Collaboration Is the X Factor in Making Precision Medicine a Success

Last year, the FDA approved 59 new molecular entities for the US market, the highest number ever approved in a single year. A key driver of this record level of approvals is the explosive growth of precision medicine. Since 2015, at least a fifth of all new drug approvals each year have been precision therapies and in 2018 they accounted for nearly half (42 per cent). These numbers are a result of significant, sustained investment from pharma companies and highlight just how central this approach will be in life science R&D going forward. Yet investment into drug development isn’t the only factor that will determine the success of the precision medicine market.

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Masters Pharmaceutical Inc

Masters Pharmaceutical, INC, ranked number 54 in Deloitte's top 100 largest privately owned companies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, is located in Cincinnati, OH.

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Pharma Tech

How long will the world wait for the next pandemic of antimicrobial resistance before we act?

Article | July 20, 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become an increasingly serious global health problem in recent years. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections, and the number is expected to increase in the coming years. How does antimicrobial resistance emerge? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines. It makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease, severe illness, and death. When we use antibiotics, some bacteria die, but resistant bacteria can survive and even multiply. The overuse of antibiotics and substandard antibiotics make resistant bacteria more common. So, the more we use antibiotics, the more chances bacteria have to become resistant to them. The rise in AMR is caused by multiple factors including the misuse and overuse of antibiotics by humans as well as in livestock and agriculture. Although these are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens, the emergence of substandard and falsified antibiotics is another lesser-known, huge contributory factor. Even though AMR is a leading cause of death around the world, it is tracked most closely in clinical high-income settings and developed countries. Unfortunately, this is not the case in low and middle-income countries, where the highest burden is in low-resource settings and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). These countries are disproportionately affected, in part due to the high burden of communicable diseases. Consequences to human health of AMR AMR poses significant risks to human health, resulting in prolonged and more severe infections, extended hospitalizations, and increased healthcare expenses. It can also lead to an increased risk of death, as an infection may become untreatable. Additionally, it can reduce the effectiveness of medicines and treatments, making it more difficult to manage existing medical conditions. It is even more concerning that it can lead to the emergence of new, more dangerous strains of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. This would mean medical procedures, such as surgery, including caesarean sections or hip replacements, cancer chemotherapy, and organ transplantation, will become riskier. Counterfeit medicines and antibiotics: Antibiotics are the most counterfeited medicines in the world, as they account for 28% of global counterfeit medicines. Substandard and falsified antibiotics are medicines that do not meet the quality standards set by regulatory authorities. Counterfeit antibiotics are estimated at 5% of the global antibiotic market. These medicines are often of inferior quality or contain incorrect ingredients or incorrect amounts of active ingredients. They may also contain toxic contaminants or be expired, posing serious consequences for patients. Sadly, counterfeit antibiotics are mostly found in LMICs due to a lack of regulation and enforcement, as well as a lack of access to quality healthcare. In many of these countries, the demand for antibiotics is higher than the supply, and counterfeit antibiotics are seen as a cheaper and more accessible alternative. Furthermore, there is a lack of awareness around the dangers of taking counterfeit antibiotics, and there is a lack of resources for health authorities to test for the authenticity of these medicines. Why are antibiotics so rife for counterfeit drugs? Counterfeiters of pharmaceuticals succeed in large part by exploiting weaknesses in supply chains, which are often fragmented with poor regulatory frameworks. Antibiotics are often counterfeited because they are in high demand and can be sold for a large profit. To combat the problem of substandard and falsified antibiotics, governments must take a multi-pronged approach. This should encompass enacting laws and regulations to ensure the quality and safety of medicines, conducting surveillance for detecting and removing substandard and falsified products from the market, as well as providing training and education to healthcare professionals and patients regarding the responsible use of antibiotics. In addition, governments must work to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain. This includes increasing the transparency of the supply chain, improving the quality control systems, and introducing traceability systems to track the movement of medicines from the manufacturer to the patient. Medical investment in low and middle-income countries Another neglected aspect by international NGOs and governments is investment in building local laboratory capacity in LMICs to combat antimicrobial resistance. Localized laboratory facilities can help identify, track, and prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant infections, as well as provide early warnings of emerging drug-resistant strains. Localized microbiology, surveillance, and quality control laboratories can also play an important role in developing new treatments and interventions for combating antimicrobial resistance. In addition, having localized laboratory capacity can provide more accurate standardized data on the prevalence of drug-resistant infections, which can help inform policy decisions and public health interventions. Affordable medicines Finally, governments must work to increase access to high-quality, affordable medicines. This includes improving the availability of generic medicines, which are typically cheaper alternatives to brand-name drugs. They also need to increase access to newer, more effective antibiotics.

