New diabetes drugs detailed at Brooklyn hospital

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) release a report detailing 183 new medicines which are currently in human clinical trials and awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a record number of potentially life-changing drugs.

This is great news, particularly for those in Brooklyn who are coping with diabetes, Nabe News reports.

“This killer thrives in communities like ours, where poverty and fast food are prevalent,” said Dr. Richard Becker, president and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center, 121 Dekalb Avenue, where the report was released Dec. 7. Brooklyn’s diabetes rate is the second highest in the five boroughs, Becker noted.

Rep. Edolphus Towns, who has managed his own diabetes for decades, was on hand for the announcement, as was his son, Assembly member Darryl Towns.“Developing new drugs to treat diabetes here in New York City will help address one of the major diseases affecting our community,” the elder lawmaker said in a statement.

Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. The cause of the disease is unknown.

An important contributing factor to diabetes is lifestyle, including obesity. Adults who have diabetes are 40 percent more likely to be overweight than those who do not, according to the Public Health Association of New York City. A report released last month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that obesity affects 24.7 percent of Brooklyn’s adults, or 449,900 people.

According to PhRMA, drugs in the development stage include: a first-in-class medicine that significantly improves long-term blood sugar control and targets the dysfunction of pancreas cells, a dysfunction that causes high sugar level in type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease where either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin; a medicine that addresses the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes by modulating genes responsible for insulin sensitization; and a medicine that stimulates the release of insulin only when glucose levels become too high and by suppressing appetite in patients with type 2 diabetes.

“The medicines now in the research pipelines are contributing significantly to the incredible progress made by America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in developing new treatments for diabetes and related conditions,” said PhRMA vice president for communications and public affairs Ed Belkin.

“People with a s

ignificant family history would benefit from being put on medication to prevent diabetes, even before they are diabetic,” he said.

Warman pointed to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as companies with particularly promising drugs in their pipelines.

U.S. Pharmaceutical Companies Developing 97 New Drugs and Vaccines to Fight HIV/AIDS

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) published a report that identifies 97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS and related conditions.

Chemistry World highlighted the report and the Los Angeles Chronicle covered it.

The report found that the 97 products in development include 23 vaccines and 54 antivirals. These drugs are either in human clinical trials or awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"We are greatly encouraged by these critically important medicines and vaccines in development to treat and prevent HIV infection," said PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin. "Pharmaceutical researchers are continuing their efforts to develop new therapies and vaccines to improve and lengthen the lives of HIV-infected patients."

"As a result of HIV/AIDS medicines, a disease that was once a virtual death sentence can now be controlled and treated as if it were a chronic disease," stated Tauzin. "And the new medicines our scientists are working on right now bring hope for even more promising results in the future."

'Sharing Miracles' to Feature Tedy Bruschi

Three-time Super Bowl champion Tedy Bruschi, a former Pro-Bowl linebacker with the New England Patriots, will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles.

Bruschi suffered a debilitating stroke in February 2005.

In this month's episode of Sharing Miracles, he discusses his experience: "Obviously, I never expected to suffer from a stroke. I was 31 years old and had just experienced the best season of my career. I had been home from the Pro Bowl for a day-and-a-half when I woke up in the middle of the night experiencing stroke-like symptoms."

Eventually, he was diagnosed not just with a stroke, but also with a patent foramen ovale, or a congenital defect that leaves a tiny, potentially life-threatening hole in the heart. Bruschi was paralyzed, with partial loss of vision, and was facing surgery to repair the hole in his heart.

In October 2005, just eight months after suffering a stroke, Bruschi returned to football, winning honors as Comeback Player of the Year.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/sharing-miracles-television-program-to,1071334.shtml

Help is Here Bus in Carrollton, GA

The Help is Here Bus was at Tanner's Heart and Vascular Center in Carrollton, GA Thursday.

According to the Times Georgian, a line of people sat on folding chairs in the parking lot waiting their turn to find out if they were eligible to receive help paying for their prescriptions.

The program has helped more than 251,000 Georgians find out if they qualify for free or discounted medicines.

