Posted on February 6, 2010 by Patients and Patents
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that without urgent action, global cancer deaths would increase from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030.
Each year, over 12 million people are diagnosed with cancer. WHO warned that the worldwide cancer burden is projected to grow significantly, with the most rapid increases occurring in low- and medium-income countries.
Cancer accounts for one eighth of deaths worldwide; more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. According to the WHO, more than 30 percent of all cancers can be prevented through simple measures such as eliminating tobacco use, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and protecting against cancer-causing infections. Some cancers can be detected early, treated and cured.
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Posted on January 27, 2010 by Steven Lott
The number of orphan drug designations in the US more than doubled in the last decade, growing from 208 during 2000-02 to 425 in 2006-08, says a new study.
Since the US Orphan Drug Act of 1983 was signed into law, more than 2,000 products in development have been designated as orphan drugs, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted market approval to 350 drugs and biologics, according to the study, which was conducted by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD).
Orphan drugs are products developed for a rare disease or condition affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, while in the European Union (EU) they are defined as treatments for diseases or conditions affecting five people out of every 10,000, or fewer.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that 25 million Americans have a rare disease.
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Posted on January 25, 2010 by Patients and Patents
Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has outlined a series of initiatives aimed at attacking neglected diseases and says that its experimental malaria vaccine is just a couple of years away from being approved.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to reveal previously confidential data on thousands of potential anti-malaria compounds. The company has 13,500 molecules which have been tested against the parasite which causes malaria.
In addition to this, the company is to pump millions into an ‘Open Lab’ for independent research teams. One expert said more sharing of data could trigger advances like those that came from the human genome project.
Dr Timothy Wells, Chief Scientific Officer of the Medicines for Malaria Venture, which has worked with GSK on the project, said it had the potential to “dramatically alter” the way the world approached malaria research.
GSK also outlined what it calls a “sustainable approach” it has developed to price RTS,S, the world’s most advanced malaria candidate vaccine, which is currently in late-stage trials across seven African countries. The pricing model “will cover the cost of the vaccine together with a small return” which will be “fully reinvested into R&D for second-generation malaria vaccines, or vaccines for other neglected tropical diseases”.
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U.S. adults opting out of routine vaccines
Tens of thousands of American adults die each year from pneumonia, influenza and other infectious diseases that could be prevented by routine vaccinations, according to a recent report. Even when not fatal, vaccine-preventable diseases add an estimated $10 billion a year to U.S. healthcare costs (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Overall, adult vaccination rates are particularly low for minority groups, according to the report released by the Trust For America’s Health, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
“Despite the evidence of safety and effectiveness of vaccines, many adults are unaware that they need certain vaccinations or are misinformed about vaccines,” the report said.
Millions of American adults go without routine vaccinations every year, leading to as many as 50,000 preventable deaths and thousands of preventable diseases, the report said.
Filed under: Commentary on news & events, North America, Public health | Tagged: access to medicines, Public health, United States of America, vaccine | Leave a Comment »