Novartis

About: Novartis is a company organization based out in Basel, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Alkyl & Population. The organization has 41930 authors who have published 50566 publications receiving 1978996 citations. The organization is also known as: Novartis International AG.

Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and pharmacodynamics of artemether-lumefantrine.

Abstract: The combination of artemether and lumefantrine (benflumetol) is a new and very well tolerated oral antimalarial drug effective even against multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria. The artemether component is absorbed rapidly and biotransformed to dihydroartemisinin, and both are eliminated with terminal half-lives of around 1 hour. These are very active antimalarials which give a rapid reduction in parasite biomass and consequent rapid resolution of symptoms. The lumefantrine component is absorbed variably in malaria, and is eliminated more slowly (half-life of 3 to 6 days). Absorption is very dependent on coadministration with fat, and so improves markedly with recovery from malaria. Thus artemether clears most of the infection, and the lumefantrine concentrations that remain at the end of the 3- to 5-day treatment course are responsible for eliminating the residual 100 to 10 000 parasites. The area under the curve of plasma lumefantrine concentrations versus time, or its correlate the plasma concentration on day 7, has proved an important determinant of therapeutic response. Characterisation of these pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships provided the basis for dosage optimisation, an approach that could be applied to other antimalarial drugs.

Antagonism of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors by FTY720 inhibits angiogenesis and tumor vascularization.

Abstract: FTY720, a potent immunomodulator, becomes phosphorylated in vivo (FTY-P) and interacts with sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. Recent studies showed that FTY-P affects vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced vascular permeability, an important aspect of angiogenesis. We show here that FTY720 has antiangiogenic activity, potently abrogating VEGF- and S1P-induced angiogenesis in vivo in growth factor implant and corneal models. FTY720 administration tended to inhibit primary and significantly inhibited metastatic tumor growth in a mouse model of melanoma growth. In combination with a VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK787/ZK222584, FTY720 showed some additional benefit. FTY720 markedly inhibited tumor-associated angiogenesis, and this was accompanied by decreased tumor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. In transfected HEK293 cells, FTY-P internalized S1P1 receptors, inhibited their recycling to the cell surface, and desensitized S1P receptor function. Both FTY720 and FTY-P apparently failed to impede VEGF-produced increases in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC), and unlike its activity in causing S1PR internalization, FTY-P did not result in a decrease of surface VEGFR2 levels in HUVEC cells. Pretreatment with FTY720 or FTY-P prevented S1P-induced Ca2+ mobilization and migration in vascular endothelial cells. These data show that functional antagonism of vascular S1P receptors by FTY720 potently inhibits angiogenesis; therefore, this may provide a novel therapeutic approach for pathologic conditions with dysregulated angiogenesis.

Efficacy and safety of omalizumab in nasal polyposis: 2 randomized phase 3 trials.

Abstract: Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by IgE hyperproduction and eosinophilic inflammation. The anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with CRSwNP and comorbid asthma previously. Objective Our aim was to determine omalizumab safety and efficacy in CRSwNP in phase 3 trials (POLYP 1 and POLYP 2). Methods Adults with CRSwNP with inadequate response to intranasal corticosteroids were randomized (1:1) to omalizumab or placebo and intranasal mometasone for 24 weeks. Coprimary end points included change from baseline to week 24 in Nasal Polyp Score (NPS) and Nasal Congestion Score. Secondary end points included change from baseline to week 24 in Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score, University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, sense of smell, postnasal drip, runny nose, and adverse events. Results Patients in POLYP 1 (n = 138) and POLYP 2 (n = 127) exhibited severe CRSwNP and substantial quality of life impairment evidenced by a mean NPS higher than 6 and SNOT-22 score of approximately 60. Both studies met both the coprimary end points. SNOT-22 score, University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test score, sense of smell, postnasal drip, and runny nose were also significantly improved for omalizumab versus placebo. In POLYP 1 and POLYP 2, the mean changes from baseline at week 24 for omalizumab versus placebo were as follows: NPS, –1.08 versus 0.06 (P Conclusion Omalizumab significantly improved endoscopic, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes in severe CRSwNP with inadequate response to intranasal corticosteroids, and it was well tolerated.

The LPS receptor (CD14) links innate immunity with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: SPECIFIC AIMIn Alzheimer’s disease (AD), chronic neuroinflammation induced by amyloid peptide (Aβ) fibrils is considered to contribute to progressive neurodegeneration. We studied whether the LPS receptor (CD14), crucial in cellular activation by highly hydrophobic and aggregated microbial components, mediates inflammatory activation by hydrophobic aggregated Aβ and whether this key innate immunity receptor is associated with pathological features in a mouse model of AD.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS1. CD14 interacts with Aβ fibrilsTo determine whether CD14 binds Alzheimer Aβ, we coincubated fibrillar human Aβ(1-42) with recombinant soluble murine CD14. Complexes were immunoprecipitated and assessed by Western blot. The results demonstrate binding of Aβ fibrils to CD14. Omission of Aβ or use of an isotype control antibody prevented the precipitation of CD14. Coincubation with the control peptide TNF-α receptor II instead of CD14 did not result in a coimmunoprecipitation as indicated by the absence of a corresponding ...

Effect of condoms on reducing the transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 from men to women.

Abstract: ContextHerpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. No prospective study has shown the ability of condoms to reduce transmission of HSV-2.ObjectiveTo evaluate risk factors for HSV-2 acquisition and efficacy of condoms in prevention of HSV-2 transmission.DesignAnalysis of data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted December 13, 1993, to June 28, 1996, of an ineffective candidate HSV-2 vaccine with 18 months of follow-up.SettingEighteen clinical trial centers in the United States.ParticipantsA total of 528 monogamous couples discordant for HSV-2 infection, including an HSV-2–susceptible population of 261 men and 267 women.Main Outcome MeasureAcquisition of HSV-2 infection by susceptible partners, compared with those remaining free of HSV-2 with regard to demographic characteristics, sexual activity, and condom use.ResultsTwenty-six women (9.7%) vs 5 men (1.9%) acquired HSV-2, for a rate per 10 000 sex acts (episodes of sexual intercourse) of 8.9 vs 1.5, respectively (P<.001). In multivariable analysis, younger age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] per 5 years, 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-2.04), seropositivity for HSV-1 and HSV-2 vs HSV-2 alone in the source partner (adjusted HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.14-4.82), and more frequent sexual activity (adjusted HR per additional sex act per week, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.19) were associated with higher risk of HSV-2 acquisition. Condom use during more than 25% of sex acts was associated with protection against HSV-2 acquisition for women (adjusted HR, 0.085; 95% CI, 0.01-0.67) but not for men (adjusted HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 0.32-12.50). Risk of HSV-2 transmission declined from 8.5 per 100 person-years in the initial 150-day interval to 0.9 per 100 person-years in the final 150-day interval (P = .002 for trend), concurrent with a decrease in sexual activity and proportion of sex acts occurring when the source partner had genital lesions.ConclusionsCondom use offers significant protection against HSV-2 infection in susceptible women. Changes in sexual behavior, correlated with counseling about avoiding sex when a partner has lesions, were associated with reduction in HSV-2 acquisition over time. These data suggest that identification of discordant couples can reduce transmission of HSV-2, especially for heterosexual couples in which the male partner has HSV-2 infection.