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Pharma Tech

Tips for Managing Chronic Pain Beyond Prescription Painkillers

Article | July 13, 2022

Painkillers like Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin, have been prescribed by primary physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other healthcare providers to patients suffering from varying levels of pain. Though these medications have proven to be an effective source of pain relief, they have also proven to be highly addictive. In fact, it has even been reported that there are more cases of a drug overdose and deaths from prescription painkillers than heroin or cocaine. While there are a number of factors that play into this opioid epidemic, educating doctors and patients on alternative solutions to managing chronic pain is a great place to start combatting this nationwide crisis.

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Pharmacy Market

What are the advantages of PCD Pharma Company?

Article | July 7, 2023

PCD Pharma stands for propaganda distribution. A PCD company gives brand name and support to its franchises. They also provide distribution rights and monopoly rights within a particular region. If a person wants to establish their business, it is a must for them to know the pros and cons of the business to make a sound decision. Needless to mention that PCD company has a lot to contribute in the medical filed. Worldwide in a medical field, A PCD Pharma Company is playing an essential and crucial role in the rapid growth. The pharma industry is progressing t a fast pace. The company uses the latest technologies for each brand which ensures the safety of products and accepts the responsibility of human health & life by providing better outcomes. To have a drug license number and company registration, the cost to establish the company is quite cost-effective that is15000-20000rs. So this gives people a brilliant opportunity to have their unit without digging a big hole in their bank balance. Indian produces exquisite quality products, which make pharma companies a considerable success.

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WALGREEN’S IN HOT WATER OVER PHONY PHARMACIST

Article | February 11, 2020

The drugstore chain agreed to pay $7.5 million in fines after an unlicensed pharmacist at several San Francisco Bay locations illegally filled more than 700,000 prescriptions over a ten-year period. According to California prosecutors, Kim Thien Le stole license numbers from other pharmacists to fill prescriptions for Fentanyl, morphine, and other painkillers. Le pleaded guilty to multiple felony impersonation counts. Walgreen’s agreed to the settlement to avoid being charged with consumer fraud in Alameda and Santa Anna Counties. Prosecutors alleged that Walgreen’s failed to verify Le’s license and did not conduct a thorough background check. The company insisted it has taken remedial measures.

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Masters Pharmaceutical Inc

Masters Pharmaceutical, INC, ranked number 54 in Deloitte's top 100 largest privately owned companies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, is located in Cincinnati, OH.

Related News

Pharma Titans Team To Tackle COVID-19

Precision Vaccinations | April 14, 2020

Considering the extraordinary humanitarian challenge of ending the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, two leading pharmaceutical companies believe establishing a collaboration is the best tactic for bringing a world-class vaccine. Announced in a joint press release on April 14, 2020, GSK and Sanofi said the ‘global access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority and are committed to making any vaccine that is developed through the collaboration affordable to the public.’ ‘And through mechanisms that offer fair access for people in all countries.’ This new collaboration marks a significant milestone in Sanofi’s and GSK’s ongoing contributions to help fight COVID-19. The companies have entered into a Material Transfer Agreement to enable them to start working together immediately. Definitive terms of the collaboration are expected to be finalized over the next few weeks.

Read More

Indiana University Employs Cloud Computing, AI for Precision Medicine

HITInfrastructure | October 10, 2019

IU is employing these technologies to target certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma, triple-negative breast cancer, and pediatric sarcomas, and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, explained Peter Embi, MD, president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute, which is a medical research organization affiliated with IU and Purdue University. IU decided to partner with LifeOmic, which provides a secure cloud service for the long-term storage, retrieval, analysis, and clinical use of medical research data. IU has a 1.5 percent ownership stake in LifeOmic, which was founded by Don Brown, an IU alumnus. In addition, IU and other universities, through their Indiana Clinical Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), are working with LifeOmic to provide the LIFE Extend app to enable Indiana residents to live a healthy lifestyle. CTSI is a research partnership among IU, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame. The LIFE Extend app includes the option for users to participate in the All IN for Health program, which links Indiana residents with opportunities to improve their health and participate in research and clinical studies. Indiana CTSI and LifeOmic have set a goal of engaging more than 100,000 residents in the All IN for Health program.

