Latest Conference Articles

Patients treated with a new, more concentrated insulin glargine formulation experienced similar glycemic control with fewer nocturnal and daytime hypoglycemic events compared with patients treated with the current formulation of the product.

Study results presented at ADA 2014 show Eli Lilly's investigational long-acting basal insulin analog to have similar clinical efficacy in reducing HbA1c levels as a currently approved injectable insulin glargine product, with a comparable side effect profile.

Experts examine conflicting evidence regarding the continuation of disease-modifying therapy in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

Session at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers debates whether the side effects associated with alemtuzumab, a novel anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, might ultimately prevent its approval for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, despite evidence of clinical effectiveness.

Low rates of immunogenicity observed in study support the potential benefits of subcutaneous peginterferon beta-1a in the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

The reductions in brain volume often seen in patients with chronic relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis may be reduced by treatment with interferon beta-1a, though treatment may be affected by the patient's immunologic status.

Analysis of NARCOMS data showed that switching from natalizumab to fingolimod or injectable therapy was associated with an increased likelihood of reported disability progression.

Primary MS is characterized by neurodegeneration with neuroaxonal injury and diffuse inflammation; disease progression is linked with age. Effective management calls for symptom-specific medical management combined with wellness and health maintenance measures.

Although there are more treatment options than ever before available to patients and clinicians, new approaches are needed to treat acute exacerbations, as well as new options that can help meet the long-term goals of symptomatic management and rehabilitation.

Coping strategies based on enhanced mindfulness and a greater sense of agency can help patients improve their quality of life.

Medication selection should be driven by rational polypharmacy and take into account such factors as pain type, underlying symptoms, comorbidities, patient preference, and medication side effects.

Some studies have shown benefit in reducing pain and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis, but the data is mixed and can be highly subjective.

Study results showed treatment with N-acetylcysteine did not slow the decline in lung function, reduce acute exacerbations, or improve survival compared with placebo in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Results from two studies show that treatment with the novel kinase inhibitor nintedanib significantly slowed disease progression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, only one study showed nintedanib had any effect on slowing deterioration in quality of life or reducing the risk of a first acute exacerbation compared with placebo.

Recently published study results, when combined with results from previous clinical trials, show treatment with the antifibrotic drug pirfenidone slows disease progression and improves survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These findings, if they lead the FDA to reevaluate and approve this drug, could be a game changer for patients with IPF, a disease marked by a high mortality rate and few treatment options.

Combination treatment with a fixed dose of indacaterol and glycopyrronium bromide was associated with significant improvements in several measures of lung function and health status compared to placebo and tiotropium in treatment-naïve patients with COPD.

Subgroup analysis from four studies reveals treatment with a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of umeclidinium vilanterol improves lung function at 24 weeks for a broad range of patients with moderate to severe COPD.

Treatment with a fixed-dose combination of aclidinium 400 µg and formoterol 12 µg significantly improved bronchodilation in patients with moderate to severe COPD compared with aclidinium or formoterol monotherapy alone.

Study results presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference show that treatment with rosuvastatin reduces markers of inflammation in patients with COPD after 12 weeks, but is not associated with improvements in measures of lung function.

Study results presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference show that treatment with simvastatin did not decrease exacerbation rates or time to first exacerbation in patients with COPD.

Researchers reported no treatment effects after 12 weeks in a population of patients with persistent moderate to severe allergic asthma.

An intranasal midazolam spray designed to treat seizures in epilepsy patients yielded favorable results in an early trial.

Among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, a combination of estriol and Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) reduced the rate of relapse by 50% percent within one year of treatment.

Patients with schizoaffective disorder who were treated with paliperidone palmitate (as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy) experienced delayed time to relapse and reduced risk of relapse compared to patients treated with placebo.

Adult patients with binge eating disorder who were treated for 12 weeks with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate reported having 4 fewer binge days per week, and also experienced improvements in weight and triglyceride levels.

Patients in a trial of a first-in-class medication for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction reported improvement in overall sexual function, including an increase in the number of satisfying sexual events, and a concomitant decrease in distress levels associated with sexual dysfunction.

Results from the PEARL-II study show treatment-experienced patients with hepatitis C genotype 1b achieved SVR rates of greater than 96% when treated with a combination of ABT 450 with ritonavir, co-formulated with ombitasvir and dasabuvir, without the need for ribavirin.

Patients with celiac disease treated with larazotide acetate experienced improvements in GI symptoms and non-GI symptoms such as headache and fatigue, as well as significant reductions in the number of symptomatic days.

Patients with IBS-D in two phase II trials of eluxadoline experienced sustained improvements in abdominal pain and bowel symptoms at 26 weeks of treatment, with mild side effects.

Study results presented at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association show that a reduced dosage of the antidepressant vilazodone is as effective as the currently approved dosage.