Did you ever hear of bonus pills when buying Aciphex at your local pharmacy?

Internal Medicine News - Prevacid held slight lead in proton pump inhibitor sales to retailers for 2004

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:16:05 +0000

Prevacid Held Slight Lead in Proton Pump Inhibitor Sales to Retailers
for 2004

Sales in billions of dollars

Prevacid $3.80
Nexium $3.78
Protonix $2.33
Aciphex $1.33
Omeprazole $0.64

Note: Based on purchases, at wholesale prices, by retailers of
prescription drugs. Total U.S. sales for proton pump inhibitor class
were $12.5 billion.
Source: IMS Health
KEVIN FOLEY, RESEARCH/JULIE KELLER, DESIGN

Note: Table made from bar graph.

Drug Store News - FDA gives clearance to Eisai/Janssen to expand Aciphex indication

admin — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:21:05 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration has approved expanded use for Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium), a protonpump inhibitor, as a treatment for daytime and nighttime heartburn and other symptoms associated with gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Aciphex was discovered and developed by Eisai Co. and is co-marketed in the United States by Eisai and Janssen Pharmaceutica.

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An estimated 60 million Americans experience heartburn, the most common manifestation of symptomatic GERD, on a monthly basis.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

Chain Drug Review - Aciphex approved

admin — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:11:07 +0000

The first seven-day treatment of H. pylori infection has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Aciphex, a proton pump inhibitor, is being copromoted by Eisai Go. (its Japanese-based developer) and Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. (a unit of Johnson & Johnson). H. pylori, a type of stomach bacteria, is the most common cause of peptic ulcers.

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Pediatric News - Aciphex

admin — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:41:05 +0000

Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium, Eisai Corporation)
The Food and Drug Administration approved an adolescent indication for Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium) 20 mg for short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients 12 years and older.
* Recommended Dosage: A 20-mg oral dose daily for up to 8 weeks is recommended for adolescents aged 12 years and over. The tablets can be taken with or without food.
* Special Considerations: Headache and nausea were adverse effects that occurred in 2% or more of 111 adolescent patients treated with Aciphex. There were no adverse events not previously reported in adult studies (pain, pharyngitis, flatulence, infection, and constipation).

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Closely monitor patients for drug interactions, especially if they are taking warfarin, cyclosporine, or clarithromycin.
* Comment: Safety and efficacy are based on a multicenter, randomized, open-label study of 111 patients aged 12-16 years treated with 10 mg or 20 mg of Aciphex for up to 8 weeks. Severity and frequency of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms were reduced at 8 weeks, compared with baseline, according to a news release. Use in adolescents also is supported by extrapolation of data from previous adult clinical studies. The FDA has approved a number of indications in adults since August 1999.
“GERD is becoming a much more common problem–in general and especially among adolescents. We are seeing more in the younger age group with dietary indiscretions and obesity,” Dr. Stephen Brunton, a family physician in private practice in Charlotte, N.C., said.
“It is very reassuring for clinicians to know the studies have been done and the FDA has given its … seal of approval,” Dr. Brunton said.
Aciphex blocks gastric acid secretion and is a member of the class of substituted benzimidazole proton pump inhibitors, which also includes esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec).
“It’s a very safe class of medications, the most potent acid blockers, and can be used first line in our patients with GERD,” Dr. Brunton said.
“There are subtle differences between the newer agents, and the choice depends on a person’s experience,” added Dr. Brunton, who disclosed he is a consultant for Eisai Corporation.
BY DAMIAN McNAMARA, MIAMI BUREAU
COPYRIGHT 2008 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

Chain Drug Review - Eisai, Janssen Revamp Aciphex Packaging

admin — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:41:04 +0000

TEANECK, N.J.–Eisai Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc. have unveiled a revised look for Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium) bottles and tablets. The revamped design for the product, a treatment for erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease, features larger bottles, color-coded labels and imprinted tablets.
The new 20-mg. Tablets are imprinted with Aciphex 20 and packaged in larger unit-of-use bottles to accommodate pharmacy dispensing labels. The bottles now feature color-coded blue or red Aciphex brand labels to easily distinguish between 30- and 90-count sizes.

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Aciphex is comarketed in the United States by Eisai and Janssen.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Racher Press, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

Medical Marketing and Media - Laverty levitates Eisai's US image

admin — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:36:03 +0000

After nearly a quarter of a century in leadership communications roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis, Robert Laverty signed on in April as VP, US corporate communications at Eisai Corporation of North America. He’s excited about the opportunity to help the company increase corporate and brand awareness as it ramps up its US presence.
“Eisai is a growth company,” Laverty says. “Following the acquisition of oncology company MGI Pharma, the challenge is to build a communications department that can take on all the new opportunity and potentially increased number of products. Eisai is quite well known in Japan. It’s not as well known in the States-it’s just starting to build identity awareness, and that’s what’s so exciting about being here.”

