Drug company executives sacked after allegations
of illegal surveillance
'Two executives at Lilly Hungaria, the Hungarian subsidiary of
US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly,
have been dismissed after allegations that they ordered the illegal
surveillance of officials of the National Health Fund, the body that
manages the government budget for health care. The officials have the
power to influence decisions on state drug subsidies' (
BMJ )
»
See also this Budapest Sun article
from last week
After 28 weeks of randomized, double-blind treatment, the study showed
that Zyprexa was superior for the treatment of schizophrenia:
· Long-term
treatment with Zyprexa resulted in significantly better improvement in
treating positive symptoms (delusions and hallucinations), as well as
negative symptoms (diminished emotion, lack of interest and depressive
signs), on all efficacy measures. Clear separation on positive and
negative symptoms began as early as week three and was sustained out to
28 weeks on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total and
subscales.
· Significantly
more Zyprexa patients completed the study (59.6% vs. 42.4%).
· Significantly
more Zyprexa patients responded positively to treatment (58.6% vs.
42.5%).
· For
those patients who responded at eight weeks, Zyprexa patients were
significantly more likely to maintain their response throughout the 28
weeks without relapse than Geodon patients (81.6% vs. 62.8%).
· Zyprexa
was significantly better on the CGI-I scale (Clinical Global
Impression-Improvement) at week three and most other time points,
including week 28. The CGI-I scale is the clinician's assessment of
improvement in a patient's symptoms.
· A
significantly greater proportion of Geodon patients required a dose
reduction due to side effects during the trial than Zyprexa patients
(26.9% vs. 14.8%).
· Geodon
patients required significantly more benzodiazepines (53.5%) and
anticholinergics (15.5%) than Zyprexa patients (40.4% and 7.2%,
respectively). Benzodiazepines are additional medications that may be
given to people with schizophrenia to treat agitation or anxiety;
anticholinergics may also be added to treatment to control tremors or
other movement disorders.
"This study gives hope, not only to people who suffer from
schizophrenia, but to their caregivers, as well," said Alan Breier,
M.D., vice president, pharmaceutical products, Eli Lilly and Company.
"The tolerability and superior efficacy of Zyprexa, as shown in this
study, contributes to the development of a stronger therapeutic alliance
that supports doctors in helping their patients reach their individual
potential."
