Drug Information Bulletin (Electronic)

Volume: 4

Drug Information Centre (DIC) Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Bengal Branch Tele fax: 033 24612776, E-mail: ipabengal.dic@gmail.com Web Site: http://www.ipabengal.org Contact: 09830136291

Number: 37

25 December 2010

Top 5 papers in medicine, 2010 'Chindia' could become global generic powerhouse Catalent fined after contact with olanzapine leads to dermatitis New Study Finds Pharmacists and Nurses are the Most Effective Health Care 'Voices' in Promoting Medication Adherence Forthcoming Event

Content

Top 5 papers in medicine, 2010 The year's most highly ranked articles in all of medicine, according to the Faculty of 1000 of The Scientist. Which treatment works best under which conditions? It's one of the most important questions medical researchers ever ask, and this year is no exception. Studies of treatment options for a type of lung cancer, how far to lower blood pressure in diabetics, and surgical or non-surgical options for stenosis all topped this year's list of the most important papers in the medical field, as reviewed and ranked by members of the Faculty of 1000. 5. Early palliative care helps in advanced cancer The paper: J.S. Temel, et al., "Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-smallcell lung cancer," N Engl J Med, 363:733-42, 2010. 4. Skip the surgery? The paper: M.B. Leon, et al., "Transcatheter

aortic-valve implantation for aortic stenosis in patients who cannot undergo surgery," N Engl J Med, 2010. 3. In diabetes, less is not always more The paper: W.C. Cushman, et al., "Effects of intensive blood-pressure control in type 2 diabetes mellitus," N Engl J Med, 362:157585, 2010. 2. Drug helps - not hurts - in serious lung disease The paper: L. Papazian, et al., "Neuromuscular blockers in early acute respiratory distress syndrome," N Engl J Med, 363:1107-16. 2010. 1. To stent or not ? The paper: T.G. Brott, et al., "Stenting versus endarterectomy for treatment of carotidartery stenosis," N Engl J Med, 363:11-23, 2010. Read more: Top 5 papers in medicine, 2010 The Scientist - Magazine of the Life Sciences http://www.the-

scientist.com/news/display/57900/#ixzz199K2 5XNE
Source: The Scientist

2 In recent years both Asian giants have become major suppliers of low-cost drugs and drug ingredients to global markets, with products gaining a solid presence in the generic and over-the-counter sectors. However, Patel argued that gaps in production are a major cause of concern for the countries despite China producing a high volume of pharmaceutical ingredients, and Indias strong hold in drug manufacturing for products such as anti-depressants, antibiotics and heart medicines.

'Chindia' could become global generic powerhouse Chinas PM Wen Jiabao has vowed to improve market access for Indian pharmaceutical companies to better supply global generic drug needs. The pledge came on a visit to India, intended to foster mushrooming trade and improve the countries relationship. There has been long harboured mutual distrust over Chinas affiliation with Pakistan, border disputes and accusations of spying. Jiabao told business leaders at the IndiaChina Business Cooperation Summit in New Delhi the countries are partners for cooperation, not rivals in competition. He went on to say there is enough space in the world for the development of both China and India. The Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA) appears to agree with Jiabao, having voiced its approval for Chinese pharma companies to engage in a win-win partnership for generic drug manufacturing. At the Indian summit, Daara Patel, secretary general of IDMA, said a Chindia affiliation would ensure that together we could meet almost all global generic requirements.

Patel said, should India and China agree to collaborate, it will cover the gaps in production and give both nations a strategic edge over the developed countries. While the Asian countries have grouped together to resist Western demands in world trade and climate change discussions, Jiabao announced that China will invest more in India. This is intended to allay the worries of Indian politicians who want India to benefit more from the relationship. Delhi has demanded greater access to Chinas pharmaceutical and IT market as it fights to level the Sino-Indian trade balance which stands at $39bn (29.5bn) in Chinas favour. China takes seriously the imbalance in trade and is willing to take steps to promote IT and biotechnology exports from India, said Jiabao.
Source: in-Pharma Technologist.com

Catalent fined after contact olanzapine leads to dermatitis

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Catalent has been fined after contact with olanzapine led to employees developing dermatitis, an incident the company deeply regrets. The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Catalent after 10 employees at its Swindon plant developed allergic contact dermatitis, an irreversible skin condition.