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Employees are clear on the company’s brand and mission, Laverty says. “A vision and values survey revealed that internal recognition of the mission and strategic direction of the company is astronomical-in high 90s. The challenge is to not lose that as we grow.”
Eisai’s roots extend to 1941, but it didn’t begin marketing products in the US until 1997 with the introduction of Alzheimer’s drug Aricept (co-promoted with Pfizer). The launch of Aciphex (co-marketed with Johnson & Johnson’s PriCara) followed in 1999, and Eisai grew to a $2.6 billion enterprise in 2006.
Laverty will head brand and corporate communications and provide US IR support. He will work with leaders of Eisai business units and with corporate leaders in Tokyo, to develop and ensure communications consistency. “The idea is to maximize the brand value of Eisai products and support the pipeline,” he says, “We’ve got a number of pipeline products, and they all need support. We need to figure out what we need from a resource standpoint to support growth and [to ensure that] business units know what communications can do and that we’re setting expectations.”
Growing up in Clifton, NJ, Laverty had a passion for science and helping people, and he worked at a pharmacy in high school. He later became a pharmacist (he still keeps his license active), and loved working in a hospital, going on rounds with doctors and teaching diabetes training, but he realized he could reach broader audiences through healthcare communications. In the mid’80s he joined PR agency Burson-Marsteller, working for clients like Pfizer and Dupont. Saralie Slonsky, one of the agency’s senior healthcare executives at the time, mentored Laverty and put his background to good use.
“His pharma experience was important to us,” says Slonsky, currently a healthcare communications consultant. “He helped us translate dry medical information. We didn’t understand it the way he did. He helped open our eyes and open doors.”
Laverty says the pharma industry has “always been I under the microscope,” and despite negative attention, “it continues to do what it does best, which is innovate.”
While at BMS, he worked on “Secure the Future,” a five-year, $100 million program targeted to women and children affected by AIDS in Africa. As VP of global media relations, malaria initiatives at Novartis, he returned to Africa help get malaria treatment Coartem to as many people as possible. “Access to essential medicines was a wonderful area to work in, especially as a healthcare professional,” he says, “[The Africa projects] opened my eyes to challenges we face as a popillation and an industry to try and help people who don’t have the means to pay for the medicine we’re developing.”
Laverty is settling in at Eisai and looking forward to helping it meet business objectives and raise its profile. “Communications is at the executive committee level, which is where I think it should be,” he says. “As we’re moving up in terms of growth opportunity, the challenge becomes greater in developing strategic communications to support business objectives.”-Tanya Lewis
TANYA LEWIS
Tanya Lewis is a freelance writer, specializing in the marketing and communications sectors, and is the author of Headliner (p.36). She contributes frequently to MM&M and its siblings PRWeek and DMNews. She can be contacted at tanyallewis@yahoo.com.
Copyright Haymarket Media, Inc. Jun 2008
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

LegalView Warns Proton Pump Inhibitor Patients of Potential Bone Fracture Risk Associated with Drug

admin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:36:07 +0000

Denver, CO - LegalView, the number one resource for everything and anything legal on the Internet, recently alerted patients taking proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs of the potential for serious bone fracture risks associated with taking the medication. A study published in a recent issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that patients using PPIs for continued use (5 to 7 years or more) are at an increased risk of developing hip, spinal or wrist fractures. According to the study, patients at the most risk include those of 50 years of age or older. Individuals who are currently prescribed to any of the proton pump inhibitors such as pantoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole and omeprazole are encouraged to contact an experienced pharmaceutical lawyer to better understand how to develop a potential PPI lawsuit. Several of the PPIs are more commonly known under their brand names including Losec, Prilosec, Inhibitol, Somac, Protonix, Pantoloc, Rabecid and Aciphex. PPIs are used to inhibit gastric secretion entering the stomach. A pump within the stomach that funnels gastric acids is stopped when taking PPIs. These drugs treat an array of conditions including peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prevention of stress gastritis, gastrinomas, dyspepsia, etc. However, the drugs may also stop the absorption of calcium while stopping the secretion of gastric acids thus causing bone fractures. The PPI side effects also include headache, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, abdominal pain, dizziness and fatigue. To learn more about how proton pump inhibitors work and who is at risk for the drug's side effects, visit http://proton-pump-inhibitors-ppi.legalview.com/. LegalView also offers details on other legal topics and offers readers a library of information portals relating to several controversial pharmaceutical drugs/products such as Avandia, Ketek and the Zimmer Durom cups. Avandia is a type 2 diabetes drug that has continued to find its way into news headlines over the drug's side effects. Several studies have concluded that the Avandia risks may cause serious complications for patients. The drug has been linked to early on-set osteoporosis, increased risk of bone fracture, heart failure and unstable angina. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to issue a recall or increase the drug's warnings, but individuals who show any signs or symptoms of the drug's risk should seek medical attention immediately. Since 2004, Ketek has been prescribed to patients suffering from upper respiratory infections. The antibiotic from Sanofi-Aventis was recently under fire as reports of the drug's adverse effects began to surface. The FDA has been investigating accounts of liver disease and liver failure developing among Ketek patients. Additionally, patients of the antibiotic showing any signs of the Ketek side effects, which include yellowing or jaundice of the skin, are advised to discontinue use of the drug and consult a physician. The Durom cup is an artificial hip socket component used in hip replacement surgeries. The company manufacturing the cup, Zimmer Holdings, has been selling the hip component since 2006. Within that time, the artificial hip socket has had nearly 12,000 Durom cups surgically implanted into patients across the country. However, physicians recently began to complain that the hip socket was failing in many patients. Since reports of the Zimmer Durom cup failure have began the company has halted production of additional Durom cups, however, no recall has been issued. About LegalView: LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Mom’s Heartburn Meds Carry Asthma Risk?

