Expert opinion on investigational drugs
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · May 2001
ReviewNovel therapeutics for the treatment of paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The treatment of paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension is challenging due to the serious nature of the disease, its rapid progression and the limited treatment options available. However, recent advances in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension may offer significant improvements for patients suffering from this condition. Novel treatment options include prostacyclin analogues and endothelin receptor antagonists. A comprehensive review of the newer agents, with an emphasis on the pathobiology/pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension provides insight into future management of paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Nov 2000
ReviewEvaluation of intravenous parecoxib for the relief of acute post-surgical pain.
Parecoxib is a prodrug of valdecoxib, which is a potent and selective inhibitor of COX-2. Intravenous preparation of parecoxib is in Phase III clinical trials for the management of acute and severe post-surgical pain. It is the only COX-2 inhibitor that is available in a parenteral formulation. ⋯ Parecoxib, thus, fulfils some of the desirable characteristics of an ideal non-narcotic analgesic for severe post-surgical pain and has application in other acutely painful conditions. Parecoxib is expected to be filed for approval before the end of 2000 and is expected to be introduced in the market in 2001. It has favourable prospects for a fair share of the post-surgical pain relief market which is valued at approximately US$ 1 billion for the year 2000.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Oct 2000
ReviewAn evaluation of intrathecal ziconotide for the treatment of chronic pain.
Ziconotide, the synthetic form of cone snail peptide pi-conotoxin MVIIA, is a neurone-specific N-type calcium channel blocker with an analgesic and neuroprotective effect. Intrathecal ziconotide has been recommended for approval by the FDA for the management of chronic pain. Spinally administered ziconotide produces analgesia by blocking neurotransmitter release from primary nociceptive afferents and prevents the propagation of pain signals to the brain. ⋯ Systemic toxicity is considerably reduced by administration of smaller doses intrathecally and selective delivery to the site of action in the nervous system. Nevertheless, there are neurological adverse effects due to delay in clearance of ziconotide from the neural tissues. Overall, ziconotide has a favourable risk/benefit ratio with advantages over several currently available intrathecal therapies for pain.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Oct 2000
ReviewNovel therapeutic approaches to Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease which occurs throughout the world. Whilst the majority of patients can expect a reasonable recovery, about 10% die and 10% are left disabled with current therapy. The standard treatment is a five day course of iv. immunoglobulin, given at a dose of 0.4 g/kg/day, with plasma exchange as an equally efficacious alternative. ⋯ Once we have a more thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, then immune-specific therapy for Guillain-Barré syndrome may become a possibility, rather than general immunosuppressive measures. Trials of beta-interferon and of a combination of steroid and i.v. immunoglobulin are underway. A trial of a second course of i.v. immunoglobulin is planned.
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Jul 2000
ReviewAnti-inflammatory therapies in sepsis and septic shock.
Despite advances in supportive care, the morbidity and mortality rate resulting from sepsis and septic shock remain high (30 - 50%). A central hypothesis driving sepsis research in recent years is that this syndrome is the result of excessive inflammation. Therapies designed to inhibit the inflammatory response were first shown to be markedly beneficial in animal models of sepsis and then tested in numerous clinical trials involving thousands of patients. ⋯ While individual trials of inhibitors of these pro-inflammatory mediators failed to show a convincing benefit, pooling the results of these trials suggest that this approach has a marginal effect, supporting a role for excessive inflammation in sepsis. An unanswered question is reconcilling the very favourable effects obtained with anti-inflammatory treatments in animal models with the marginal results in humans. Further clinical and laboratory research is needed and may provide insight into more effective ways to use the anti-inflammatory agents already tested, or to investigate other potentially more effective anti-inflammatory agents in this syndrome.