Are new drugs for schizophrenia better than old ones?

Objective: To rate the perception of taste, texture, smell, and aftertaste of 13 commonly prescribed liquid medications, including four new drugs: Zithromax, Cedax, Ceftin, and Biaxin. Design: Each category was scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by 30 volunteers in a blinded study. The order in which the drugs were sampled was randomized for 15 of the participants. The order was reversed for the remaining 15 participants. The drugs used in the study were Amoxil (amoxicillin), Biaxin (clarithromycin), Ceclor (cefaclor), Cedax (Ceftibuten), Ceftin (cefuroxime), Cefzil (cefprozil), Dynapen (dicloxacillin), Keflex (cephalexin), Suprax (Cefixime), Trimox (amoxicillin), Vantin (Cefpodoxime), VeeTids (penicillin VK), and Zithromax (azithromycin). Setting: A 537-bed US Army teaching hospital. Participants: Participants included 30 healthy adult volunteers from the Departments of Pediatrics, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Main Outcome Measures: Drugs received cumulative scores in each category as well as an overall total score ranking. The data were analyzed by using one-way ANOVA for repeated measures with a post hoc Duncan's multiple-range test to determine significant differences between individual means. The level of significance was set at a p value of 0.05 or less. Results: Overall, Trimox was better than all other drugs tested except Suprax; Dynapen was inferior to all except Biaxin and VeeTids. Zithromax scored higher than Biaxin in the texture, taste, and overall categories. Biaxin scored lower than all other drugs tested in the texture category. Ceftin was better than Cedax in the smell category, but Cedax was superior to Ceftin in the texture, taste, aftertaste, and overall categories. Conclusions: All of the new drugs tested were significantly different from each other (Cedax > Zithromax > Ceftin > Biaxin).

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Survival of Patients with Multiple Myeloma That Is Refractory to Both Bortezomib and Lenalidomide: A Retrospective Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116170 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 2020-2020

Author(s):

Kanji Miyazaki ◽

Kenshi Suzuki

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Autologous Transplantation ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Allogeneic Transplantation ◽

New Drugs ◽

Rank Test ◽

Refractory Multiple Myeloma ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Better Than

Abstract Introduction: Patients with multiple myeloma that is refractory to both bortezomib and lenalidomide show poor survival. This resistant myeloma is called double-refractory multiple myeloma. Several new drugs, such as pomalidomide, panobinostat, carfilzomib, ixazomib, elotuzumab, and daratumumab, have become available in recent years. These new drugs could prolong the survival of patients with double-refractory multiple myeloma in prospective clinical trials. The present study aimed to evaluate the survival of such patients and assess the effectiveness of the new drugs, autologous transplantation, and allogeneic transplantation in real clinical settings. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of patients with multiple myeloma who received treatment between February 2002 and January 2018 at our institution. Patients with myeloma refractory to both bortezomib and lenalidomide were selected. Those with coexisting amyloidosis were excluded. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival rates were compared using the log-rank test. Results: The study included 103 patients. New drugs were used in 71 (68.9%) patients, and their OS was significantly better than that of the remaining 32 (31.1%) patients who did not receive those agents (median OS, not reached versus 5 months, p < 0.001) (Figure 1). Total 20 patients underwent autologous transplantation. Their OS was similar to that of those who did not undergo autologous transplantation (median OS, 21 months versus 17 months, p = 0.503). Total 10 patients underwent allogeneic transplantation. Their OS was similar to that of those who did not undergo allogeneic transplantation (median OS, 24 months versus 18 months, p = 0.517). In the 71 patients who were treated using new drugs, pomalidomide and panobinostat-based therapies were not associated with better survival, whereas carfilzomib, ixazomib, elotuzumab, and daratumumab-based therapies were associated with significantly better OS. Carfilzomib was administered to 45.1% (32/71) of patients, and their OS was significantly better than that of the remaining 54.9% (31/71) patients (median OS, not reached versus 19 months, p = 0.032). Although carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) therapy was not associated with better OS among the 71 patients, carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd) therapy was associated with better OS (median OS, not reached versus 21 months, p = 0.040). Ixazomib was administered to 14.1% (10/71) of patients, and their OS was 100%, which was significantly better than that of the remaining 85.9% (61/71) of patients (median OS, 20 months, p = 0.037). Elotuzumab was administered in 15.5% (11/71) of patients, and their OS was also 100% and was significantly better than that in the remaining 84.5% (60/71) of patients (median OS, 20 months, p = 0.011). Daratumumab was administered in 25.4% (18/53) of patients, and their OS was significantly better than that of the remaining 74.6% of patients (median OS, not reached versus 20 months, p = 0.025). The OS of patients administered only 1 new drug was worse than that of patients administered 2 new drugs (median OS, 17 months versus not reached, p = 0.003). However, the OS of patients administered 2 new drugs was comparable with that of patients administered 3 or more new drugs (p = 0.477) (Figure 2). Conclusions: New drugs, particularly carfilzomib, ixazomib, elotuzumab, and daratumumab, are associated with improved survival in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to both bortezomib and lenalidomide. Autologous and allogeneic transplantation are not associated with improved survival. Figure 1. Figure 1. Disclosures Suzuki: SRL.Inc: Employment; Sanofi Aventis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; Ono: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria.

