An indirect comparison of the efficacy of bevacizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel versus pemetrexed with cisplatin in patients with advanced or recurrent non-squamous adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objective:

There are two new treatment options available for the treatment of adenocarcinoma histology non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which offer improved benefit in terms of progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) over chemotherapy. Both bevacizumab and pemetrexed when combined with chemotherapy significantly increase PFS and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC versus chemotherapy alone. The aim of this analysis was to compare the efficacy for patients with non-squamous adenocarcinoma NSCLC treated with bevacizumab, carboplatin and paclitaxel (BCP) to pemetrexed and cisplatin (PC) by using indirect comparison (ITC) methodology.     

Safety and efficacy of maintenance infliximab therapy for moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease in children: REACH open-label extension

Abstract

Objective:

Assess long-term effects of maintenance infliximab therapy in children with moderately-to-severely active Crohn’s disease.     

Epoetin theta: efficacy and safety of IV administration in anaemic haemodialysis patients in the maintenance phase in comparison to epoetin beta

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the efficacy and safety of epoetin theta and epoetin beta in anaemic patients with chronic kidney disease, undergoing haemodialysis and previously on stable maintenance therapy with epoetin beta.     

Epoetin theta: efficacy and safety of subcutaneous administration in anemic pre-dialysis patients in the maintenance phase in comparison to epoetin beta

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the efficacy and safety of epoetin theta and epoetin beta in anemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not yet receiving dialysis and previously on stable maintenance therapy with epoetin beta.     

The impact of a serum based proteomic mass spectrometry test on treatment recommendations in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the impact of a serum-based proteomic test for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on physician treatment recommendations.     

Practical guidelines on the use of paliperidone palmitate in schizophrenia

Abstract

Objective:

Paliperidone palmitate is an atypical long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic that has been approved for use in the US, EU, Australia and numerous other countries for acute and maintenance therapy of schizophrenia.

LAI antipsychotics are often viewed as a ‘last-resort’ treatment for difficult-to-treat patients, however this article considers their role more broadly in the management of partial or non-adherence in schizophrenia.     

Indirect comparison of the efficacy of cetuximab and cisplatin in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

Background:

Cetuximab (Erbitux ) is the only new medical therapy for locally and regionally advanced SCCHN to be licensed in industrialized countries in the past 15 years and presents an alternative to cisplatin which is the current therapeutic standard. In the absence of a published head-to-head trial, we estimated the relative benefit of cetuximab and cisplatin using an indirect comparison methodology.     

Second-line therapy for NSCLC in clinical practice: baseline results of the European SELECTTION observational study

Abstract

Objective:

Although the efficacy of a number of drugs for the second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been demonstrated in Phase III trials, very limited evidence exists on optimal duration of second-line treatment or the reasons why this treatment is stopped in standard clinical practice. SELECTTION (Survey in European Lung Cancer Evaluating Choice of Treatment and Tolerability In Observed NSCLC) was designed to assess the time from initiation of second-line treatment for NSCLC to treatment discontinuation for any reason, the reasons for discontinuation, and the impact of discontinuation on outcomes.     

Improving the design of maintenance studies for bipolar disorder

Abstract

Background:

In contrast to the trial design of acute mania studies, there is no standard design for bipolar maintenance studies. Over the past 15 years, the design of monotherapy maintenance studies in bipolar disorder has evolved significantly, but recent study designs continue to differ in important ways.     

Association of baseline C-reactive protein and prior anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy with need for weekly dosing during maintenance therapy with adalimumab in patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease

Abstract

Objective:

A post hoc analysis of data from the adalimumab Crohn’s disease (CD) maintenance trial (CHARM, NCT00077779), examining the relationship between adalimumab dosing and maintenance of remission and response in subgroups stratified by previous anti-TNF use and baseline CRP.     

Lacosamide as adjunctive therapy for partial-onset epileptic seizures: a review of the clinical and economic literature

Abstract

Objective:

This article provides a short but comprehensive pharmacotherapeutic update of adjunctive therapy with lacosamide for partial-onset seizures in adult patients.     

Hospital and emergency department utilization associated with treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a managed-care Medicare population

Abstract

Background:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent condition with high morbidity and mortality among older and disabled adults. Few studies have examined the comparative effectiveness of maintenance therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in this vulnerable population.     

An evaluation of patient and physician satisfaction with controlled-release oxybutynin 15 mg as a one-step daily dose in elderly and non-elderly patients with overactive bladder: results of the STOP study

Abstract

Objective:

Evaluate patient and physician satisfaction with a novel formulation of a once-daily controlled-release (CR) oxybutynin (Uromax ) 15-mg tablet as both the initial and maintenance dose in elderly and non-elderly patients with overactive bladder (OAB).     

Needle-free subcutaneous sumatriptan for triptan users requiring a change in migraine therapy: efficacy and impact on patient-rated functionality,satisfaction, and confidence

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate efficacy of, satisfaction with, and confidence in SDP (SUMAVEL DosePro) among triptan users requiring a change in therapy. SDP is a needle-free, subcutaneous sumatriptan product that confers relief as early as 10 minutes postdose.     

The effect of fibrate–statin combination therapy on cardiovascular events: a retrospective cohort analysis

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the long-term efficacy of fibrate–statin combination therapy on cardiovascular events as opposed to lipid levels.     

Comments on The cost-effectiveness of bimatoprost,latanoprost and timolol in treatment of primary open angle glaucoma in five European countries

Abstract

Objective:

The dopamine agonist rotigotine has shown efficacy and safety for the treatment of early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) in controlled clinical trials. This observational study evaluated rotigotine administration in combination with other antiparkinsonian medication in routine clinical practice.     

Predictors of non-adherence to systemic oral therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives:

With increasing use and cost of oral oncology medications, patient non-adherence with oral therapy is of concern. This study evaluated non-adherence among patients receiving first-line oral therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).     

Adherence and persistence to a regimen of basal insulin in a pre-filled pen compared to vial/syringe in insulin-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Objective:

This study was conducted to compare adherence and persistence of patients initiating basal insulin therapy with Levemir FlexPen versus those initiating basal insulin therapy with NPH via vial and syringe.     

Safety evaluation of durvalumab for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors, has been a breakthrough in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Durvalumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, has shown survival benefit as a maintenance therapy for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC following definitive chemoradiotherapy, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.     

Personal and social functioning in schizophrenia: defining a clinically meaningful measure of maintenance in relapse prevention

Abstract

Background:

Relapse prevention and maintenance of social functioning are important treatment objectives in the long-term management of schizophrenia. However, relatively little is known about measuring maintenance of social functioning to assess treatment benefit in relapse prevention clinical trials or as a tool to predict relapse in clinical practice. This study aims (1) to define a clinically meaningful decrease in the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) to assess antipsychotic treatment benefit in terms of maintenance of functioning and (2) to explore the threshold value of PSP decline as a useful tool to predict relapse in clinical practice.