inTervieW - Green Cross Publishing

issue 10 volume 12 • novemBeR 2010
Prolia: unique new treatment for
post-menopausal osteoporosis now
reimbursed in Ireland
Amgen Ireland and GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) ltd (GSK) recently announced
that denosumab has become available in Ireland to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal
women at increased risk of fracture and will be reimbursed under the
General Medical Services and Drugs Payment Schemes.
In Ireland, more than 300,000 people have osteoporosis. Despite the availability
of treatment options, many of these women experience fractures due to poor
compliance with therapy. With proven efficacy and a six-monthly injection, denosumab
offers women with osteoporosis a new alternative to current treatments.
Denosumab works in a different way from other osteoporosis treatments. It
is the first and only approved therapy that specifically targets RAnK ligand, an
essential regulator of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). Denosumab
helps stop the process that causes bone loss throughout the skeleton, resulting in
greater bone density, stronger bones, and reduced risk for fractures at the spine,
hip and other non-vertebral sites.
The reimbursement for denosumab follows a review of the therapy’s cost-effectiveness
by the national Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (nCPE) for the prevention
of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women and will be available on both
the GMS and DPS schemes as of October 1st.
Discussing denosumab, specialist in bone health at St James’s Hospital, Professor
Bernard Walsh said: “It is good to have another proven therapeutic arm available
to us in the treatment of osteoporosis. The clinical study results are impressive and
confirm the efficacy of the use of a monoclonal antibody treatment in this disease.”
Dr Gillian Darling, GP Specialist in Women’s Health in leopardstown and the
Dublin Well Woman Centres commented: “As most osteoporosis patients are treated
in primary care it is an advantage to have a treatment that can be administered in the
GP surgery as well as the hospital clinic setting.
“Recent studies would seem to point to a strong efficacy and good tolerability profile
of denosumab in the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.”
Denosumab, which is being co-marketed in Ireland by Amgen and GSK, marks
an innovative approach to the treatment of post menopausal osteoporosis. Statistics
show that 90 per cent of hip fractures in senior citizens are due to osteoporosis
and that one in five patients suffering hip fracture die within four months and 30
per cent within a year.
For more information on denosumab’s reimbursement, please visit www.ncpe.ie
ClonMedica now distributing Hedrin
and Virasoothe
Thornton & Ross ltd (T&R) are pleased to announce the appointment
of ClonMedica, the OTC Division of Clonmel Healthcare Company ltd
as its distributor in the Republic of Ireland for the Hedrin range of head
lice treatments and Care Virasoothe Chicken Pox Relief Cooling Gel. The
change is effective from 1st november after which all orders should be
sent to Clonmel Healthcare. T&R would like to thank Allphar Services ltd
for establishing these products in Ireland. Allphar will remain as T&R’s
distributor for the rest of its pharmacy range including the market leading
Galfer and Cerumol brands.
Commenting on the change Rob Purkis, European Market Development
Manager for T&R, says that the move reflects the synergy of Hedrin and
Virasoothe with ClonMedica’s successful children’s product range and
the Company’s contacts with a range of healthcare professionals. A
similar approach in the UK has made Hedrin the market leading head lice
treatment1 and is establishing the more recently launched Virasoothe which
is clinically proven to relieve the symptoms of chicken pox. T&R is keen to
communicate the clinically proven benefits of these products to a wider
group of healthcare professionals than has been possible before and this has
been a key factor in the appointment of ClonMedica.
Martin Gallagher, Marketing and Sales Director of Clonmel Healthcare
ltd, commenting on the appointment, expressed his enthusiasm for this
new venture and is confident that this addition to the Company’s range of
children’s product will result in greater understanding of the benefits of
Hedrin and Virasoothe amongst healthcare professionals.
pRoducT news
Multaq – first-line option
in new 2010 ESC Guidelines for the
Management of Atrial Fibrillation
Sanofi aventis announced recently that the European Society of Cardiology
(ESC) 2010 new Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation (AF)
have been released and recommend that Multaq (dronedarone) should be
used for maintenance of sinus rhythm as a first-line treatment option in all
patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF (class of recommendation I, level
of evidence A) other than those with CHF nyHA class III/IV or unstable CHF
nyHA class II (class of recommendation III, level of evidence B).
Multaq was granted a Class I recommendation, a designation assigned
in the guidelines when “there is evidence and/or general agreement that a
given procedure/therapy is beneficial, useful, and effective.” The Task Force
for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the ESC recognised the extensive
clinical development of Multaq, giving it their highest ranking A for level of
evidence. Moreover, the guidelines recommend that Multaq may also be
used to achieve rate control in non-permanent AF except for patients with
nyHA class III – IV or unstable heart failure (class of recommendation IIa,
level of evidence B).
Importantly the new guidelines include, for the first time, a statement
on the importance of reducing hospitalisation as a key therapeutic goal in
the management of AF. They also state that Multaq should be considered
in order to reduce cardiovascular hospitalisation in patients with nonpermanent
AF and cardiovascular risk factors (Class of recommendation IIa,
level of evidence B) as well as in patients with AF and stable heart failure
(nyHA Class I, II) (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C). 1
The guidelines do not recommend use of Multaq in patients with nyHA
class III and IV or with recently unstable (decompensation within the prior
month) nyHA class II heart failure.
“Sanofi-aventis is pleased with this first-line recommendation for Multaq
in the AF guidelines which recognises the extensive clinical development for
the product as well as the innovative outcome of reducing cardiovascular
hospitalisation as demonstrated in the ATHEnA trial,” said Marc Cluzel,
Executive Vice President, Research and Development, sanofi-aventis.
Xamiol 60g Gel discontinued
lEO Pharma has announced that Xamiol Gel 60g will be discontinued
from november 2010. Please note that Dovobet Gel 60g will continue
to be available. Dovobet Gel 60g contains the identical product form,
active ingredients and strength as Xamiol (calcipotriol/bethamethasone
dipropionate). Dovobet Gel is indicated for both scalp and mild to moderate
body plaque psoriasis. The price is also identical.
This discontinuation is not due to any safety or quality issues with Xamiol
Gel, therefore pharmacists and patients may continue to dispense or use
Xamiol Gel that they currently have.
If you require any further information, please contact the Marketing
Department at 01 4908924 or email paul.kirwan@lEO-Pharma.com
independent.ie
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