The use of generic drugs led to a slowdown in prescription drug spending during the first quarter, with a 3.2% reduction in dollar outlay. Physicians responded positively to safety warnings and modified patient therapy as a result, with 38% changing or modifying their treatment.
A study by Express Scripts found that stimulant prescription claims for school-age children are concentrated in the South and Midwest, with higher-income communities also showing higher usage. States like Louisiana had a rate of 6.5 stimulant prescriptions per 100 eligible, while the District of Columbia had a much lower rate of 1.6.
Spending on prescription drugs grew by 16.9% in 2001, with 56.8% of the increase attributed to higher prices and use of more expensive medications. The average wholesale price rose by $85.42 to $592.05. In contrast, the company forecasts a 15.9% annual spending growth rate for 2002, driven by new generics and moderation in utilization.
Researchers developed a superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme mimetic that significantly reduced inflammation and tissue damage in an animal model of colitis. The SOD mimetic M40403 also reduced elevated cytokine levels and diarrhea, marking promising results for potential clinical candidates.
Researchers developed a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic that substantially reduced cartilage and bone erosion, as well as chronic inflammation, in a standard animal model. The SOD mimetic also significantly reduced elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β.
MetaPhore will develop and test a highly active SOD mimetic to protect heart tissues from damage. The research aims to provide additional mechanistic information on the role of superoxide in reperfusion injury, which may also apply to other ischemic events.
Researchers have found that an enzyme mimetic compound significantly improves the functioning of blood vessels and nerves in diabetic animal studies, reducing vascular abnormalities and nerve damage. The study suggests a potentially significant new approach for treating and preventing complications associated with diabetes.
Researchers will study blood samples from sepsis patients to confirm the link between free radicals and falling blood pressure. The goal is to understand why blood pressure continues to plummet despite using pharmacological agents that should increase and maintain vascular pressure.
The NIH has awarded a grant to MetaPhore Pharmaceuticals to study potential new treatments for acute and chronic pain. The research aims to develop metal-based compounds that mimic the body's natural defense mechanism against oxidative damage, with the goal of creating non-opiate drugs for pain management.
Researchers have identified a new treatment approach that could reverse the dramatic blood pressure drop associated with septic shock by removing excess superoxide free radicals. The treatment, a MetaPhore SOD mimetic, restored norepinephrine's ability to constrict blood vessels and reversed hypotension in rat models of septic shock.
The 'Eliminating Health Disparities Graduate Traineeship' prepares African American graduate students for careers in public health that focus on preventing chronic disease in minority communities. The program aims to eliminate differences in health status among populations.
A recent study found that three-tier co-pay prescription programs can significantly lower payers' trend in pharmaceutical expenditures. The study, conducted by researcher Brenda Motheral and Kathi Fairman, showed no significant differences in medical costs between the two-tier and three-tier plans.
Researchers at MetaPhore Pharmaceuticals developed a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs that simulate superoxide dismutase, combating inflammation and degradation in medical implants. The treatment resulted in a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect, including reduced acute and chronic inflammation.
The Express Scripts 1999 Drug Trend Report reveals a record 17.4 percent increase in prescription drug spending, with senior citizens facing the biggest cost increases. The average cost of a prescription rose 9.6 percent in 1999, driven by higher prices and greater drug utilization.
Hospitals have made significant progress in improving stroke treatment, reducing CT scan interpretation time from an average of 219 minutes to 115 minutes, and increasing tPA treatment administration. Training and organizational improvements have enabled rapid response 'stroke teams' to diagnose and treat patients effectively.
The symposium will focus on practical information to implement change, improve health care delivery, and reduce errors. Key topics include cultural obstacles, innovations in technology, and strategies for moving beyond blame-based safety policies.
Missouri has officially designated the life sciences industry as one of its Lead Industries to promote economic development and growth. The state is home to over 100 life sciences companies, with research funding from the National Institutes of Health increasing by 46% between 1995 and 1999.
The Clinical Advantage program aims to reduce the gap between effective treatments and conventional care for heart attack patients. By implementing evidence-based techniques, hospitals hope to improve assessment, management, and discharge planning, resulting in better patient outcomes.
A study found that nearly 40% of people with access to walking trails used them, and over 55% of trail walkers increased their walking since beginning. Women were more than twice as likely as men to report increased activity due to trail use, while lower-income groups also saw a significant increase in physical activity.
A Saint Louis University School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development study will focus on the effectiveness of diluted doses of Dryvax, a smallpox vaccine. The goal is to increase the available stock by up to 100 fold, which could improve the nation's ability to protect citizens in the event of a bioterrorism attack.
The VHA initiative has dramatically improved stroke treatment times, reducing hospital CT scan interpretation from 219 to 115 minutes. This significant reduction in time has enabled more patients to receive tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within the three-hour window, improving patient outcomes.
A study found that prescription use patterns among 68,000 recipients of pharmacy benefits in nine US states varied significantly, with cholesterol and blood pressure lowering drugs showing the widest variation. The study adjusted for age and copayment rates to minimize influence on findings.
Depression-treating drugs were the biggest contributor to a record-setting pharmacy benefit cost increase of 16.8 percent last year, according to Express Scripts. Plan sponsors who actively managed their pharmacy benefits cut the cost increase in half by encouraging the use of lower-cost but equally effective drugs.