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Patient-Derived Xenografts of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Subtype as a Powerful Tool in Pre-Clinical Research

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13246288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (24) ◽

pp. 6288

Author(s):

Magdalena Cybula ◽

Lin Wang ◽

Luyao Wang ◽

Ana Luiza Drumond-Bock ◽

Katherine M. Moxley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Drift ◽

Tumor Model ◽

New Drugs ◽

Molecular Characteristics ◽

High Grade ◽

Serous Ovarian Carcinoma ◽

Cancer Subtype ◽

Clinical Responses ◽

Histological Characteristics ◽

Better Than

(1) Background. PDX models have become the preferred tool in research laboratories seeking to improve development and pre-clinical testing of new drugs. PDXs have been shown to capture the cellular and molecular characteristics of human tumors better than simpler cell line-based models. More recently, however, hints that PDXs may change their characteristics over time have begun to emerge, emphasizing the need for comprehensive analysis of PDX evolution. (2) Methods. We established a panel of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) PDXs and developed and validated a 300-SNP signature that can be successfully utilized to assess genetic drift across PDX passages and detect PDX contamination with lymphoproliferative tissues. In addition, we performed a detailed histological characterization and functional assessment of multiple PDX passages. (3) Results. Our data show that the PDXs remain largely stable throughout propagation, with marginal genetic drift at the time of PDX initiation and adaptation to mouse host. Importantly, our PDX lines retained the major histological characteristics of the original patients’ tumors even after multiple passages in mice, demonstrating a strong concordance with the clinical responses of their corresponding patients. (4) Conclusions. Our data underline the value of defined HGSOC PDXs as a pre-clinical tumor model.

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Are new drugs for schizophrenia better than old ones? – Authors' reply

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60723-6 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 373 (9671) ◽

pp. 1249-1250 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Stefan Leucht ◽

Werner Kissling ◽

Rolf R Engel ◽

John M Davis

Keyword(s):

New Drugs ◽

Better Than

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The Influence of Case Selection and Dosage in an Antidepressant Drug Trial

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.111.471.142 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 111 (471) ◽

pp. 142-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Myron G. Sandifer ◽

Ian C. Wilson ◽

John M. Gambill

Keyword(s):

Antidepressant Drug ◽

Drug Trial ◽

New Drugs ◽

The Past ◽

Case Selection ◽

New Compounds ◽

Better Than

The sheer volume of new drugs introduced into psychiatry within the past decade has created an urgency to get to the point as quickly as possible: Is Drug B better than A, and, if so, what about B and C? With some abatement of the tide of new compounds it becomes possible to look, not just for a quick answer, but at some of the conditions of the trial which determine the outcome.

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Vortioxetine vs. Other Antidepressants in Patients with Major Depressive Episode With or Without Substance Use Disorder

Current Neuropharmacology ◽

10.2174/1570159x19666210113150123 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

Author(s):

Georgios D. Kotzalidis ◽

Ginevra Lombardozzi ◽

Marta Matrone ◽

Emanuela Amici ◽

Filippo Perrini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Rating Scale ◽

New Drugs ◽

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Severity Rating ◽

Major Depressive Episodes ◽

Depressive Episodes ◽

Better Than

Background: Major Depressive Episodes (MDEs) may characterise many psychiatric disorders. Its pharmacotherapy is laid with unmet needs, rendering the testing of new drugs necessary. Objective: To compare the effects of vortioxetine with those of other antidepressants (OADs) in a 1-year naturalistic setting. Methods: We included 126 adult patients with a MDE in the course of major depressive (MDD), bipolar (BD), or schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSOPDs), with or without substance use disorder (SUD), who received 5-20 mg/day oral vortioxetine, and compared them with 100 patients receiving OADs at baseline and after 1, 3, 8, and 12 months on their scores on the MADRS, the CGI-S, the 24-item BPRS, the YMRS, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, a Visual Analogue Scale for craving, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and the WHOQOL-BREF. Results: Patients on vortioxetine improved similarly to those on OADs on all measures, independently from having or not a comorbid SUD. However, they improved with time better than their OADs counterparts if affected by BD or SSOPDs, but not MDD, on the CGI-S, BPRS depression, anxiety, and manic symptoms. SUD hampered the response of anxiety to treatment. Men improved on depression with time better than women. Conclusion: MDEs responded to vortioxetine similarly to OADs by improving in depression general psychopathology, anxiety, suicidal thinking, and quality-of-life, independently from SUD comorbidity. MDEs of patients with BD or SSOPDs on vortioxetine responded better than that of patients on OADs.

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Natural Product Chemistry Research in Iraq

Journal Port Science Research ◽

10.36371/port.2021.1.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ali AWAD Al-Jeboory ◽

Yahya yahya Farid

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Glycosides ◽

New Drugs ◽

Active Constituent ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Synthetic Drugs ◽

Chemistry Research ◽

Prosopis Farcta ◽

Experimental Tool ◽

Natural Drugs ◽

Better Than

Abstract Today's west an east scientists developed synthetic drugs but because of problems of the side effects and high cost in addition to resistant developed which not happened in using natural drugs this push the scientist in all over the world to look for new drugs from natural compounds. In Iraq. Since 1980 up today we started a plan led by scientist in Chemistry ,Pharmacology, Physician ,Biology in all universities & medical research centers and we started to develop anew methods for extraction ,isolation,identication of active constituent and trying the active constituent biologicaly and Pharmacologicaly in invitro and invivo on experimental animals . We started screening of more than thousand plants which indigenous in Iraq and take the knowledge from folkloric physician and old information about these from ancient books and references we found around two hundred promising plants we developed methods of extraction , isolation using chromatography and trying to evaluate their efficacy .We managed to prepare drugs to treat warts from ficus caria vitexin from cratagus azorolus, prosoptatin anew antihyperlipidemic drug from prosopis farcta etc. A new method of isolation and identification by new phytochemical methods and new experimental tool for each active constituent are as example how to separate alkaloids, cardiac glycosides inotropic agents , polyphenoles etc. In addition to bacteriological ,toxi-pathological methods then pass to prepare anew natural drugs prepared with highly sophisticated methods and with highly efficiency which may be better than synthetic drugs and more safe .

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