Catalent pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a 50,000 ($77,000) fine and 50,000 in costs. Joanna Knight, a HSE inspector, said Catalent failed to address the inadequacies not only in its systems for working with hazardous substances, but also in its systems for health surveillance and keeping health records. The company says it has now addressed these issues. Catalent has fully cooperated with the HSE and has implemented all recommended engineering and procedural improvements to safeguard our employees health, a company spokesperson told Outsourcing-Pharma. These actions include significant changes in oversight and monitoring of employee health and safety. The facility is now compliant with all applicable health and safety regulations. Olanzapine exposure: HSE claimed skin conditions were developed after exposure to olanzapine, the active in Eli Lilly's Zyprexa. Catalent identified olanzapine as a potential cause of dermatitis, said HSE, but failed to initiate an immediate review of its risk assessment as required by law. Cases of allergic contact dermatitis were confirmed in October and December 2007. Catalent launched a thorough review in February 2008, Swindon Magistrates were told. By this time the HSE had also visited the company. During the HSE investigation a further eight employees were confirmed to have allergic contact dermatitis from exposure to olanzapine. The cases of allergic contact dermatitis could have been completely avoided had Catalent taken the time to review its risk assessment, said Knight. Catalent deeply regrets the incident and any duress it may have caused to employees and their families. The company is "working closely with the affected employees to ensure

3 the provision of proper medical care and the appropriate management of their conditions, said a spokesperson.
Source: Outsourcing-Pharma.com

New Study Finds Pharmacists and Nurses are the Most Effective Health Care 'Voices' in Promoting Medication Adherence WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study looking at inperson, electronic, telephonic, fax and mail communications that counsel patients to stay on their medications concludes that pharmacists at a retail store are the most influential health care "voice" in getting patients to take medicine as prescribed. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/2009022 6/NE75914LOGO ) The research, based on a review of more than 40 years of studies published in medical journals, showed that nurses talking with patients as they are discharged from a hospital are the second most influential voice encouraging patients to stay on their medicines. Both in-store pharmacists and hospital-based nurses are more effective than pharmacists communicating to a patient via the telephone or doctors instructing patients regarding prescriptions, the researchers said.

These findings are contained in two separate reviews of medical journal studies sponsored by CVS Caremark and carried out by a team of researchers from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS

4 Caremark. This week the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) published a review that focused on communications between pharmacists and nurses with their patients. The AJMC study builds upon a review by the same researchers that focused on doctor and patient communications and was published last May in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. "There have been many studies on the subject of boosting adherence. We decided it was important to review the total body of work to determine which communication channel had the greatest impact," said William Shrank, MD, MSHS, of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard, and a lead author of the studies. Shrank said the researchers combed through more than 6,500 medical journal articles published between 1966 and December 31, 2008, before reviewing 168 articles in full. The study found that programs using mail, fax and brochure-type (non-personal) communications had relatively low impact on promoting patient adherence. A review of the use of electronic communications, such as videos and interactive technology, show promise but were determined to have medium impact on increasing adherence among patients. The highest impact programs featured work by pharmacists talking to patients in a store, followed by nurses talking face-to-face with patients who were leaving a hospital, the researchers concluded. Face-to-face discussions between pharmacists and patients in a store were twice as effective boosting adherence rates as programs where pharmacists talk with patients on the telephone, the researchers found. "These findings offer payers, health care providers and policy makers guidance about how to develop programs that improve patient adherence," said Troyen A. Brennan, MD, MPH, executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark, and an author of both reviews. "We know that pharmacists and nurses are among the most trusted health care professionals. This study shows that trust translates into effective patient communications." Improving adherence is important because by keeping patients on prescriptions as directed their health status is stabilized. Further, medication adherence is a cost-effective way to avoid unnecessary doctors' visits or hospitalizations. Non-adherence to medications cost s the health care system up to $290 billion a year because many of the hospitalizations can be avoided if people take prescriptions as doctors direct. The study is a product of CVS Caremark's previously announced three-year collaboration with Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital to research pharmacy claims data to better understand patient behavior, particularly around medication adherence.
Source: Pharmalive.com

Forthcoming Event:
Health Camp at Gangasagar Mela 10.01.2011 17.01.2011 Organized by IPA Bengal Branch jointly with IPA Bengal Pharma & Health Care Trust

IPA Bengal Branchs Annual Picnic

Date: 9th January 2011 Venue: Swapnapuri Guest House, Banganagar, Near Sirakol, D.H.Road, 24 pgs (S), Opp.to National Plywood Factory. Contact: Mr. Asit Roy 9831706765 Pradip Mallik- 9830574612 Madhab Banerjee 9748674625 Indrajit Kar - 9874842277