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 'diovan'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:38:12 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097083&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNigM4gh7KXI%2F And so, another working week is about to come to an end. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes golfing with our shortest of short people, catching up on some reading and taking at least one cozy nap. And you? How about a day at the beach? A night out with someone special? Or perhaps a shopping trip to stimulate what is left of the economy? Whatever you do, be safe and enjoy. Meanwhile, here is an assortment of tidbits. See you soon… Pharma Collaborations Are On The Rise (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery) Payers Will Want More Biosimilar Data Than FDA (Pharma Times) Cost Of Medicare Part D Drug Plan Is Dropping (The Los Angeles Times) Takeda And Amylin Pull The Plug On Obesity Drug (Bloomberg News) NICE Reje... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097083 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:08:49 +0100 5097083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893917&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaIPonxw6_os%2F One year after an analysis of five studies involving some 60,000 patients found links between angiotensin receptor blockers and an increased risk of cancer, the FDA has now decided that these meds - which are used to control high blood pressure, do not pose such a risk. The study, which was published in The Lancet Oncology and prompted the FDA review, found that 7.2 percent of patients on an ARB were diagnosed with cancer compared with 6 percent on a placebo, which was deemed statistically significant. Put another way: one extra cancer case would occur for every 105 people taking the meds for about four years (back story). Most of the patients were taking Boehringer Ingelheim’s Micardis, a $1.5 billion seller, prompting an angry rebuttal from the drugmaker. Other ARBs that were studied i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893917 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:21:10 +0100 4893917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159502&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcpByhX1L0_8%2F This may give new meaning to the notion of playing ball. Hoping to entice doctors to prescribe more meds, Novartis assembled a star-studded line up of athletes to pitch its drugs at dinners between 2006 and 2009. Among them: baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Johnny Bench, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning and former New York Knicks forward Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier. As you might imagine, the athletes gave short speeches, answered questions about their careers, signed memorabilia and posed for photos. Novartis reps later brought the photos when they called on the docs. In all, the drugmaker paid $3.6 million in fees to 150 top former and current sports figures - from $8,000 to $35,000 an appearance, according to The Washington Times. Interestingly, the events were used to... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159502 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:18:49 +0100 4159502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4023133&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fp92MksnLtSA%2F For six years, Jeremy Garrity worked for Novartis promoting various cardiovascular medicines, such as Diovan and Tekturna. But he was fired in 2008 and later filed a whistleblower lawsuit, one of four that prompted the federal government to launch an investigation into off-label marketing. Yesterday, the drugmaker agreed to pay $422.5 million to settle civil and criminal charges. Garrity, who no longer works in the pharmaceutical industry, revealed in his lawsuit several interesting practices: some doctors who served as speakers read from prepared scripts; some doctors were recruited as speakers even if their English was poor; both doctor and event attendees were paid honoraria, and doctors who did not prescribe did not get paid. We spoke with the 35-year-old Garrity, who lives in the Midw... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4023133 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:03:01 +0100 4023133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018441&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaK3IEXLaIa8%2F Another week, another drugmaker agrees to settle off-label marketing charges brought by the federal government. This time, Novartis will pay $422.5 million for illegally promoting its Trileptal epilepsy med for unapproved uses, such as bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain, along with five other drugs - Diovan, Zelnorm, Sandostatin, Exforge and Tekturna. The fine includes roughly $237 million to settle four lawsuits brought by whistleblowers, while $185 million goes toward criminal penalties. One of the lawsuits was filed by Jeremy Garrity, a former cardiovascular sales rep, who worked for Novartis between 2002 and 2008 before being fired (you can read it here, and you can read the settlement here. Oh, and this is the guilty plea). This is the latest in a stream of settlements involving bi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018441 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:26:16 +0100 4018441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987236&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcB0AB5jloI4%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope you had a pleasant weekend and feel refreshed. Now, of course, the routine resumes as meetings and deadlines approach. To steel ourselves, we are preparing the mandatory cup of simulation. So please join us as we indulge and scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Bristol-Myers And Astra Tout Diabetes Study Results (Dow Jones) Roche’s Avastin Fails In Late-State Colon Cancer Study (Bloomberg News) India May Separate Approvals From Patent Status (LiveMint) Drugmakers Protest New Prices In Greece (PharmaTimes) Some African Nations Side With India Over Generics Debate (Economic Times) Genentech Exec Looks Ahead To Rockefeller University (Nature) Novartis Pulls European Application For Blood Pressure Pill (PharmaTime... