Drug Therapy

Lilly ICOS has launched a limited-time offer called "The Cialis Challenge," which offers to pay for a competing erectile dysfunction drug if a patient is not satisfied with tadalafil (Cialis).

Two investigational drugs-one for stress incontinence and one for overactive bladder-showed positive results in separate presentations at the International Consultation on Incontinence in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

A federal judge in Boston has acquitted a former sales executive at TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc. who was charged with conspiring to pay kickbacks and bribes in exchange for prescriptions of leuprolide acetate (Lupron), the Chicago Tribune reported.

Lexington, MA-Indevus Pharmaceuticals announced that trospium chloride (Sanctura) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency.

Do you think the three available phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors-vardenafil hydrochloride (Levitra), tadalafil (Cialis), and sildenafil citrate (Viagra)-are essentially the same, or do they have distinct advantages in the treatment of ED?

The key advantage of the new markers is their ability to identify patients with low-grade 'nuisance' tumors.

Studies show improved survival, longer time to progression with docetaxel-based therapy

Women given investigational agent show dry, improved outcomes more often than controls

Alpha-blocker, PDE-5 combo doesn't lead to CV events

San Francisco--A commonly prescribed antibiotic and alpha-blocker appear to be ineffective in the treatment of men with moderate to severe chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome of long duration. Results of a multicenter study found that both ciprofloxacin and tamsulosin-used primarily in the treatment of urinary tract infections and BPH, respectively-offered no significant benefit in the treatment of chronic prostatitis in patients who were heavily pretreated and had long-standing symptoms.

Sequential monotherapy yields poor results in CPPS

An investigational female testosterone patch (Intrinsa) significantly increases satisfying sexual activity and sexual desire in surgically menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), according to preliminary findings of a large-scale phase III safety and efficacy study.

The FDA issued an approvable letter for a sustained-release formulation of doxazosin mesylate (Cardura XL), an alpha-blocker used to treat BPH.

AUA guideline warns of conflicts of interest influencing PDE-5 comparison trials

More than one-third of U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Trospium chloride (Sanctura) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency.

San Francisco-Some herbal supplements marketed for erectile dysfunction are not nearly as "safe and effective" as they are touted to be, say concerned experts.

‘TAP’ is used when curvature is

Lithotripsy is generally excluded, but watch for indirect financial relationships

Studies of the effect of chemotherapy in men with metastatic prostatecancer have been enticing and, at the same time, disappointing. While showingPSA response in some cases, these studies have previously failed to demonstrateimproved survival. This is all about to change, and for the better. We areentering an exciting new era in the management of this patient population.

San Francisco--Continuing a trend of mixed results seen in previousstudies, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel (Taxotere) resulted ina significant PSA response but failed to induce any histologic changes inlocally advanced prostate cancer, Cleveland Clinic investigators reportedat the AUA annual meeting.

Vanilloid is shown to improve urgency but not pain, leakage, nocturia, or enuresis

A former regional account manager for TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., has been convicted for making false declarations to a U.S. Grand Jury. The conviction of Joanne Richardson is related to her role in illegal marketing practices concerning TAP's LHRH agonist leuprolide acetate (Lupron).

The latest update of AUA guidelines for management of organic erectile dysfunction will focus on novel treatment recommendations and suggestions for study designs that minimize conflicts of interest in post-marketing comparisons of oral drug therapies.

Docetaxel (Taxotere) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer when used in combination with prednisone.

Results from an ex vivo study demonstrating effects of the nonselective alpha-1 receptor antagonist doxazosin (Cardura) on ureteral contractility raises questions about the role of alpha-blocker treatment in the management of ureteral stone disease, say urologists from the University of Wisconsin.

Novartis offers zoledronic acid injection (ZOMETA) for the treatmentof patients with documented bone metastases from solid tumors, includingprostate cancer, in conjunction with standard antineoplastic therapy.

Mission Pharmacal provides the following therapies for the medical managementof kidney stone disease: potassium citrate wax matrix (Urocit-K) tablets;tiopronin (Thiola) tablets; acetohydroxamic acid (Lithostat) tablets; andcellulose sodium phosphate powder (Calcibind).

Finasteride (Proscar) is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic BPHin men with an enlarged prostate to improve symptoms and to reduce the riskof acute urinary retention and BPH-related surgery.

Orthophosphate formula (Uro-KP-Neutral) from Star Pharmaceuticals decreasesthe risk of recurrent calcium oxalate stone formation and the growth ofresidual stones following lithotripsy. In addition, the formulation is agood source of supplemental potassium, sodium, and phosphorus, accordingto the company.