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Precision Therapeutics’ Subsidiary, to Study Innovative Personalized Medicine Opportunities for Cancer Patients

Precision Therapeutics Inc. | April 11, 2019

PITTSBURGH, April 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precision Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AIPT) (“Precision” or “the Company”) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Helomics® Corporation (Helomics), which provides personalized medicine solutions and boutique CRO services for clients in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology industries, and SpeciCare, an innovative Georgia-based company connecting cancer patients to new treatment options only available through storing the patient’s live tumor tissue, have signed an agreement for Helomics to provide CRO services and its D-CHIP artificial intelligence (AI) platform for a functional precision medicine study sponsored by SpeciCare. “SpeciCare is at the forefront of a renewed interest in functional precision medicine, which has been core to our personalized oncology approach for many years. We are excited to work with SpeciCare on their PIONEER initiative study, which will utilize Helomics’ core functional precision medicine technology of live tumor drug profiling assays (TruTumor™) and genomic profiling coupled with our AI-driven bioinformatics platform, D-CHIP,” commented Gerald J. Vardzel Jr., president of Helomics. “This collaboration further demonstrates the value of our CRO services and D-CHIP platform, both to generate revenue, and advance personalized medicine to improve patient treatment and outcomes.” Functional precision medicine goes beyond pure genomics to test live tumor tissue from the patient with a variety of approaches that interrogate how the tumor behaves, such as when challenged with potential therapies. Traditional genomics-only approaches often do not provide clinically actionable results outside of a handful of approved genomic biomarkers and associated drugs, limiting clinicians’ options for individualizing therapy.

Read More

Pharma Titans Team To Tackle COVID-19

Precision Vaccinations | April 14, 2020

Considering the extraordinary humanitarian challenge of ending the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, two leading pharmaceutical companies believe establishing a collaboration is the best tactic for bringing a world-class vaccine. Announced in a joint press release on April 14, 2020, GSK and Sanofi said the ‘global access to COVID-19 vaccines is a priority and are committed to making any vaccine that is developed through the collaboration affordable to the public.’ ‘And through mechanisms that offer fair access for people in all countries.’ This new collaboration marks a significant milestone in Sanofi’s and GSK’s ongoing contributions to help fight COVID-19. The companies have entered into a Material Transfer Agreement to enable them to start working together immediately. Definitive terms of the collaboration are expected to be finalized over the next few weeks.

Read More

Indiana University Employs Cloud Computing, AI for Precision Medicine

HITInfrastructure | October 10, 2019

IU is employing these technologies to target certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma, triple-negative breast cancer, and pediatric sarcomas, and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s, explained Peter Embi, MD, president and CEO of Regenstrief Institute, which is a medical research organization affiliated with IU and Purdue University. IU decided to partner with LifeOmic, which provides a secure cloud service for the long-term storage, retrieval, analysis, and clinical use of medical research data. IU has a 1.5 percent ownership stake in LifeOmic, which was founded by Don Brown, an IU alumnus. In addition, IU and other universities, through their Indiana Clinical Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI), are working with LifeOmic to provide the LIFE Extend app to enable Indiana residents to live a healthy lifestyle. CTSI is a research partnership among IU, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame. The LIFE Extend app includes the option for users to participate in the All IN for Health program, which links Indiana residents with opportunities to improve their health and participate in research and clinical studies. Indiana CTSI and LifeOmic have set a goal of engaging more than 100,000 residents in the All IN for Health program.

Read More

Precision Therapeutics’ Subsidiary, to Study Innovative Personalized Medicine Opportunities for Cancer Patients

Precision Therapeutics Inc. | April 11, 2019

PITTSBURGH, April 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Precision Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: AIPT) (“Precision” or “the Company”) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Helomics® Corporation (Helomics), which provides personalized medicine solutions and boutique CRO services for clients in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biotechnology industries, and SpeciCare, an innovative Georgia-based company connecting cancer patients to new treatment options only available through storing the patient’s live tumor tissue, have signed an agreement for Helomics to provide CRO services and its D-CHIP artificial intelligence (AI) platform for a functional precision medicine study sponsored by SpeciCare. “SpeciCare is at the forefront of a renewed interest in functional precision medicine, which has been core to our personalized oncology approach for many years. We are excited to work with SpeciCare on their PIONEER initiative study, which will utilize Helomics’ core functional precision medicine technology of live tumor drug profiling assays (TruTumor™) and genomic profiling coupled with our AI-driven bioinformatics platform, D-CHIP,” commented Gerald J. Vardzel Jr., president of Helomics. “This collaboration further demonstrates the value of our CRO services and D-CHIP platform, both to generate revenue, and advance personalized medicine to improve patient treatment and outcomes.” Functional precision medicine goes beyond pure genomics to test live tumor tissue from the patient with a variety of approaches that interrogate how the tumor behaves, such as when challenged with potential therapies. Traditional genomics-only approaches often do not provide clinically actionable results outside of a handful of approved genomic biomarkers and associated drugs, limiting clinicians’ options for individualizing therapy.

Read More

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