Comments on: Sensationalism strikes again http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/ The blog of Pharmaceutical Technology magazine Thu, 09 May 2013 23:30:55 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Catherine http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-28513 Catherine Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:10:39 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=2435#comment-28513 Imo, the media is not the origin of hype and sensation. For that, we have to look first at the press releases from the pharmaceutical companies. This is from Novartis (9/09) on FTY720. There's a disclaimer about the "forward-looking statements" that would be unnecessary if the release was written with less hype: http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2009/1344775.shtml Imo, the media is not the origin of hype and sensation. For that, we have to look first at the press releases from the pharmaceutical companies. This is from Novartis (9/09) on FTY720. There’s a disclaimer about the “forward-looking statements” that would be unnecessary if the release was written with less hype:

http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2009/1344775.shtml

]]> By: cliffintokyo http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-28490 cliffintokyo Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:11:14 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=2435#comment-28490 I sincerely hope that the other contributors to this thread are not ignoring Joan's informative post because they are on the big pharma gravy train..... I sincerely hope that the other contributors to this thread are not ignoring Joan’s informative post because they are on the big pharma gravy train…..

]]> By: Linda http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-28338 Linda Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:37:25 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=2435#comment-28338 The mostcommonly reported adverse events for both FTY720 and control groups were nasopharyngitis, headache and fatigue. FTY720-related adverse events included dose-related, transient, generally asymptomatic heart rate reduction, infrequent transient AV conduction block, mild (1-3 mm Hg) blood pressure increase, macular edema (more common with 1.25 mg than the 0.5 mg target dose), and asymptomatic, reversible elevation of liver enzymes. The rates of infections overall, including serious infections, were comparable between treatment groups, although a slight increase in lung infections (primarily bronchitis) was seen in patients treated with FTY720. The number of malignancies reported in the two studies was small with comparable rates between the FTY720 and control groups; malignancies were reported more frequently with FTY720 than the control group in the one-year TRANSFORMS study but the opposite pattern was seen in the two-year FREEDOMS study. Serious adverse events were comparable between treatment groups, though generally slightly higher with the 1.25 mg than 0.5 mg dose. Overall rates of drug-related adverse events, particularly those related to the mechanism of action, as well as discontinuations due to adverse events, were more common with 1.25 mg than 0.5 mg. The completed MS FTY720 studies and their extensions include more than 2,300 patients with approximately The mostcommonly reported adverse events for both FTY720 and control groups were nasopharyngitis, headache and fatigue. FTY720-related adverse events included dose-related, transient, generally asymptomatic heart rate reduction, infrequent transient AV conduction block, mild (1-3 mm Hg) blood pressure increase, macular edema (more common with 1.25 mg than the 0.5 mg target dose), and asymptomatic, reversible elevation of liver enzymes.

The rates of infections overall, including serious infections, were comparable between treatment groups, although a slight increase in lung infections (primarily bronchitis) was seen in patients treated with FTY720. The number of malignancies reported in the two studies was small with comparable rates between the FTY720 and control groups; malignancies were reported more frequently with FTY720 than the control group in the one-year TRANSFORMS study but the opposite pattern was seen in the two-year FREEDOMS study.

Serious adverse events were comparable between treatment groups, though generally slightly higher with the 1.25 mg than 0.5 mg dose. Overall rates of drug-related adverse events, particularly those related to the mechanism of action, as well as discontinuations due to adverse events, were more common with 1.25 mg than 0.5 mg.

The completed MS FTY720 studies and their extensions include more than 2,300 patients with approximately

]]> By: Linda http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-28337 Linda Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:29:11 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=2435#comment-28337 How about providing a list of the numerous side effects and sometimes fatal adverse reactions associated with a new drug. As a reporter you ought to know that it isn't fair to desperate MS patients to publicize fingolimod using words such as "high expectations" without informing them about the down side of this new treatment. My neurologist told me he has serious reservations about the safety of this drug. How about providing a list of the numerous side effects and sometimes fatal adverse reactions associated with a new drug. As a reporter you ought to know that it isn’t fair to desperate MS patients to publicize fingolimod using words such as “high expectations” without informing them about the down side of this new treatment. My neurologist told me he has serious reservations about the safety of this drug.

]]> By: Joan Beal http://blog.pharmtech.com/2010/01/21/sensationalizm-strikes-again/comment-page-1/#comment-28333 Joan Beal Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:57:46 +0000 http://blog.pharmtech.com/?p=2435#comment-28333 Stephanie- there is a cause and treatment for MS which is being utilized TODAY to help MS patients. It was discovered by an Italian vascular surgeon, Dr. Paolo Zamboni, who found that in every MS patient tested, the azygos and jugular veins had stenosis. This condition slows the exit of deoxygenated blood from the brain and spine, creates iron deposition, hypoxic insult and activates the immune system. I brought the research to Stanford University, where my husband was diagnosed with CCSVI- chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. His internal jugular veins were crimped closed to 5% of function. An interventional radiologist opened his veins with venous angioplasty and stents, and he had an immediate relief of MS fatigue and cognitive fog. He is now nine months past treatment, with no relapses or disease progression. The doctor at Stanford was able to treat 70 other patients, before the neurological community stepped in and stopped him. MS patients know about this, we are organizing and getting people tested around the globe- the MRVs and doppler ultrasounds are incredible...in 95% of MS patients tested, there is severe impedance of blood return. Please research this and write about it. I've done interviews for CBS News and other American new orgs, and they are not being aired...the only news org. which has covered this is Canadian National TV...here is a link to the program:http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5 MS patients and caretakers need your help, Joan Beal Stephanie- there is a cause and treatment for MS which is being utilized TODAY to help MS patients. It was discovered by an Italian vascular surgeon, Dr. Paolo Zamboni, who found that in every MS patient tested, the azygos and jugular veins had stenosis. This condition slows the exit of deoxygenated blood from the brain and spine, creates iron deposition, hypoxic insult and activates the immune system.

I brought the research to Stanford University, where my husband was diagnosed with CCSVI- chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. His internal jugular veins were crimped closed to 5% of function. An interventional radiologist opened his veins with venous angioplasty and stents, and he had an immediate relief of MS fatigue and cognitive fog. He is now nine months past treatment, with no relapses or disease progression. The doctor at Stanford was able to treat 70 other patients, before the neurological community stepped in and stopped him. MS patients know about this, we are organizing and getting people tested around the globe- the MRVs and doppler ultrasounds are incredible…in 95% of MS patients tested, there is severe impedance of blood return.
Please research this and write about it. I’ve done interviews for CBS News and other American new orgs, and they are not being aired…the only news org. which has covered this is Canadian National TV…here is a link to the program:http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5
MS patients and caretakers need your help,
Joan Beal

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