NEWS DURVALUMAB IS ACCEPTED FOR USE WITHIN NHS SCOTLAND
AstraZeneca has today announced that Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin has been accepted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for use in Scotland as a first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC).
Biliary tract cancer is a group of rare and aggressive cancers, with new cases often diagnosed at an advanced stage when the prognosis is poor. Durvalumab was granted an Innovation Passport in Great Britain based on this specific indication and was included in the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP), which aims to reduce the time it takes innovative treatments to be made available to patients.
Decision from the SMC is based on positive results from the TOPAZ-1 Phase III trial, which showed that durvalumab in combination with
gemcitabine and cisplatin more than doubled 2- year overall survival benefit in locally advanced BTC versus gemcitabine/cisplatin plus placebo (23.6% versus 11.5%), as well as reducing the risk of death by 24%.
Dr Arif Adnan Shaukat, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary said: “Durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin has shown to more than double overall survival at two years and reduce the risk of death by up to 24%. This recommendation from the SMC is an important milestone for patients in Scotland with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic biliary tract cancer who can now access a new combination treatment option that can help improve their outcomes.”
Tom Keith-Roach, President, AstraZeneca UK, said: “I am proud that we have been able to work
with our partners in Scotland to ensure that people with this rare form of cancer have access to this new treatment. We look forward to further collaborating with the SMC and NHS Scotland to ensure that more patients with harder to treat cancers can benefit from our innovations.”
David Brocklehurst, Head of Oncology, AstraZeneca UK, said: “Until now, people with advanced biliary tract cancer have had very limited treatment options. Durvalumab is AstraZeneca’s first treatment for patients with GI cancers, adding to our growing portfolio of medicines that aim to revolutionise cancer care in the UK. Durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy has shown a clinically meaningful overall survival benefit for these patients and we will now work with the Scottish NHS and clinicians to ensure that as many patients can benefit as possible.”
BEST OF LUCK, ANUP
Bestway Healthcare, the largest independently owned pharmacy contractor and pharmaceutical wholesaler recently announced the retirement of Anup Sodha, Chief Wholesale Officer and Managing Director of Lexon wholesale.
Anup co-founded the business 25 years ago and led the company as it became a leading pharmaceutical wholesaler across the UK. Anup will continue to lead the Bestway Healthcare wholesale business unit until 31 December 2023.
Commenting Anup said, “I am proud of what we achieved at Lexon, it has been a team effort and I am grateful to everyone who has helped as we built a strong wholesale business. After almost 25 years leading the business I am delighted with the vision and passion Bestway Group have for its future and wish them every success.”
Jeremy Meader is appointed Bestway Healthcare Chief Wholesale Officer, leading Lexon, Bestway Medhub, Wardle’s, Knights Fragrances, PI & Specials manufacturing and the wholesale supply chain.
Jeremy has a distinguished career in wholesale, bringing over 25 years’ experience from Phoenix, Alliance Healthcare and GSK. Most recently Jeremy was Group Sales & Marketing Director at Phoenix.
Jeremy takes up his responsibilities on 2 January 2024.
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
A new development in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is now available that can help reduce symptoms and lessen the care burden for patients and their caregivers.
Zeyzelf® twice weekly rivastigmine transdermal patch is for the
symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s dementia and it is the first ever patch to be launched in the UK that does not need daily application.
A study showed Zeyzelf® twice weekly is bioequivalent to daily
rivastigmine patches, but because it only has to be applied twice weekly, it can be easier to administer and help the patient and caregiver maintain adherence.
Transdermal delivery of rivastigmine is also useful when elderly patients are unable to swallow tablets.
The active substance of Zeyzelf® twice weekly is rivastigmine.
Rivastigmine belongs to a class of substances called cholinesterase inhibitors. In patients with Alzheimer’s dementia, certain nerve cells die in the brain, resulting in low levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (a substance that allows nerve cells to communicate with each other).
Rivastigmine blocks the enzymes that break down acetylcholine: acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, which allows levels of acetylcholine to be increased in the brain, helping to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
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