Expert opinion on investigational drugs
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Neuropathic pain remains a condition that is difficult to treat and with which therapeutic failure is not uncommon. The need for new and effective drugs to treat neuropathic pain remains strong. ⋯ The data relating to the pain relieving effect of lacosamide are sparse. The majority of the published human data relate to the use of lacosamide for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy where the extent of pain relief produced has not been deemed sufficient to warrant an application for a product license for this indication. That said, it is suggested that there remains merit in further investigation of this drug for other neuropathic pain conditions.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Aug 2010
ReviewFixed-dose combination therapy for type 2 diabetes: sitagliptin plus pioglitazone.
Type 2 diabetes is typically associated with insulin resistance and dysfunction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells. Addressing these defects often requires therapy with a combination of differently acting antidiabetic agents. A potential novel combination in development brings together the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor sitagliptin with the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone into a fixed-dose single-tablet combination. The former component acts mainly to increase prandial insulin secretion; the latter improves insulin sensitivity. ⋯ The combination of sitagliptin and pioglitazone was well tolerated in these trials, and would appear to be suited to a fixed-dose single-tablet combination for once-daily administration.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Jul 2010
ReviewProgesterone in the clinical treatment of acute traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has yet to find a safe and effective acute-stage neuroprotective treatment. Experimental drugs targeting a single receptor mechanism, gene, or brain locus have failed. ⋯ The idea that PROG is just a female reproductive hormone is outdated. We propose that PROG has substantial pleiotropic properties as a neuroprotective agent in a variety of CNS injury models.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Jul 2010
ReviewCalcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists for migraine.
Migraine is a highly prevalent disabling condition, and the current treatment options are not satisfactory. The role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in migraine pathophysiology is well established. CGRP receptor antagonists address this new target and have the potential to improve therapy for both responders and non-responders to previous options. ⋯ CGRP receptor antagonists will provide an additional and valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of headaches.
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While statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50%, many patients remain at increased risk due to low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Whether pharmacologically raising HDL-C per se with drug therapy will reduce cardiovascular events remains to be determined. ⋯ Before regulatory approval is granted, results from the ongoing dal-OUTCOMES trial evaluating the effects of dalcetrapib 600 mg daily over standard statin therapy on mortality and morbidity in > 15,000 high-risk CHD patients will be needed. The Dalcetrapib HDL Evaluation, Atherosclerosis and Reverse Cholesterol Transport (dal-HEART) program also includes three surrogate end point trials, dal-VESSEL, dal-PLAQUE and dal-PLAQUE 2, which will provide further information as to the contribution of CETP to cardiovascular disease.