New research unit boosts hope for patients with rare diseases

On Monday, Pfizer announced the creation of a new research unit which will specifically focus on the treatment of orphan diseases — those that affect fewer than 200,000 patients worldwide. Of the more than 6000 diseases classified as orphan diseases, fewer than ten percent have therapies that directly address the underlying disease.  Pfizer stated that [...]

Revolutionizing immunization campaigns? New technology keeps vaccines stable at tropical temperatures

British scientists have found a cheap and simple way of keeping vaccines stable, even at tropical temperatures, which could transform immunization campaigns in the developing world (Reuters). The ability to transport vaccines at normal temperatures would reduce cost and greatly improve access to vaccines. The newly discovered method involves mixing the vaccine with the sugars [...]

Increase in innovation, access to orphan drugs

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 [...]

Malaria drugs may help fight lupus

Drugs used to treat malaria may be useful for patients with lupus, a chronic debilitating “autoimmune” disease, according to according to a new report published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. “The data presented, taken in conjunction with the data from the published literature, suggest that antimalarials should be used in all lupus patients regardless [...]

Pharmaceutical company opens access to malaria research and compounds

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 [...]

More positive news in the fight against HIV/AIDS – close to 100 new products in testing for treatment/prevention

97 new products for the prevention or treatment of HIV/AIDS and related conditions are currently in human clinical trials, or awaiting approval by the FDA, according to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.  These products in development include 23 vaccines and 54 antivirals. While not all these products will be approved, it’s more encouraging [...]

Innovative vaccine venture offers hope to less-developed countries

Britain’s largest charity, the Wellcome Trust, and pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. have joined together to create a non-profit, £90-million (about $150 million) research center in India to facilitate the development of new vaccines, “including [those for] neglected diseases for which inadequate or no vaccines exist.”  According to Nature News, “the move marks the first [...]

Drug development for TB: an innovative collaboration

A landmark collaboration could see the development of the first new-action tuberculosis drug in 40 years.  Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a not-for-profit, product development partnership, and Tibotec, a Johnson & Johnson company, have joined forces to focus on the development of the new experimental drug TMC207. Forbes reports that if the [...]

WHO and 30 vaccine manufacturers meet: commit to meeting public health needs re H1N1

WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with over 30 vaccine manufacturers from developing and developed countries at WHO headquarters yesterday.  Industry representatives affirmed their wish to cooperate in making supplies of any eventual vaccine for Influenza A(H1N1) available to developing countries, and said they stood ready to produce the [...]

New Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme in the U.K. to Encourage Innovation and Access

A new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) came into effect in the U.K. on January 1, 2009.  The PPRS represents an attempt to balance incentives for innovation with cost and price restraint.  The objectives of the 2009 PPRS are: To deliver value for money; securing the provision of safe and effective medicines at reasonable prices; To [...]