Worldwide pharmaceutical sales are projected to exceed USD$1 trillion in 2020, according to an analysis by EvaluatePharma, a market intelligence company. Global sales in 2013 were $717 billion. Growth over the next seven years is projected to be about 5% per year despite a loss (-1.6%) in 2012 and minimal growth (+0.3%) in 2013. Higher growth is largely attributed to the development of biological agents, which are priced higher than pharmaceuticals and are less likely to be genericized. Read More
Latest News
Relapse prevention in first-episode schizophrenia: role of long-acting injectables
January 14, 2015 Relapse risk factors
Use of LAIs in first-episode schizophrenia
LAI vs. oral antipsychotics
Use of aripiprazole once-monthly
Current recommendations for LAI use
Comment by Dr. Marc-André Roy
The clinical goals in the management of schizophrenia are to reduce the severity and duration of acute episodes of psychosis, promote recovery, maintain optimal functioning and prevent subsequent relapses (National Institute for Clinical Excellence, Clinical Practice Guidelines, No. 82;2009:210; Falkai et al. World J Biol Psychiatry 2006;7:5-4; Lehman et al. Am J Psychiatry 2004;161[suppl 2]:1-56).
Relapses can contribute to clinical destabilization, an increased risk of hospitalization, and a more intractable course of worsening symptoms and reduced responsiveness to antipsychotic therapies. There is emerging evidence that the duration of psychotic relapses is associated with brain volume changes (Andreasen et al. Am J Psychiatry 2013;170:609-615; free full text at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835590/). Read More
Serotonergic mechanisms in PD: two reports
December 10, 2014Two studies have investigated the potential benefits of targeting serotonergic neurotransmission in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Read More
Future uncertain for active immunotherapies in AD – Part 1
December 10, 2014The recent failure of active immunotherapies targeting beta-amyloid in Alzheimer’s disease has dampened some of the initial enthusiasm for this approach. Development of AN1792, an active beta-amyloid vaccine, was terminated following the development of meningoencephalitis in 6% of vaccinated subjects. This complication was attributed to use of full-length beta-amyloid1-42. Read More