November 2016

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide, TAF) 25mg, a once-daily treatment for adults with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with compensated liver disease.

Roche announced positive results from the phase III GiACTA study, which evaluated Actemra®/RoActemra® (tocilizumab) in people with giant cell arteritis (GCA). GiACTA met its primary and key secondary endpoint, demonstrating that Actemra/RoActemra – initially in combination with a six month steroid (glucocorticoid) taper – enabled significantly more patients to achieve sustained disease remission while also significantly reducing steroid exposure compared with steroids alone.¹ Data results will be presented in an oral session on Sunday, 13 November at the 2016 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and Association for Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) Annual Meeting.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company  announced that the company has entered into a five-year research collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University. The collaboration is designed to identify mechanisms of response and resistance in patients whose cancer is being treated with checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapies, including Opdivo (nivolumab) monotherapy, or Opdivo in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) or other investigational immunotherapies.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc.  announced  that 12 Eliquis abstracts will be presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2016, to be held November 12-16 in New Orleans. Among these abstracts, the Bristol Myers-Squibb and Pfizer Alliance will present final data from the randomized AEGEAN (Assessment of an Educational and Guidance Program for Eliquis Adherence in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation) study, highlighting adherence and persistence data for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with Eliquis to reduce the risk of stroke.

Major contributories to company’s spectacular performance in Q2 include its top selling bulk drugs Montelukast (an anti-asthmatic), Atorvastatin (statin) and Rosuvastatin (another statin drug), which registered a jump of 46 per cent, 33 per cent and 203 per cent respectively in their sales revenues. This apart, consumer health products promoted under Dr. Morepen umbrella brand i.e. Home Diagnostics, OTC (Over the Counter) products and Formulations also recorded excellent sales nos. for the quarter under consideration.

How often have you said this or heard people saying it? We forget many things in our daily lives, but there is a difference when we forget to take our prescribed medicines. If you missed yesterday’s medicines, you can’t take them today – the damage has already happened in your body. According to the World Health Organization, “Approximately 50% of patients do not take their medications as prescribed.” This can lead to significant increase in hospitalization, treatment failure and even death. As per studies 2.5 times increased risk of hospitalization for patients with diabetes.