NEWS
EU APPROVAL FOR NEW CF TREATMENT
Researchers at Queen’s University, as part of an international research team which trialled a combination of two drugs - Lumafactor and Ivacaftor, which can improve lung function and reduce hospital treatments for cystic fibrosis sufferers, has received EU approval.
ORKAMBI® (lumacaftor/ivacaftor), is the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) in people ages 12 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation.
Professor Stuart Elborn, M.D., Dean, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, and a lead Principal Investigator for the Phase 3 TRAFFIC study said: “The combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor represents a step-change in the management of cystic fibrosis for these patients because it addresses the underlying cause of the disease. By doing so, it has shown meaningful and sustained benefits.
“For people with cystic fibrosis, the disease is a lifelong battle that becomes progressively more serious with repeated hospitalization due to lung infections.
“Until now, people with two copies of the F508del mutation have only had treatments for the symptoms and complications of the disease.
“The combination of lumacaftor and ivacaftor represents a step- change in the management of cystic fibrosis for these patients because it addresses the underlying cause of the disease. By doing so, it has shown meaningful and sustained benefits.”
This approval is based on previously announced data from two 24-week global Phase 3 studies, TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT, and additional interim 24-week data from the subsequent extension study, PROGRESS, in people ages 12 and older who have two copies of the F508del mutation and were already being treated with standard-of-care medicines.
4
pharmacyinfocus.co.uk Calls for Collective Political Leadership unite profession
“Collective political leadership and a relentless focus on implementing change” is the key message in the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) election briefing, One Voice – Time for Change.
Policy priorities to meet seven key challenges: Need, Design, Workforce, Finance, Technology, Culture and Leadership are set out in the document. In the run up to the May 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly elections over 50 health and social care organisations, representing a wide range of leaders including clinicians, managers and charities are united in a call for action in the next mandate to address these challenges.
Colm McKenna, Chairman of NICON, speaking at the launch last month (January) said, “We have made some good progress, but the scale of the challenge ahead should not be underestimated by anyone. We wanted to demonstrate to politicians and the public just how much agreement there is, based on international evidence, about what needs done in the future. We need collective political leadership and public support to focus on implementing change.”
Explaining further he added, “Citizens can be encouraged and supported to
take much greater care of their own health, we can make much better use of technology and we can design services differently to provide better ways of delivering care - everyone must have a role. There is also a pressing need to begin a wider debate on how we can fund services in the future to meet the growing health care needs in our communities. We cannot continue with business as usual.
“Given that we spend nearly 50% of the Northern Ireland budget already on health and social care, and pressures continue to rise year on year, with an increasingly older population and people living with more complex needs, it is vital we make real progress on these issues if we are to meet the needs of our citizens.”
The vision for the future outlined in the briefing acts as a roadmap which political parties can sign up to. This includes: an all-party and public consensus on the shape of renewed services and the whole of Government prioritising health and social care in its policies.
It is set in the context of challenges that are faced by an existing and outdated health and care sector. The briefing calls for “tough choices”. The potential consequences of failing to
Colm McKenna, Chairman, NICON
make firm decisions is outlined in the paper, and includes increased waiting times and escalating inequality.
Heather Moorhead, Director of NICON said, “We know we have a tough challenge ahead -we cannot afford to wait. Now is the time for the health and care sector to work closely with the government and political parties to truly transform how we deliver care.
“Members welcome the recent move by Minister Hamilton in the establishment of an expert panel and a political summit as a really good step forward, but everyone agrees the key focus must be on action in the next mandate.”
Choose well in Self Care
More than 50,000 people called the GP Out of Hours service last year as they had run out of their regular medication, new statistics released during the launch of the ‘Choose Well campaign’ reveal. This number could be reduced by 50% if people think ahead, order what they need and collect their repeat medication before it runs out, particularly over weekends and Public Holidays.
Problems with repeat prescriptions was the fifth top reason people had for contacting GP Out of Hours. This puts additional pressure on the service, which is only for urgent calls that cannot wait until the surgery opens the next day, and can lead to people waiting longer or using other services including Emergency Departments.
The Health and Social Care Board released the figures as part of the launch of Year 3 of the ‘Choose Well’ campaign. The campaign provides information on the range of services available, from self-care right through to 999 Emergency Department cases and urges people to choose the right services to meet their needs. It also encourages people to use the services appropriately.
‘Choose Well’ will run from December 2015 to the end of March 2016 across
a range of channels – TV, radio, press social media, web, buses and on ambulances.
Scott Gill, Pharmacy Manager of Gordons, Newtownards, with Health Minister Simon Hamilton launching the ‘Choose Well’ campaign 2015.
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