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.

Efficacy and safety of a recombinant anti‐immunoglobulin E antibody (omalizumab) in severe allergic asthma

Abstract: Background Patients with severe asthma are often inadequately controlled on existing anti-asthma therapy, constituting an unmet clinical need. Objective This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the ability of omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, to improve disease control sufficiently to enable inhaled corticosteroid reduction in patients with severe allergic asthma. Methods After a run-in period when an optimized fluticasone dose (greater than or equal to1000 mug/day) was received for 4 weeks, patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous omalizumab [minimum 0.016 mg/kg/IgE (IU/mL) per 4 weeks; n=126] or matching placebo (n=120) at intervals of 2 or 4 weeks. The study comprised a 16-week add-on phase of treatment followed by a 16-week fluticasone-reduction phase. Short-/long-acting beta(2)-agonists were allowed as needed. Results Median reductions in fluticasone dose were significantly greater with omalizumab than placebo: 60% vs. 50% (P=0.003). Some 73.8% and 50.8% of patients, respectively, achieved a greater than or equal to50% dose reduction (P=0.001). Fluticasone dose reduction to less than or equal to500 mug/day occurred in 60.3% of omalizumab recipients vs. 45.8% of placebo-treated patients (P=0.026). Through both phases, omalizumab reduced rescue medication requirements, improved asthma symptoms and asthma-related quality of life compared to placebo. Conclusion Omalizumab treatment improves asthma control in severely allergic asthmatics, reducing inhaled corticosteroid requirements without worsening of symptom control or increase in rescue medication use. (Less)

Targeting acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in dementia

Abstract: The cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) attenuate the cholinergic deficit underlying the cognitive and neuropsychiatric dysfunctions in patients with AD. Inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been the major therapeutic target of ChE-I treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). AChE-positive neurons project diffusely to the cortex, modulating cortical processing and responses to new and relevant stimuli. Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)-positive neurons project specifically to the frontal cortex, and may have roles in attention, executive function, emotional memory and behaviour. Furthermore, BuChE activity progressively increases as the severity of dementia advances, while AChE activity declines. Therefore, inhibition of BuChE may provide additional benefits. The two cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes that metabolize acetylcholine (ACh) differ significantly in substrate specificity, enzyme kinetics, expression and activity in different brain regions, and complexity of gene regulation. In addition, recent evidence suggests that AChE and BuChE may have roles beyond 'classical' co-regulatory esterase functions in terminating ACh-mediated neurotransmission. 'Non-classical' roles in modulating the activity of other proteins, regional cerebral blood flow, tau phosphorylation, and the amyloid cascade may affect rates of AD progression. If these additional mechanisms are demonstrated to underlie clinically meaningful effects, modification of the over-simplistic cholinergic hypothesis in AD that is limited to symptomatic treatment, ignoring the potential of cholinergic therapies to modify the disease process, may be appropriate. The specificity of ChE inhibitory activity, up-regulation of AChE activity and changes in the composition of AChE molecular forms over time, selectivity for AD-relevant ChE molecular forms, brain vs. peripheral selectivity, and pharmacokinetic profile may be important determinants of the acute and long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability profiles of the different ChE-Is. This review focuses on new evidence for the roles of BuChE and AChE in symptom generation and rate of underlying disease progression in dementia, and argues that it may be appropriate to re-evaluate the place of ChE-Is in the treatment of dementia.

Bisphosphonates and fractures of the subtrochanteric or diaphyseal femur

Abstract: Background A number of recent case reports and series have identified a subgroup of atypical fractures of the femoral shaft associated with bisphosphonate use. A population-based study did not support this association. Such a relationship has not been examined in randomized trials. Methods We performed secondary analyses using the results of three large, randomized bisphosphonate trials: the Fracture Intervention Trial (FIT), the FIT Long-Term Extension (FLEX) trial, and the Health Outcomes and Reduced Incidence with Zoledronic Acid Once Yearly (HORIZON) Pivotal Fracture Trial (PFT). We reviewed fracture records and radiographs (when available) from all hip and femur fractures to identify those below the lesser trochanter and above the distal metaphyseal flare (subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures) and to assess atypical features. We calculated the relative hazards for subtrochanteric and diaphyseal fractures for each study. Results We reviewed 284 records for hip or femur fractures among 14,195...

Effect of everolimus on survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after failure of sorafenib: the EVOLVE-1 randomized clinical trial.

Abstract: RESULTS No significant difference in overall survival was seen between treatment groups, with 303 deaths (83.7%) in the everolimus group and 151 deaths (82.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.86-1.27; P = .68; median overall survival, 7.6 months with everolimus, 7.3 months with placebo). Median time to progression with everolimus and placebo was 3.0 months and 2.6 months, respectively (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.75-1.15), and disease control rate was 56.1% and 45.1%, respectively (P = .01). The most common grade 3/4 adverse events for everolimus vs placebo were anemia (7.8% vs 3.3%, respectively), asthenia (7.8% vs 5.5%, respectively), and decreased appetite (6.1% vs 0.5%, respectively). No patients experienced hepatitis C viral flare. Based on central laboratory results, hepatitis B viral reactivation was experienced by 39 patients (29 everolimus, 10 placebo); all cases were asymptomatic, but 3 everolimus recipients discontinued therapy.

Activation of liver X receptor improves glucose tolerance through coordinate regulation of glucose metabolism in liver and adipose tissue.

Abstract: The control of lipid and glucose metabolism is closely linked. The nuclear receptors liver X receptor (LXR)α and LXRβ have been implicated in gene expression linked to lipid homeostasis; however, their role in glucose metabolism is not clear. We demonstrate here that the synthetic LXR agonist GW3965 improves glucose tolerance in a murine model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Analysis of gene expression in LXR agonist-treated mice reveals coordinate regulation of genes involved in glucose metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. In the liver, activation of LXR led to the suppression of the gluconeogenic program including down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glucose-6-phosphatase expression. Inhibition of gluconeogenic genes was accompanied by an induction in expression of glucokinase, which promotes hepatic glucose utilization. In adipose tissue, activation of LXR led to the transcriptional induction of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter, GLUT4. We show that the GLUT4 promoter is a direct transcriptional target for the LXR/retinoid X receptor heterodimer and that the ability of LXR ligands to induce GLUT4 expression is abolished in LXR null cells and animals. Consistent with their effects on GLUT4 expression, LXR agonists promote glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro. Thus, activation of LXR alters the expression of genes in liver and adipose tissue that collectively would be expected to limit hepatic glucose output and improve peripheral glucose uptake. These results outline a role for LXRs in the coordination of lipid and glucose metabolism.