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:26:03 +0000

March 18, 2008 (Philadelphia) — If you’re one of the millions of women who
suffer from heartburn during pregnancy, a cautionary note: New research
suggests that some acid-blocking drugs used to treat the condition can raise
the odds that your child will develop asthma.
A review of data on nearly 30,000 children shows that those whose mothers
took prescription acid-blocking drugs during pregnancy were 51% more likely to
suffer from wheezing, breathing difficulties, and other symptoms of asthma.
The researchers looked only at heartburn drugs, including H2 blockers like
Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac, and proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec,
Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, and Nexium.
Over-the-counter antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, and Maalox were not
studied.
Limit Use of Medications
Women who have taken the drugs during pregnancy shouldn’t panic, says
researcher Elizabeth Yen, MD, a child health specialist at Harvard and
Childrens Hospital Boston.
“Much more study needs to be done,” she tells WebMD.
At the same time, pregnant women should limit their use of the medications,
Yen says.
The medications should only be taken “if you’re having persistent
heartburn that is interfering with your quality of life. And even then, always
check with your doctor first,” she says.
Heartburn Strikes 1 in 2 Pregnant Women
More than half of all pregnant women report symptoms of severe heartburn,
particularly during their second and third trimesters. Heartburn is typically a
burning sensation of the esophagus, most commonly linked to gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux.
Yen says previous studies have shown that “if you give acid-blocking
drugs and test someone’s blood, there is evidence of immune system chemicals
called cytokines that set you up for an allergic reaction.”
To determine if there was a link between taking the drugs in pregnancy and
childhood allergies or asthma, the researchers analyzed data from three Swedish
national health care registries.
The registries included data on 29,490 children, aged 2 to 11, who had been
discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of allergies and/or asthma. A
total of 5,645 of the children had been exposed to acid-blocking drugs in the
womb.
There was no link between taking acid blockers in pregnancy and food
allergies, hay fever, or other allergic diseases except for asthma.
The findings were presented here at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma
& Immunology (AAAAI).
Acid-Blocking Drugs in Pregnancy
Former AAAAI president William Busse, MD, head of the allergy section at the
University of Wisconsin in Madison, says a link between the use of
acid-blocking drugs in pregnancy and childhood asthma makes sense from a
physiological point of view.
“We know that some immune system regulation that protects us against
asthma has its origins in the [acidic] GI tract,” he tells WebMD. “So
one has to wonder that if you take drugs that suppress acid in the GI tract,
you may be modifying the normal immune surveillance.”
The new study offers “a novel, intriguing observation” that we
should study further, Busse says.

Acid Reflux Cough - Do You Have A Chronic Cough For No Apparent Reason?

