The promise and pitfalls of molecular testing in oncology

Great strides have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, a variety of challenges remain that frustrate both physicians and patients. Central to this is how to use the large amounts of genetic data now available. Dr Chris Gaj explores the challenges and potential consequences for stakeholders in the US, Europe and emerging markets. Early targeted therapies, such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib from Roche/Genentech/OSI, offered the promise of precision medicine to treat cancer at a molecular level. Oncologists noted individual ‘Lazarus-like’ responses to erlotinib, but overall effectiveness was moderate in unselected populations.

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Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories

Caraco is a growing manufacturer and distributor of generic pharmaceutical products. Caraco is committed to rebuilding it’s manufacturing infrastructure to meet high standards.

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Pharma Tech

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

Article | July 12, 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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PHARMACY MARKET

Tips for Managing Chronic Pain Beyond Prescription Painkillers

Article | October 10, 2023

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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Pharma Tech

What are the advantages of PCD Pharma Company?

Article | October 6, 2022

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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Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories

Caraco is a growing manufacturer and distributor of generic pharmaceutical products. Caraco is committed to rebuilding it’s manufacturing infrastructure to meet high standards.

Related News

Lantern Pharma’s Proprietary A.I. Platform Surpasses 450 Million Data Points Accelerating Oncology Drug Development and Drug Response Prediction

Lantern Pharma | June 30, 2020

Lantern Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on leveraging artificial intelligence (“A.I.”), machine learning and genomic data to streamline the drug development process and to identify the patients that will benefit from its targeted oncology therapies, announced today that it surpassed the milestone of 450 million curated data points being utilized in its proprietary A.I. and machine learning-powered platform, RADR® (Response Algorithm for Drug Positioning and Rescue). RADR® leverages genomic, transcriptomic, clinical and drug sensitivity data points across more than 145 drug-tumor interactions to predict the potential response cancer patients will have to potential drugs, therefore enabling a more personalized approach to therapy that is aimed at better outcomes. Lantern is establishing collaborations and partnerships to expand the functionality of RADR®, including algorithms that can operate 200 to 300 percent faster than its existing algorithms, enabling the company to develop robust gene signatures that can be used to guide patient enrollment in trials and as a companion diagnostic (CDx). During the most recent data enrichment campaign, Lantern focused on significantly increasing the depth and amount of data for: non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, and gliomas. Reaching this milestone of over 450 million curated data points for oncology drug development will bring greater precision and speed in helping Lantern with its objective of personalizing oncology therapy with reduced risk and cost.

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Novartis appoints Elizabeth Barrett as Oncology Head

Novartis | January 11, 2018

Novartis announced today that Elizabeth (Liz) Barrett, currently Global President Oncology at Pfizer, Inc., has been appointed CEO Novartis Oncology and a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis, effective February 1, 2018. She will be based in Basel. Mrs. Barrett succeeds Bruno Strigini who decided to retire from Novartis for personal reasons. Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan, designated CEO of Novartis, said: Liz is a highly accomplished and recognized oncology and people leader with an impressive record of building successful business organizations in the US, Europe and globally. She has been instrumental in creating new commercial models, driving innovation in close partnership with research and development and leveraging business development opportunities. Her long-time commercial pharma industry experience, marketing skills, and perspectives make Liz a great fit to further develop our oncology business.

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Lantern Pharma’s Proprietary A.I. Platform Surpasses 450 Million Data Points Accelerating Oncology Drug Development and Drug Response Prediction

Lantern Pharma | June 30, 2020

Lantern Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on leveraging artificial intelligence (“A.I.”), machine learning and genomic data to streamline the drug development process and to identify the patients that will benefit from its targeted oncology therapies, announced today that it surpassed the milestone of 450 million curated data points being utilized in its proprietary A.I. and machine learning-powered platform, RADR® (Response Algorithm for Drug Positioning and Rescue). RADR® leverages genomic, transcriptomic, clinical and drug sensitivity data points across more than 145 drug-tumor interactions to predict the potential response cancer patients will have to potential drugs, therefore enabling a more personalized approach to therapy that is aimed at better outcomes. Lantern is establishing collaborations and partnerships to expand the functionality of RADR®, including algorithms that can operate 200 to 300 percent faster than its existing algorithms, enabling the company to develop robust gene signatures that can be used to guide patient enrollment in trials and as a companion diagnostic (CDx). During the most recent data enrichment campaign, Lantern focused on significantly increasing the depth and amount of data for: non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, glioblastoma, and gliomas. Reaching this milestone of over 450 million curated data points for oncology drug development will bring greater precision and speed in helping Lantern with its objective of personalizing oncology therapy with reduced risk and cost.

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Novartis appoints Elizabeth Barrett as Oncology Head

Novartis | January 11, 2018

Novartis announced today that Elizabeth (Liz) Barrett, currently Global President Oncology at Pfizer, Inc., has been appointed CEO Novartis Oncology and a member of the Executive Committee of Novartis, effective February 1, 2018. She will be based in Basel. Mrs. Barrett succeeds Bruno Strigini who decided to retire from Novartis for personal reasons. Vasant (Vas) Narasimhan, designated CEO of Novartis, said: Liz is a highly accomplished and recognized oncology and people leader with an impressive record of building successful business organizations in the US, Europe and globally. She has been instrumental in creating new commercial models, driving innovation in close partnership with research and development and leveraging business development opportunities. Her long-time commercial pharma industry experience, marketing skills, and perspectives make Liz a great fit to further develop our oncology business.

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