Page 65 - Demo

PRODUCT
XOLAIR
Novartis
The biologic medicine, Xolair (omalizumab), which treats severe allergic asthma in patients whose symptoms are inadequately controlled with high dose preventer medications is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for children aged six years and over.1,2 Xolair is a humanised monoclonal antibody for subcutaneous injection that selectively binds to immunoglobulin E (IgE), blocking the allergic cascade and reducing the frequency of allergic asthma exacerbations.1,3-4
Over 52 weeks, it has been shown to reduce the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations by 50% compared with placebo (p<0.001), when used in addition to high dose inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-2 agonist therapy in children aged six to 11 years who had inadequately controlled severe allergic asthma.1,4
Xolair is administered by subcutaneous injection once every two or four weeks, depending on individual dosing requirements.1
Professor Nick Freezer, Medical Director at Monash Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, said Xolair was already subsidised for patients aged 12 years and above and would now be available for treatment in eligible children at a younger age, helping to meet a significant unmet need. The addition of Xolair
to the treatment regimen of children with poorly controlled severe allergic asthma with exacerbations and who have IgE of at least 30 IU/mL1 should now be considered, Professor Freezer said.
References
1. Novartis. Omalizumab (Xolair) Approved Product Information. 2016.
2. Department of Health. PBS Schedule: http://www.pbs.gov.au
3. Buhl R et al. Omalizumab provides long-term control in patients with
moderate-to-severe allergic asthma European Respiratory Journal Jul
2002;20(1):73–8.
4. Kulus M et al. Omalizumab in children with inadequately controlled severe
allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma Current Medical Research and Opinion 2010;26(6):1285–93.
ULTRABIOTIC IMMUNE SUPPORT FOR JUNIORS
BioCeuticals
The blend of probiotics and vitamin C found in BioCeuticals UltraBiotic Immune Support for Juniors could help reduce winter colds and respiratory infections in pre-schoolers, according to an international study.1 Winter colds and respiratory infections are the common reason for absenteeism of pre-schoolers and often result in many days off work for parents, too.2
BioCeuticals Education Manager, Belinda Reynolds,
said UltraBiotic Immune Support for Juniors may play an
important role in supporting healthy immune function
to reduce the incidence of potential infections. Good bacteria in combination with vitamin C had been shown to not only support digestive health, but also to provide nutritional support for a normal, healthy immune system.
BioCeuticals UltraBiotic Immune Support for Juniors is a chewable tablet for children which contains Lab4 probiotics – a blend of four strains of lactic acid bacteria with vitamin C. It is manufactured using a special fermentation process and is designed to protect the live bacteria and ensure bacterial survival through its shelf life.
References
1. The ProChild study. Lab4® probiotics, Cultech. Viewed 17 Mar 2016. At: http://lab4probiotics.co.uk/the-prochild-study
2. Garaiova I, Muchová J, Nagyová Z, et al. Probiotics and vitamin C for the prevention of respiratory tract infections in children
attending preschool: a randomised controlled pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2015;69(3):373–9.
OPDIVO
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Bristol-Myers Squibb has welcomed the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) approval of Opdivo (nivolumab), as monotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma after prior anti- angiogenic therapy.1 Opdivo is the first immuno-oncology agent approved for Australian patients with advanced kidney cancer. In the CheckMate -025 trial, patients treated with Opdivo achieved a median overall survival of more than two years.2
Around 2,900 Australians are diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma each year. One-third of renal cell carcinoma patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage because it is asymptomatic in the early stage of disease. Men are twice as likely to develop kidney cancer as women, with around 60 years being the average age at diagnosis.
For some patients, Opdivo offers the prospect of durable long term survival as demonstrated in the clinical trial. In the key phase 3 clinical trial, CheckMate 025, median overall survival for Opdivo was 25 months compared to 19.6 months for everolimus, the current standard of care.2 In clinical trials, Opdivo was generally well tolerated by patients and led to less frequent treatment-related adverse events than everolimus.2 Patients treated with Opdivo showed an improvement in disease related symptoms over time and a significantly better quality of
life throughout the duration of treatment compared to patients treated with everolimus.2
References
1. Opdivo Product Information, Nov 2016.
2. Motzer RJ. Nivolumab versus Everolimus in advanced renal-cell carcinoma. The New England Journal of Medicine 2015;
373(19):1803–13.
Australian Pharmacist January 2017 I ©Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd. 63