Early Treatment is Key to Combating Hepatitis C Virus

Canadian researchers have shown that patients who receive early treatment for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) within the first months following and infection, develop a rapid poly-functional immune response against HCV similar to when infection is eradicated spontaneously, according to a new study.

Early treatment can restore immune response against HCV and help eliminate the virus rapidly. This new discovery of the mechanisms of viral eradication could contribute to the development of new treatments.

HCV is transmitted through infected blood. Although a quarter of infected patients can eradicate the infection spontaneously, the majority develop persistent infection, a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Pegylated interferons are only successful in about half of the cases when administered during chronic infection. Success rates among those treated early after infection are significantly higher or around 90%.

These findings clearly show the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of HCV.

The Southwest Viral Hepatitis Summit

November 13th thru the 14th, the Hepatitis Foundation International will be putting on the Southwest Viral Hepatitis Summit in Las Vegas, NV.

The event will be held at The Orleans Hotel.

HFI has been at the forefront of Hepatitis awareness and support.

For more information on this event contact HFI at (800) 891-0707 or www.hepfi.org

Iressa® Non-Inferior to Taxotere® in Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer patients who took AstraZenca’s Iressa drug lived about as long as those taking Sanofi-Aventis’s toxotere chemotherapy, according to a new study.

AstraZeneca said the late-stage study compared overall survival between Iressa and Taxotere in 1,466 patients with advanced, non-small cell lung cancer who had received previous treatment.

The study showed Iressa was “non-inferior” to Taxotere. The data was presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Korea.

AstraZeneca also said that Iressa had a more favorable “tolerability profile” and “superior quality of life” for patients, versus Taxotere.

Iressa is a type of targeted therapy known as an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

A study in 2004 showed that Iressa failed to extend lives in lung cancer patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration then restricted use of the drug.

AstraZeneca is sharing the latest data with the regulatory agencies.

For more information on Iressa and Taxotere or to seek help in obtaining your treatment, go to www.cancerrxassist.com or call (866)845-8668

Golimumab Application Filed with the FDA

Centecor, Inc filed an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting approval for Golimumab, a treatment for adults living with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Golimumab is a human monclonol antibody that targets and inactivates tumer necrosis factor alpha—a signaling protein that plays an important role in many immune-mediated disease, including psoriatic arthritis.

Five Phase 3 trials strongly support that using golimumab helps improve the signs and symptoms of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. In the studies, the drug was administered as a monthly injection.

“Based on the magnitude of the response reported in the recent clinical trials, I would not be surprised if the FDA votes to approve Centocor’s application,” said Bruce Bebo, Jr. PhD, Director of research for the National Psoriasis Foundation.

BioPlus, Independent Nationwide Specialty Pharmacy Services

376 S. Northlake Blvd
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Phone: 888-292-0744
Fax: 800-269-5493

Assisting Health Plans / Employers

As Health plans continue to struggle with losses, it is the goal of BioPlus—through our PayerAssist program—to assist these health plans as well as the employers they serve, in saving money.

Too many health plans are handing over TOTAL prescription benefit management control to their PBMs. PBMs were created to simply manage the claims. Now they are filling drugs, determining copay structures, collecting rebates from manufacturers and whatever else they are allowed to get away with.

This problem continue to plague our society. Too much high cost medication is being sent out to patients at any given time. Patient outcomes are no better than they were at a retail pharmacy. These PBMs compete on cost and in order to do this they must cut their services, that’s why mail order was always such a cheap option. But is mail order / PBM pharmacy the appropriate choice for specialty drugs? Consider the value of an outcomes based Specialty Pharmacy. BioPlus provides proof of the value of successful outcomes.

Not only the value for the payer, but value for employers who are absorbing these costs as well as the costs of lost employees, disability issues, hospitalization costs and more.

If you are a health plan or an employer, contact us for more information. Proven Value through better Outcomes!

INFORMATION YOU WOULD LIKE US TO REVIEW?

If you are seeking information or have a topic that you would like us to review or research or have an idea that you would like to share that can help the community, please drop us a line at info@bioplusrx.com.

BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy has been dedicated to chronic illness care for over 20 years.

Our goal is to provide the best care and resources we can to all those seeking assistance.

From patients and their families to prescribers and their staff to healthplans and manufacturers.

So, please share your comments, ideas or stories with us. You never know who you may be helping!

Here’s to a healthier tomorrow!