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European Pharmaceutical Contractor
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In July of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) stopped publishing a daily table outlining the probable number of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases. At the time, the cumulative total had reached around 8,100 at an average case fatality rate of 9.6 per cent and the rate of new infections had also slowed as transmission halted mostly through old-fashioned techniques of isolation and containment. Looking back, action taken by the WHO might have suggested the adoption of a new or different stance for a disease, which for the early part of the year captivated the world's attention. Now, SARS is barely reported in the international news and press.
Throughout the year, whilst scientists scrambled over the identity of the SARS pathogen, its transmission and DNA sequence, reports also accumulated that led many to believe that poor basic hygiene exacerbated the spread of the virus (which had much in common with influenza). In China, for example, studies began to surface identifying rare animal species acting as reservoirs of the virus, entering the human food chain. Others blamed inadequate plumbing systems as a main contributor to transmission in residential buildings, especially in Hong Kong. Lately, many now comment on what impact SARS may have on seasonal epidemics of influenza.
They fear that the symptoms of flu, which can include pneumonia in severe cases, are easily confused with those of SARS. Flu typically infects 10 to 20 per cent of the total population and is responsible for between 250,000 and 500,000 deaths annually. During the closing months of 2003, anybody with an interest in infectious diseases, be it in the public policy-making sector or the pharmaceutical/biotech industry might look back and ask 'what did SARS actually teach us?' More importantly, one might wonder 'did the relevant parties respond in the correct way?' This article focuses on the pharmaceutical industries' response to SARS and critiques whether, one year after the initial cases of SARS, we are closer to understanding and preventing another outbreak of the disease.
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Industry Events |
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4th Annual Patient Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Trials
13-15 October 2008, Amsterdam
Patient recruitment
is now consuming thirty percent of clinical trial time - more time than any
other clinical trial activity - and almost half of all trial delays result from
patient recruitment problems.
As the
recruiting culture becomes more sophisticated and the forces affecting patient
enrollment grow more numerous and complex, pharmaceutical companies are
striving to discover new strategies to facilitate enrollment in clinical
trials.
With
increasing industry pressure to develop, test and market greater numbers of new
drugs faster, pharmaceutical companies need to perform clinical trials as
quickly as possible. Inefficient patient recruitment processes is a formidable
barrier to pharmaceutical companies' success in launching new products.
Improving the patient recruitment process is imperative to avoid wasted
investments and eliminate costly delays in bringing new drugs to market --
today and even more so in the not-so-distant future. Improved patient
recruitment presents one of the largest opportunities for pharmaceutical
companies to eliminate delays in clinical trials, thereby making it possible to
reduce time to market. With patent time limits and large overheads
meaning that any delays in the development timeline can be disastrous, a good
understanding of how to successfully recruit patients for trials is vital for
any company looking to succeed.
More info >> |
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News and Press Releases |
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Azopharma Announces Plans to Implement XcelodoseTM Technology in the Production of Early Stage Clinical Trial Materials
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Azopharma Product Development Group, Inc. (“Azopharma”) announced today plans to implement Xcelodose technology at its formulations development facility, ApiCross Drug Delivery Technologies. Xcelodose technology is a powder micro-dosing system developed by Meridica. This technology offers a unique powder dispensing system for small-scale capsule filling and ultimately assists in conserving valuable research material as well as reducing various Preformulation activities.
More info >> |
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