Prescription drug bus to roll into midstate

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, will visit the Macon Volunteer Clinic, in Macon, GA, on Wednesday, November 11.

The Macon Telegraph says, "The aim is to help lower-income people and the uninsured find out if they qualify for free medicine."

Valerie Biskey, the clinic's executive director and a Registered Nurse, says, "It doesn't do us any good to have a free clinic like we do here in Macon and then have the doctor say, 'OK, the only way I can treat your diabetes is to use a medicine that is, say, $100 a vial.' ... When you're on minimum wage, the first thing you say is, 'I've got to feed my family, or I need to eat or I have to put gas in my car. So guess what I'm gonna choose.' So they'll try to talk you out of the drug. And then you'll say, 'You don't have to talk us out of it because we're gonna get it for you free.'"

Sharing Miracles to Feature Joe Torre

Two-time Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Joe Torre, will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles. Torre was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1999.

"I was just devasted," Torre says in the episode. "It was like being in a black hole. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. My daughter was three at the time, and I was afraid that I wouldn't be there for her when she was growing up."

Torre's battle with the disease was successful and he remains cancer-free today.

"The important thing to realize about prostate cancer is that you can control it. If you can't cure it, you can control it, and you can live with it. Here I am, still managing 10 years after the surgery and still having a lot of fun and living a normal life."

Prescription Assistance Bus Makes Stops in MD

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus stopped at the Tri-State Community Health Center in Hancock, MD and the Community Free Clinic in Hagerstown, MD on Friday helping more than 60 people learn how to get their prescriptions free or nearly free.

The Herald-Mail reports that at both locations, staff invited patients aboard the orange bus and asked them questions about their prescription medicines, income and current coverage to generate a list of assistance programs that could help them.

The need for prescription assistance was evident immediately during the tour's stop in Hagerstown, said Kaelan Hollon, spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "We had people waiting for us before we even pulled in," she said.

PPA Helps 6 Millionth Person

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance announced today that after visiting more than 3,000 cities in all 50 states, they reached a historic milestone by helping the six millionth person at an event in Harrisburg, PA.

"At a time when national unemployment is the highest in almost two decades, the PPA has become an important lifeline for a growing number of patients," PhRMA's Ken Johnson said. "Millions of Americans have been added to the jobless rolls over the last several months and there could be a sharp increase in the number of people losing health care benefits.''

The PPA "Help is Here Express" bus tour stopped at the Capitol Building Complex on Commonwealth Avenue in Harrisburg, joined by Super Bowl-winning running back, likely Hall-of-Famer and asthma patient Jerome Bettis.

"With the number of people affected by chronic disease increasing every year, and economists predicting that unemployment will continue to grow well into 2009, the PPA and its message of hope are now more relevant than ever," PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said. "No one - and I mean no one - is helped by a medicine that sits on the shelf and is out of reach financially. In Pennsylvania, we will continue to help folks all over the state for as long as our assistance is needed."

Hoosiers Seek Prescription Help

The “Help is Here Express” rolled into Indiana this week and once again provided much needed support to area residents, including Kim Froehle’s 24 year old son who is on disability and currently paying about $1,200 a month for his prescriptions.

“Her son is going to be able to get his medications for free or nearly free,” Kaelan Hollon, Communications Director for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, told 14 News.

So far the Partnership for Prescription Assistance has helped over 200,000 Hoosiers and six million people nationwide.

The 'Beav' spends time in IL

Jerry Mathers and the PPA bus were all over Illinois this week with stops at the Community Health Improvement Center and the Danville Public Library.

Mathers said he is inspired by the hope the program is able to offer to those with chronic illnesses who lack health insurance and can't afford their medications. In the case of diabetes, the partnership is sometimes able to help people obtain vital testing supplies at a reduced cost, he said.Mathers and the PPA bus also made a stop at the Danville Public Library. --The Herald-Review

Jeff Gilbert, spokesperson for PPA, said during their stop in Danville on Thursday afternoon, they signed up about a dozen people who likely will qualify for prescription assistance through PPA, a free, confidential program based in Washington and sponsored by pharmaceutical research companies. It provides a single point of access to information on 475 public and private patient assistance programs to help match people with the medication they need. --The News-Gazette

Pink October

The Toledo Journal ran a nice article about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the hope for a better treatment or cure for the disease.

