Interesting report on the development of new drugs for CML

[Guest guest]

Elderly Patients With Poor Prognosis Are Often Deemed Ineligible for

Treatment

with Imatinib Therapy, According to a New Study from Decision Resource

WALTHAM, Mass., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc., one of

the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical

and health care issues, finds that longer treatment durations and the launch

of novel treatments will grow the drug market for chronic myelogenous

leukemia almost 12% annually between 2004 and 2009. Novel agents such as

those from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis will increase patient drug

consumption by offering a viable, and likely durable, second-line

pharmacological approach to the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

The new Pharmacor study entitled Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia also found

that elderly patients with poor prognosis are most likely to be deemed

ineligible for treatment with imatinib therapy.

" In most markets, elderly patients with poor prognosis are deemed

ineligible for imatinib therapy because of the high cost of this treatment.

Instead, these patients are treated with less expensive drugs, such as

hydroxyurea, " said Jude , analyst at Decision Resources, Inc. " Another

factor related to the use of imatinib is the prescription of inappropriately

low doses in an effort to mitigate cost and toxicity by some clinicians

practicing outside of academic centers. Oncologists and hematologists working

in private practice and in smaller hospitals need to be educated concerning

the dangers of selecting for imatinib-resistant clones. "

About Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a form of chronic leukemia characterized

by increased production of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. It was

traditionally treated with chemotherapy, interferon, and bone marrow

transplantation, although Novartis's Gleevec/Glivec (imatinib mesylate) has

radically changed management of the disease. With the advent of

Gleevec/Glivec, the disease has become easy to treat, and the vast majority

of

patients opt for this well-tolerated oral therapy.

[Guest guest]

This is rather scary. However, a number of 'elderly' patients are

treated at MDACC, and so on. Thanks, MJH

>

>

>

> Elderly Patients With Poor Prognosis Are Often Deemed Ineligible

for

> Treatment

> with Imatinib Therapy, According to a New Study from Decision

Resource

>

> WALTHAM, Mass., May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources,

Inc., one of

> the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on

pharmaceutical

> and health care issues, finds that longer treatment durations and

the launch

> of novel treatments will grow the drug market for chronic

myelogenous

> leukemia almost 12% annually between 2004 and 2009. Novel agents

such as

> those from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis will increase patient

drug

> consumption by offering a viable, and likely durable, second-line

> pharmacological approach to the treatment of chronic myelogenous

leukemia.

> The new Pharmacor study entitled Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

also found

> that elderly patients with poor prognosis are most likely to be

deemed

> ineligible for treatment with imatinib therapy.

> " In most markets, elderly patients with poor prognosis are

deemed

> ineligible for imatinib therapy because of the high cost of this

treatment.

> Instead, these patients are treated with less expensive drugs, such

as

> hydroxyurea, " said Jude , analyst at Decision Resources,

Inc. " Another

> factor related to the use of imatinib is the prescription of

inappropriately

> low doses in an effort to mitigate cost and toxicity by some

clinicians

> practicing outside of academic centers. Oncologists and

hematologists working

> in private practice and in smaller hospitals need to be educated

concerning

> the dangers of selecting for imatinib-resistant clones. "

>

> About Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

> Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a form of chronic leukemia

characterized

> by increased production of myeloid cells in the bone marrow. It was

> traditionally treated with chemotherapy, interferon, and bone marrow

> transplantation, although Novartis's Gleevec/Glivec (imatinib

mesylate) has

> radically changed management of the disease. With the advent of

> Gleevec/Glivec, the disease has become easy to treat, and the vast

majority

> of

> patients opt for this well-tolerated oral therapy.