MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'avonex'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:59:49 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152267&cid=t_154206_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FhA34mJ2aYlk%2F Two months ago, the FDA approved a new type of drug from Novartis called Gilenya to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and delay the progression of physical disabilities. MS, of course, is hard to treat and since Gilenya is a once-daily pill, the betting is that Novartis has a blockbuster on its hands (back story). But how big? A survey of 43 MS specialists by Leerink Swann finds that Gilenya may grab 13 percent of the US market within one year and 19 percent in two years. If this comes true, Gilenya’s market share by then would exceed all of the competition - Biogen’s Avonex with 18 percent market share; EMD Serono and Pfizer’s Rebif at 15 percent; Bayer’s Betaseron with 9 percent and Biogen’s Tysabri at 8 percent. Only Teva’s Copaxone would be... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152267 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 16:46:41 +0100 4152267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994348&cid=t_154206_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSzT24iX9osI%2F As drug approvals go, this is big news. The FDA has approved a new type of drug from Novartis called Gilenya to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis and delays the progression of physical disabilities. Given that MS is difficult to treat and Gilenya is a once-daily pill, analysts predict Novartis has a big blockbuster on its hands, although Merck Serono’s Movectro, which recently won Russian approval, is widely expected to win FDA approval later this year. For now, though, Novartis is now the only company to market the convenience of an MS pill in the US, which is likely to create strong demand among docs and patients. In announcing the approval, Novartis noted its clinical trials showed Gilenya’s efficacy reduced relapses by 52 percent after a year compared with Biogen&#821... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994348 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:07:06 +0100 3994348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193805&cid=t_154206_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F0LUJ4zuNX0s%2F Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that strikes most often in adults who are just getting going with their life – they’re establishing their careers, starting families, and they have plans. MS is a disease that can progress slowly, allowing those affected by it to live fairly “normal” lives. Unfortunately, others deteriorate quickly to the point that they can’t care for themselves before they die. MS is seen more in northern countries, so there is a theory that sunlight – or lack of sunlight – plays a role in the development of the disease. Canada has the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of MS in the world. What MS Is In MS, the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain and spinal cord, degene... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193805 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:53:03 +0100 3193805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052389&cid=t_154206_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FyhmgcKLriZ8%2F A program designed by the government to require a money-back guarantee on drugmakers if their meds didn’t adequately treat patients has failed to provide any evidence that it was cost effective, The Financial Times reports. The plan was launched more than seven years ago. The study of five multiple sclerosis drug is the first public analysis of a “risk-sharing” program established by the UK’s Department of Health and several drugmakers after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, advised the National Health Service not to use the meds. The findings, which were published in the British Medical Journal (see here) raise questions about the growing number of other such programs between drugmakers and the UK government, the FT writes. The results als... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3052389 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:44:05 +0100 3052389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040401&cid=t_154206_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F485928464%2F Yet again, the multiple-sclerosis medication has caused a serious brain infection, the same malady that prompted the drug to be withdrawn in 2005 for about a year. A German MS patient contracted PML, or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopthy, and remains hospitalized, according to a filing by Biogen with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This is not good news for Biogen and its marketing partner, Elan, which have issued three previous statements this year about four other MS patients contracting PML after taking Tysabri (back story). Nonetheless, the drug has been used by about 35,500 patients as of September, and about 9,500 have taken the injection for at least 18 months, The Wall Street Journal notes. Coincidentally, the disclosure comes just a few days after Novartis reported ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040401 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:17:27 +0100 2040401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006555&cid=t_154206_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Funderstanding-biologics-how-they-differ-from-drugs-and-why-they-cost-more%2F Many of our readers either already have or will in the future encounter the possibility of being treated with a biologic medication. This is because biologics have revolutionized the treatment of such chronic illnesses as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, and are widely used in treating a variety of cancers. To name just a few, these products include Enbrel, Humira, Remicade (infliximab), Avonex (inteferon beta-1a), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b), Tysabri, Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Neupogen (filgrastim), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) and Leukine (sargramostim). So just what are biologics, how do they differ from more traditional drugs, and why are they so expensive?Although some b... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006555 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:06:00 +0100 2006555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=987250&cid=t_154206_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F176639757%2F That’s what some analysts who follow the biotech are saying. There’s uncertainty about Biogen’s pipeline and concern that existing products might face sales pressure because of growing competition for Avonex, a multiple sclerosis treatment, an area it now dominates. Wall Street also notes a looming decrease in Biogen’s share of the profits on drugs it co-markets with Genentech, The Wall Street Journal reports. Biogen’s shares took off after the biotech responded to an offer from Carl Icahn, who owns roughly 4% of the stock, by saying it would open the bidding to others. The stock hit a 52-week high of $84.75 on Oct. 15, but slipped as some investors have grown skeptical and the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings last week. Biogen’s market val... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=987250 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:18:03 +0100 987250