Pomalidomide Is Nonteratogenic in Chicken and Zebrafish Embryos and Nonneurotoxic in Vitro.

Pomalidomide is nonteratogenic in chicken and zebrafish embryos and nonneurotoxic in vitro.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jul 15;
Mahony C, Erskine L, Niven J, Greig NH, Figg WD, Vargesson N

Thalidomide and its analog, Lenalidomide, are in current use clinically for treatment of multiple myeloma, complications of leprosy and cancers. An additional analog, Pomalidomide, has recently been licensed for treatment of multiple myeloma, and is purported to be clinically more potent than either Thalidomide or Lenalidomide. Using a combination of zebrafish and chicken embryos together with in vitro assays we have determined the relative anti-inflammatory activity of each compound. We demonstrate that in vivo embryonic assays Pomalidomide is a significantly more potent anti-inflammatory agent than either Thalidomide or Lenalidomide. We tested the effect of Pomalidomide and Lenalidomide on angiogenesis, teratogenesis, and neurite outgrowth, known detrimental effects of Thalidomide. We found that Pomalidomide, displays a high degree of cell specificity, and has no detectable teratogenic, antiangiogenic or neurotoxic effects at potent anti-inflammatory concentrations. This is in marked contrast to Thalidomide and Lenalidomide, which had detrimental effects on blood vessels, nerves, and embryonic development at anti-inflammatory concentrations. This work has implications for Pomalidomide as a treatment for conditions Thalidomide and Lenalidomide treat currently. HubMed – drug

Varicella-zoster virus encephalitis and vasculopathy in a patient treated with fingolimod.

Neurology. 2013 Jul 16; 81(3): 306
McNamara PH, Redmond JM, Doherty CP, Ratchford JN, Costello K, Reich DS, Calabresi PA

Ratchford et al.(1) reported a patient with fingolimod-related varicella encephalitis and vasculopathy. The patient’s baseline mobility was wheelchair-bound, which means that his Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score(2) was at least 7.0. This suggests that he was no longer in the inflammatory stage of multiple sclerosis (MS) and had secondary progressive MS (SPMS). It is unclear whether the patient’s condition met criteria for natalizumab but-at a minimum-the condition must have progressed while on natalizumab. There is neither licensing support nor data from pivotal trials for efficacy of this drug in patients with SPMS.(3) The evidence supporting the extension of natalizumab beyond the standard 24 months is also lacking. Fingolimod is licensed for patients with active relapsing-remitting MS but Ratchford et al. stated that this patient was clinically stable. This case highlights an interesting and serious consequence of starting therapy with fingolimod, but the evidence for starting and continuing treatment with this medication-and indeed natalizumab-is lacking in this patient group. This case report also emphasizes the need for evidence-based care, which is safer and more cost-effective. HubMed – drug

Current status of production and market of human vaccine products in Korea.

Clin Exp Vaccine Res. 2013 Jul; 2(2): 120-7
Kim SY, Cho J, Cha SH, Bae CW

The goal of this study was to build basic information related to the production and market of human vaccine products in Korea, which can be an important indicator to provide basic data in practical use.Statistical data were obtained from the Bank of Korea, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association, and Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association.Vaccines are the 10th ranked drugs in the classification of whole complete preparated drugs. The production output of vaccines in Korea was 392.2 billion KRW in 2011, comprising 2.83% of complete preparated drug production output (13 trillion 880.8 billion KRW) and 2.54% of medical-pharmaceutical product output (15 trillion 440.3 billion KRW). The market scale of vaccines in Korea was 710 billion KRW in 2011, with an annual average growth rate of 11% in the past 6 years, comprising 2% of vaccine market in the world. There was also a significant increase in essential vaccines and other preventive vaccines in a global scale.Vaccines have the potential of becoming an emerging attractive industry. Based on the current analysis about the production of vaccine products and market scale, further development of the vaccine industry is expected in Korea. HubMed – drug

Eruptive seborrheic keratoses associated with adalimumab use.

J Dermatol Case Rep. 2013 Jun 30; 7(2): 60-3
Eastman KL, Knezevich SR, Raugi GJ

Seborrheic keratoses are common, benign cutaneous growths, however in rare situations they can acutely erupt in large numbers. Eruptive seborrheic keratoses can be associated with internal malignancy (sign of Leser-Trelat), but may also appear in conjunction with inflammatory dermatoses and adverse drug reactions.A 71-year-old Caucasian man presented with acute onset of a pruritic, burning papular erythematous rash on his chest, upper extremities and lower extremities after a routine adalimumab injection for rheumatoid arthritis. Two skin biopsies obtained showed findings diagnostic of seborrheic keratoses. Spontaneous resolution of the diffuse eruptive seborrheic keratoses was achieved within 3 months of discontinuing adalimumab therapy.We believe the development of eruptive seborrheic keratoses due to adalimumab therapy is rare, and because our patient responded promptly to discontinuation of the drug we suggest this should be the preferred course of action in future cases. HubMed – drug

A review on strontium ranelate long-term antifracture efficacy in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2013 Jun; 5(3): 127-39
Cianferotti L, D’Asta F, Brandi ML

Osteoporotic fractures are one of the major causes of increased morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women and the overall aging population. One of the major issues in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis is to find a safe and effective treatment in the long term (>3 years) to achieve and maintain a reduction in the risk of fracture. Strontium ranelate (PROTELOS(®)) is a relatively novel drug, currently approved in Europe for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Strontium ranelate is the first agent of a new therapeutic class in osteoporosis, capable of both promoting bone formation and, to a lesser extent, inhibiting bone resorption. This uncoupling in bone turnover results in a net gain in bone mineral density (BMD), bone quality improvement and reduction in risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures, as initially demonstrated in the preplanned long-term registrative trials SOTI (Spinal Osteoporosis Therapeutic Intervention) and TROPOS (Treatment of Peripheral Osteoporosis) at 5 years. Recently, open-label extensions of the SOTI and TROPOS trials up to 8 and, recently, 10 years have confirmed the sustained efficacy of strontium ranelate in increasing BMD, the long-term safety profile and the high compliance to treatment, independently from baseline BMD or other risk factors for osteoporotic fractures. Recent economic impact analyses have proved that long-term treatment with strontium ranelate is highly cost effective, especially in women older than 70 years of age. Histomorphometric analyses in animals and humans participating in the phase III trials have proved that the quality of mineralization is preserved in the long term and bone microarchitecture is ameliorated, with increased bone strength. Thus, strontium ranelate has been confirmed to be an effective compound for the long-term, chronic treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. HubMed – drug