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987236 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:35:40 +0100 3987236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896093&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbbaLkB4Rq4s%2F And the answer is…Novartis. In the first six months of the year, calls made by Novartis sales reps to docs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants rose 7 percent compared with the last six months of 2009, according to SDI Health, a market research firm. There was, however, no comparitive data to contrast the first six months of 2009. UPDATE: SDI writes to say there was a 6.5 percent year-over-year increase. The increase, though, was attributed to the recent launch of Valturna, which was approved last December to treat high blood pressure and combines two existing Novartis meds - Diovan and Tekturna. This drug was discussed during 19 percent of all Novartis sales calls, more than any other medication. “Companies with new drugs or newly approved indications for existing dr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896093 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:21:15 +0100 3896093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659157&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FjA9j-WiJtWE%2F A new analysis of five previous studies involving about 60,000 patients found links between angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, which are widely used blood pressure drugs, to an increased risk of cancer. Specifically, 7.2 percent of patients on an ARB were diagnosed with cancer compared with 6 percent on a placebo, which was deemed statistically significant. The study, which was published in The Lancet Oncology, determined that one extra cancer case will occur for every 105 people taking the meds for about four years, although there isn’t enough info to know if the risk disappears after the drugs are stopped. Interestingly, there was no difference in the rate of cancer deaths in people on the drugs compared to those not on them. “The risk for the individual patient is mode... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659157 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:15:47 +0100 3659157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499311&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgAQqzpPFA-Q%2F And so another work week is about to draw to a close. What are you planning for the weekend? Mowing the lawn? Riding a bike? A walk in the park? We look forward to spending time with our short and not-so-short people and running with the official Pharmalot mascot. While you ponder your own choices, here are a few items to help you round out the day. Have a nice time, whatever you do and see you soon… Australia Tells Docs To Stop Kids’ Flu Shot (Bloomberg News) J&J Shareholders Reject Say-On-Pay Proposal (Associated Press) EU Sees Genzyme Drug Shortage Through September (Reuters) Pfizer Ends Trial Of Sutent In Liver Cancer (Associated Press) EMA Backs Nycomed COPD Drug (Reuters) EU Approves Diovan For Children (Associated Press) Roche Files For New Herceptin Use In US (Reut... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499311 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:43:46 +0100 3499311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3468018&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZbwVlkKVymw%2F And the winner is…. Roche’s Avastin, which is used to treat various cancers. Everyone loves a list, of course, so Reuters compiled this ranking and the most interesting finding is there seems to be just one pill that will be among the biggest sellers in 2014. In other words, injectables will dominate. Assuming this is reasonably accurate, what might it say about big drugmakers? Will they spend more in the lab or strike still more deals with smaller prey developing the next big thing? Will pills become passe? And what will it mean for patient costs? Consensus sales forecasts for world’s top 10 drugs in 2014: 1. Avastin (cancer) Roche - $8.9b 2. Humira (arthritis) Abbott - $8.5b 3. Enbrel (arthritis) Pfizer - $8b 4. Crestor (cholestero... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3468018 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:58:25 +0100 3468018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441451&cid=t_133152_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F05%2F30%2Ftheres-a-kick-me-sign-on-pharmacys-back%2F I guess we’re the flavor of the month as the douchbags and assholes are coming out of the woodwork to take a cheap shot at our lovely profession. A loyal reader, known only as Bond, sent me the link to an article titled, “The Great Drug Switcheroo.” This piece of shit article published by “Prevention Magazine” (which has been around since the 50’s). The tagline is, “Your pharmacist may be changing your medication without your knowledge–and what you don’t know could hurt you. Here’s how to stay safe.” Once again, the man behind the counter in the white coat is trying to KILL you — not trying to help you achieve optimal results from your drug therapy. It begins with a story of a lady diagnosed with epilepsy who had troub... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441451 Sat, 30 May 2009 05:46:57 +0100 2441451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027047&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fdeath-of-one-click-rule-or-received.html It has long been FDA's position that no new guidance regarding pharmaceutical marketing via the Internet was necessary because the rules that apply to print and broadcast media also apply to the Internet.Recently, however, the FDA issued a little-noticed warning letter (click on image at left to read the relevant section) that addresses a specific Internet marketing ploy: branded banner ads that mention a product's indication and benefit without including fair balance (ie, risk information).Pharmaceutical marketers and online partners (eg Google) have often justified these types of ads by invoking the the so-called "one-click rule," which Jim Nail, CMO at TNS Media Intelligence/Cymfony, explains this way: "...there is no 'official' FDA one-click rule...there is a 'received precedent' that ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027047 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:10:00 +0100 2027047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603406&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F331631043%2F How do you to resolve a dispute with a company that has a drug you want? Buy them. And so Novartis, which needs a follow-up to its best-selling Diovan blood pressure med, is acquiring a controlling interest in a small company that sells such a pill called Tekturna. The drugmaker already had a 10 percent stake in Speedel, and is adding 51 percent by purchasing shares from several large holders, including former Novartis researcher Alice Huxley, who founded the company 10 years ago and licensed rights to Tekturna to her former employer. But the two companies recently began bickering over Tekturna’s surprisingly meager sales, which helped drive Speedel’s stock price down considerably. Huxley claimed Novartis backpeddled on marketing as part of its current cost-cutting drive and th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603406 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:50:47 +0100 1603406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1067792&cid=t_133152_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F194600524%2Fdiovan_gets_fda_approval_for_t.html The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Diovan (valsartan) for use on children between the ages of six and sixteen following a priority review. Diovan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). The drug has already been previously approved for use by adults suffering from high blood pressure.It is believe that nearly 5% of children and adolescents suffer from high blood pressure. Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Diovan, claims that studies showed no difference in adverse affects on children than were previously reported for adults. Those side effects can include: headache and dizziness or more seriously hypotension and kidney problems."Novartis believes it is important to provide physicians with treatment options such as Diovan which are effective in treati... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1067792 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:00:38 +0100 1067792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=988522&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F176900502%2F And so we apologize for what must have appeared to be a slow afternoon. Actually, in some respects, it was. Big, breaking news was in short supply. However, we were spending our time researching and writing other items we hope to have for you this week. So please keep an eye trained on this site. Of course, if new developments arise tonight, we will provide them to you. Meanwhile, we hope you find these useful… FDA Approves Novartis Cancer Drug (TheStreet.com) King And Depomed End Promotion Deal For Diabetes Drug (Yahoo/Reuters) Roche’s Cellcept May Cause Birth Defects And Miscarriages (Bloomberg News) Schering-Plough Brain Cancer Med Extends Survival (Yahoo/Reuters) Ranbaxy Labs Wins Tentative OK To Sell Novartis’ Diovan (Bloomberg News) Glaxo’s JP Garnier Parries ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=988522 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:55:30 +0100 988522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=988451&cid=t_133152_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F176777581%2Ftentative_approval_for_valsart.html Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received tentative approval to manufacture and market Valsartan Tablets in 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg and 320 mg strengths.Valsartan is the generic version of Diovan, a Novartis drug, and is used in the treatment of high blood pressure. I tcan be used alone or in combination with other anti-hypertensive medications. It is also indicated for the treatment of heart failure."We are pleased to receive tentative approval for Valsartan Tablets. We believe, we are first to file a substantially complete ANDA and will stand to gain from the 180 day exclusivity available to the first filer. These product formulations have been developed organically within Ranbaxy and will further expand our product portfolio of affordable generic alternatives," said ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=988451 Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:15:13 +0100 988451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=745643&cid=t_133152_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F135606691%2F More problems for Novartis. A new study says that combining Diovan and Tekturna, the blood-pressure combo, helps lower blood pressure more than using either drug alone. But an editorial in the same journal, The Lancet, say the combo could have life-threatening side effect of high blood potassium, Dow Jones reports. And this makes it unlikely the treatment will make it into general practice or even for primary prevention in specialist care. (You can see the study summar here). Novartis disputed these findings, citing in a press release comments made by the study’s lead investigator, Suzanne Oparil. In our study, this combination was clearly shown by the data to be no more likely to increase potassium to unhealthy levels than either drug alone or even placebo,” says Oparil, profe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=745643 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:58:02 +0100 745643