Drug Research and Technology update :

Here are some updates on drug research and technology from my reading-

Internet usage to research drug information doubles amongst people in north America -

Since 2005, the number of patients using the Internet to research prescription drug information has doubled to 102.3 million, according to a new study from Manhattan Research. The survey of 8,600 adults during the third quarter of this year also found that the major theme of the digital health landscape over the past four years is the increasing diversity of the overall patient media mix. In addition, health-related social media, in particular, has flourished in recent years with the increased popularity of online patient communities, social networking and health 2.0 applications.

Depomed Inc claims its extended-release form of gabapentin reduced post-shingles pain-

Depomed, Inc. Allegedly reported a successful late stage clinical trial of DM-1796, which is a drug intended to treat pain following the viral infection shingles. The company said that DM-1796 significantly reduced post-shingles pain compared to placebo after 10 weeks of treatment, and it plans to file for Food and Drug Administration approval by the end of March 2010. DM-1796 is an extended-release form of gabapentin, which is used to treat pain disorders and epilepsy.

Number of doctors using e-prescriptions will rise to more than double in 2010-

The number of physicians using electronic prescribing will have more than doubled in 2010,according to the e-prescribing network Surescripts. The company said more than 140,000 - 23 % of all office-based physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the United States are E-prescribing today and at the current pace, Surescripts projects that its active e-prescribers in 2010 will more than double the 74,000 that were e-prescribing at the end of 2008. In addition, with a patient's consent, prescribers can also access prescription history and use the Surescripts network to send e-prescriptions to any of 51,000 (84 %) retail pharmacies or six of the largest mail-order pharmacies.

EU approves sale of saxagliptin for diabetics-

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Press release stated that its new diabetes drug, Onglyza [saxagliptin], has been approved for sale in the European Union's 27 countries. Onglyza, a DPP-4 inhibitor, will compete with Merck & Co.s blockbuster diabetes drug Januvia both in the EU and in the United States, where the Bristol Myers drug was approved on July 31. Onglyza is expected to go on sale in the EU in this quarter, and was approved to be sold to improve blood sugar levels in combination with metformin, sulphonylurea or thiazolidinedione, when those drugs alone do not adequately control glycemic levels.

Disclaimer : The above information has been cited from literature in public domain. This is for research purpose/ dissemination of knowledge only and should not be construed as medical advise.