically compares someone’s brain scan image against 1200 others, each showing varying stages of Alzheimer’s disease.  

Normally in routine clinical practice, brain scans are used to simply exclude diseases that can mimic Alzheimer’s disease, but here automated MRI software is being used for the first time in a NHS setting (Memory Clinics) to make an early and accurate diagnosis of the illness. 

Diagnosis in Starting Stage:

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's is clinically difficult and patients with the early signs are frequently not treated until their symptoms become stronger. The new Automated MRI scan however can return 85 % accurate diagnostic results in under 24 hours.  

Starting stage diagnosis allows people to plan their care before the condition worsens - helping to prevent hospatalisation, dramatically improving their quality of life.  It is also a cost effective and efficient way to manage and organise treatment of the disease.

The Automated MRI scan programee has been developed by scientists at the IoP, together with colleagues from the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm.

The Automated MRI computer programmee  is being 'tested' over the next 12 months with patients attending SLaM memory services in Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark.  The ‘field test’ will also provide a supply of research grade images, which has important implications for the development of the next generation of drugs for dementia and individualised treatments. 

There are 750,000 people with Alzheimer's diseases in the UK. The financial cost of dementia to the UK is over £20 billion a year. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, in just 15 years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051. 

Indian Pharma Industry - Pharmaceutical Companies growth in India

Indian Pharma Industry


India becoming world leader in Pharmaceutical Industry to produce Standard generic drugs. India is preferred part of world to do research, development and production of drug. Indian Pharmaceutical companies have made good environment to make industry big. Pharma Market stats shows a very good increment of Industry.

2007 -  $ 5,700  millions,
2008 - $ 7,743 millions,
and there was 13% every year , It is expected to reache $15,500 millions in 2014.
The competition in pharmaceutical industry divided into top 10 companies.