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:56:04 +0000

If you’ve ever had a persistent cough and weren’t sure about the cause, it likely never crossed your mind that it might be associated to acid reflux. This is due to the fact that there seems to be a lack of a relationship between the two. A cough is far more frequently a symptom of the common cold or long time smoking or case of bronchitis or pneumonia. It’s rarely thought of as a symptom of acid reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the medical term for what we know as acid reflux. When stomach acid washes back into the esophagus, inducing irritation and damage to the lining, it’s referred to as acid reflux. The regurgitated acid most often consists of a few compounds: acid, bile, and pepsin. Stomach acid is used in the digestion of food and can be a major irritant to the esophagus due to its tendency to damage tissues.
The symptoms of acid reflux include nausea, burping, a sore throat, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, a pain in the chest that’s often misidentified as a heart attack, and in some cases chronic coughing. In fact, nearly three out of every four sufferers experience night time symptoms (such as coughing, snoring, and chest pain) that are not usually considered typical acid reflux symptoms. One of these is a nagging cough. When stomach acid rises to the vocal cords and is passed to the lower airway, a chronic cough can be the outcome.
It takes only a small amount of acid in the lower airway to trigger coughing. This is why it’s so easy to overlook the association between acid reflux and a chronic cough, because there’s often so little acid involved that no other symptoms become apparent. In fact, they may not even have heartburn in the traditional sense, considering that there’s little or no damage to the lining of the esophagus when the acid level is so limited.
If your cough isn’t accompanied by other general symptoms of a cold or bronchitis, this is an indication that something else is creating the trouble. Though you can experience an acid reflux cough without experiencing any of the other symptoms of GERD, if you’re experiencing both, then it’s time to visit with your doctor. He can help you determine whether or not your cough is acid reflux related.
There’s another clue that you might wish to consider as well. Most people will turn to cough syrup when they have a persistent cough. Surprisingly, an acid reflux cough likely won’t respond to cough syrup. Yet, it may very well respond to an antacid. If that’s your situation, it’s a definite indication that it’s not an standard cough.
Other than antacids, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. If your acid reflux is unrelenting, this may include a proton pump inhibitor such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, or Aciphex. These medications are designed to reduce acid production, which permits the lining of the esophagus an opportunity to mend. Side effects, however, can include abdominal pain, diarrhea and headaches.
When your chronic cough is the consequence of a mild case of acid reflux, you may only need to make a few lifestyle changes in order to get it under control. For example, it helps if you eat six smaller meals during the day instead of three big meals. Because people generally sleep in a prone position, which places more pressure on the esophageal sphincter, it’s wise to wait at least three hours after eating before you go to bed at night. You’ll want to avoid foods that are commonly associated with GERD, such as chocolate, dairy products, fried foods, and citrus fruits. These little modifications may very well be all you need to put an to your acid reflux cough.

Once You Develop Acid Reflux Disease You Are Going to Have it For Life!

admin — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:16:03 +0000

Gastroesophogeal reflux disorder (GERD) or more commonly referred to as ‘acid reflux’ disease is a painful and common disorder in adults of all ages, particularly in people 40 and over. The disorder is caused by the juices of the stomach backing up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation and sometimes damaging the lining of the esophagus itself. The burning sensation is also referred to as ‘heart burn’, since it is often felt in about the same place the heart rests in the chest cavity.
Many of the digestive enzymes of the stomach, such as pepsin, work best at an extremely low pH, or in other words a very acidic environment. It is for this reason that ‘parietal’ cells of the stomach lining produce and pump large quantities of the chemical hydrochloric acid into the stomach. Stomach fluids are therefore highly acidic, reaching pH’s as low as 1, which is about ten times more acidic than common battery acid, and a million times more acidic than water. It is this acid that causes the discomfort and damage associated with acid reflux disease.
The disorder can develop for a number of reasons. There is a lot of evidence suggesting that a likelihood to develop the disease can be genetic. Also, any trauma or injury to the esophageal sphincter, the circular muscle responsible for keeping stomach fluids out of the esophagus, can lead to the disorder. Such injury can be caused by frequent vomiting, or by a hiatal hernia.
The bad news is that once you develop acid reflux disease, you are going to have it for life. The good news is there are a wide variety of excellent treatments for the disorder that are now available, some by prescription and some over the counter. There are also a number of measures people can take to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux in addition to the use of medication.
There are three basic medication types popularly used for acid reflux. The first and most famous being the ‘antacids’, which all use some kind of strong base such as calcium carbonate, or magnesium carbonate to neutralize the acid of the stomach. Though fast acting, these treatments only last a short period and are not recommended for use in treating reoccurring heart burn. Some examples of antacids include Tums, Rolaids, and Alka-Seltzer.
Like antacids, ‘acid reducers’ are available over the counter but they work by actually lowering the amount of acid produced by the stomach and are usually effective for a longer period of time. The more popular acid reducers include Zantac, and Pepcid AC.
Acid reducers are often enough to counter milder forms of acid reflux disorder, but more moderate forms of the disease may require a doctor prescribed ‘proton pump inhibitor’ (PPI). PPI’s also function by lowering the amount of acid produced by the stomach, though by a different mechanism than acid reducers. For this reason they can be safely be used in conjunction with acid reducers. Some PPI’s include Prilosec, Prevacid, and Aciphex. Prilosec has recently been made available over the counter, though its continued use should be only be done under the advice of a medical professional.