"For all women, breast cancer awareness month should serve as a reminder to keep up with monthly self-examinations and to visit your doctor for regular mammograms to help promote early detection. Mammograms – an x-ray picture of the breast – are the best way to find out if you have breast cancer because they can show cancer when it’s too small for you or your doctor to feel."

A recent survey by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America found that pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are testing a record 861 new cancer medicines and vaccines, including 112 for breast cancer.

Those who need help accessing their prescription medicines can turn to the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which has helped connect nearly 6 million patients in need.

Mathers to Discuss Diabetes in IL

Jerry Mathers, a classic TV icon, will be in Danville, Illinois this week in support of an effort to help prescription medicine become available for more people. He is traveling with the "Help is Here Express" bus tour, which will be at the Danville Public Library from 204 p.m. on Thursday.

Mathers suffers from diabetes and is traveling with the PPA bus to raise awareness of this chronic disease.

PPA in Pennsylvania

Paul T. Anthony's column in The Times-Tribune explains the benefits of the PhRMA's PPA bus and how it is the one place where "struggling area residents can look for help getting the medicines they need."

According to the column, with one in 10 workers now jobless in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and Pennsylvania's unemployment rate nearly double what it was two years ago, many residents are finding it hard to make ends meet, particularly the 7.7 million people with chronic conditions that require expensive prescription medicines.

PPA in Muskogee, OK

The PPA bus continued in Oklahoma this week with a stop in Muskogee. The Muskogee Phoenix reports on how the bus helped one man who had to chose between paying for his prescriptions or keeping his house.

“I’ve never used this before,” Robbie Weeks said. “A friend of mine told me about it. It took about five to 10 minutes to get the applications. The three I had to take were over $150 each.”

Weeks said the PPA bus offers a much-needed service.

“It’s great,” he said. “A lot of people need help but can’t get it.”

Jerry Mathers in Iowa

Jerry Mathers, the "Beaver" on the 1950s sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" will be in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Iowa City and Burlington on October 13 to bring attention to patient assistance programs that help the uninsured. He is also expected to talk about the need to effectively address the rising rates of chronic disease.

Mathers is traveling with the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) bus.

PPA visits Tulsa

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance bus was in Tulsa, OK yesterday helping the people of Green County, Oklahoma. The PPA bus is equip with software that accesses 475 public and private assistance programs for the uninsured or the under-insured.

Marla Carter of KJRH channel 2 reported.

Sharing Miracles to Feature John Kruk

Three-time MLB All-Star John Kruk will be featured on this month's episode of Sharing Miracles. Kruk was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1981 and was traded to the Phillies in 1989, where he spent most of his career.

Kruk was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1993. He returned to baseball before the radiation was even complete, appearing in the Phillies' home opener of the 1994 season.

"In my first at-bat, I hit a double and was standing at second base to a long standing ovation. It was unbelievable. I'd never experienced anything like that before," Kurk says on Sharing Miracles.

Kruk retired from baseball in 1995. He is now a critically-acclaimed baseball analyst for ESPN.

David Brennan in Cleveland

David Brennan, chief executive of AstraZeneca and chairman of The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactureers of America, will be speaking today at the Medical Innovation Summit in Cleveland. According to the Times Online, he is expected to call for a better-funded, more powerful American drugs regulator to speed up the approval of new treatments and to increase confidence in the industry.

Darryl Strawberry Attends PhRMA Buffalo Event

According to the Buffalo News, Darryl Strawberry attended PhRMA's recent event at the Hauptman-Woodward Institute on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Strawberry, a former baseball player, battled colon cancer. He spoke on the importance of regular colon cancer screening.

"I was running around the field in 1998 with a tumor in me the size of a grapfruit and didn't know it," he said.

The Buffalo event highlighted new medicines in development as well as publicized a report on 680 new medicines in development by biotechnology companies in New York State.

Ken Johnson, a senior vice president, said the pharmaceutical industry has committeed to helping the federal government save $80 billion over 10 years.