After a clinical trial codenamed JUPITER, AstraZeneca’s anti-cholesterol drug, Crestor, could revolutionise the way heart disease is treated, say experts.

The trial was designed to see if Crestor could help people with normal levels of cholesterol but high levels of a protein connected to inflammation and risk of heart disease. About 18,000 people from 26 different countries participated in the trial and they all had acceptable levels of cholesterol and high levels of the inflammation marker, C-reactive protein (CRP). While half were put on the drug, the other were on a placebo. It was found that the combined risk of heart attack, stroke and heart-related death fell by nearly fifty per cent in the group taking Crestor.

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Sanofi-Aventis and Pfizer are the latest in the list of pharma companies to stop development of a class of anti-obesity drugs that were thought to have excellent potential.

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New research says the low-cost internet option could be used to rope in patients participating in trials. Analysts find that while only 20% of patients are currently recruited online, this is a method that will become increasingly important.  According to the report, “Online Patient Recruitment and Its Impact on Patient Relationship Management” internet surfers tend to be more interested in clinical trials than those viewing posters in the clinic.

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In a more and more individualized society, it is no surprise that it has also reached the pharma industry. The next step forward is ‘personalized medicine’ or ‘individualized treatment’. This means that your genotype or gene expression profile could be used to tailor medical care to your needs.

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According to a recent report, India, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market by volume and consumption, is expected to see high growth this year, due to expansion of domestic and export segments, improved contract services and rising population.

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In 2007, HIV drugs generated sales of $9.3 billion across the seven major markets (7MM), expanding with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% (2004-2007). Over the next 10 years a new report expects the market’s growth to slow down somewhat, but still reach total sales of $15.1 billion in 2017.

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The robust economic growth support by government schemes has benefited India’s tourism industry immensely. Presently, the Indian tourism industry stands at about $16 billion and is likely to reach nearly $26 billion through 2010. The country is anticipated to see the arrival of 10 million tourists during 2010 from only 5 million in 2007. As far as outbound tourism is concerned, it is projected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.30% from 2008 to 2012, due to the rising personal disposable income of the Indian population. Consequently, the Indian tourism industry is expected to contribute nearly 1.5% in the global tourism sector by 2010.

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With many biologic drugs treating diseases of old age like cancer and arthritis, whose incidence is on the rise in Europe and the US, the use of biologics is set to increase. This to the extent that the sector is projected to be responsible for driving growth of the pharmaceutical market as a whole through 2012.

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Across the US, all eyes and ears are focused on two people: Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. With the completion of the Democratic and Republic Conventions, the US presidential election is now officially in full swing. Topping the list of issues concerning Americans are the economy, healthcare, the war in Iraq, taxes, and energy, but some citizens have also insisted that science and innovation be brought to the forefront of America’s political dialogue.

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UCB has announced that the European Commission has approved Vimpat for the treatment of epilepsy in patients 16 years and older. Vimpat holds the potential to improve quality of life for patients across the seven major markets whose seizures remain inadequately controlled with available treatments, and will also help to support UCB’s market leading epilepsy franchise.

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