Tonka
Well-known member
http://www.rosario3.com/opinion/noticias.aspx?idNot=71331&idColumnista=32
9:53 | Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Influenza A: current situation
.
Since its inception back in March 2009 in the town of La Gloria, Mexico, swine influenza has been brought all the wrong way. The disease spread rapidly to the rest of Latin America and since the end of May 2009, Argentina recorded 115 cases (1). But the situation far from improving, worsened and by mid-July 2009, Argentina moved to Mexico from the second list of countries with more deaths with a total of 137, but still behind the U.S., with 246 (2).
The first weapons
One of the first medications used to combat the disease was the drug oseltamivir, sold by Roche since 1996 under the brand name Tamiflu. Studies indicate that this drug is used to bridge the symptoms of the disease between half and one day, according to a study published in the journal "The Lancet Infectious Diseases. At present it is considered that as the virus responsible for the seasonal flu that appears each year is resistant to oseltamivir, the virus that causes influenza it is in a very low percentage (268 of 15,000 samples tested).
In December last year, the British Medical Journal published an article retracting previous findings. In short, the article said that could not ensure that the oseltamivir protected against pneumonia and other flu-related diseases. The benefits for healthy adults are minor if he took it within 24 hours of symptom onset. There is clear evidence that this drug protects against lower respiratory tract infections or other complications from the flu. Similarly, the study did not indicate the risks of using this drug in pregnant women, children below 5 years or patients with pre-existing diseases (3).
The owners of oseltamivir
The patent belongs to oseltamivir Gilead Sciences and is valid until 2016. Gilead political connections are not minor: Donald Rumsfeld was president of the company from 1997 until he became Secretary of Defense U.S. in 2001 (4). Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and wife of former California Gov. Pete Wilson were on the board of Gilead Sciences.
Oseltamivir was used during the epidemic of bird flu in Southeast Asia in 2005 and several governments accumulated large quantities of the drug at the possibility of a pandemic. The U.S. government was no stranger to these measures, allocating several billion dollars to buy stock and take the medicine.
There are generic versions of oseltamivir. From that produced by Thailand in February 2006 to elaborate in India after the country won a court case allowing him to make the Antiflu in May 2009 (5).
In Argentina, the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) said in a statement in 2009 that "The antiviral neuraminidase inhibitors are sensitive to virus type A (H1N1) are Zanamivir and Oseltamivir and date conditions registration based on controlled experiments indicate that:
? Zanamivir is approved for the treatment of influenza in adults and children from 7 years of age and for the prevention of influenza in adults and children over 5 years. Only available for administration by inhalation.
? Oseltamivir is approved for the treatment and prevention of influenza in adults and children over one year of age. It's available as pharmaceutical capsules and oral suspension (6).
Europe 1: Vaccine
With the condition stated in early 2009, the efforts of the laboratories were frantic to have a vaccine ready before the start of the winter in the northern hemisphere. But the fate of the vaccine in this hemisphere has been, at best, controversial.
In January 2010, France cut its order of swine flu vaccine produced by Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Baxter International. 94 million doses, the French government decided to buy only 50 million. The cut was because the demand for this vaccine was lower than expected, due to skepticism of the population on the need for vaccination. The fact that only one dose is needed to obtain immunity instead of two, was another cause of the cut (7).
Before this change, a spokesman for Novartis said the laboratory would assess each government orders individually and within the framework of contracts signed.
The decision of France joined Germany, Spain and Switzerland, governments also took steps to cut their orders to return the already received or sell to other countries due to low domestic demand. According to sources consulted in Germany, this country has been trying to sell its surplus vaccines to countries like Macedonia, Moldova and Albania, but without much luck.
News published in April 2010 indicate that the earnings of Novartis rose by almost 30%, driven primarily by sales of its influenza vaccine during the pandemic (8). Glaxo increased its profits by 13% (698 million pounds) for the first quarter of 2010 thanks to sales of its influenza vaccine (9).
Europe 2: The first tests
In August 2009, Novartis stated in a cable carried by the Associated Press that the first trials began injecting their vaccine in humans (10). The tests were to be extended by one year injected 6,000 people of all ages in Britain, Germany and the U.S. The company spokesman added that it was likely that the vaccine was on the market before the test ends. At that time another laboratory, Sanofi-Pasteur, producing 40% of flu vaccines worldwide, also plans to begin testing its vaccine in the U.S. and Europe.
Europe 3: Permissions and Prohibitions
In late October 2009, Switzerland surprised many by prohibiting the use of Pandemrix vaccine, produced by Glaxo British laboratory, in pregnant women, children under 18 and adults over 60 years (11). Swissmedic, the Swiss authority responsible for managing medications, argued that they had received results of vaccination in adults, but very little information about the effects of vaccination in children and nothing about vaccination in pregnant women.
Moreover Swissmedic authorized vaccination using Focetria, vaccine developed by Swiss drugmaker Novartis using the classic method using chicken eggs, considering that it was safe for children and adults. A second vaccine Novartis using another method using cell culture of dog kidney allowing faster production was delayed, according to the Swiss newspaper "Tages Anzeiger" due to possible contamination with bacteria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended vaccination of health workers and vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children. The death toll in October 2009 by the influenza A was estimated in 5000, since its inception in April of that year, according to WHO.
Europe 4: mistrust
The grand finale of the whole situation associated with influenza vaccine in Europe had as a corollary a report to be elevated to the Council of Europe by Paul Flynn vice president of the health committee of the council and who had access to the British newspaper The Guardian "(12). In this preliminary report, Flynn says that the World Health Organization (WHO) and other public health agencies have squandered the public trust by exaggerating the dangers of pandemic flu. The report emphasizes that a lack of credibility could put lives at risk: "This loss of confidence could be risky in the future. When the next pandemic appears many people may not give much credence to the recommendations issued by WHO and other agencies. People can refuse to be vaccinated risking their own health and their lives. "
Flynn continues to startling figures when referring to differences between the expected number of fatalities and reality: "In the UK, the Health Department initially announced that it expected about 65,000 deaths. Meanwhile, by early 2010, this estimate was lowered to only 1000 deaths. By January, less than 5,000 people had been reported sick and had registered about 360 deaths. "
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, told Flynn that an official investigation was to evaluate how he had handled the issue in Britain and that its report would be issued in June. The report also indicates that European countries reacted very differently to the pandemic and that not all mass vaccination campaigns mounted as did the United Kingdom.
According to the story in "The Guardian", Flynn accused the WHO of a lack of transparency. As indicated in the news, some members of its advisory committee are influenza experts have also received funding, especially for research projects, from drug companies that manufacture drugs and vaccines against the flu. "The neutrality of these can be questioned," continues the report of Flynn. "To date, WHO has not provided convincing evidence to refute these allegations and the organization has not published the relevant declarations of interest. By adopting a closed position, the body has joined other agencies such as the European Medicines Agency, which similarly has not published such documents. "
The report was prepared by Flynn at the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, which is conducting an investigation as the situation of influenza A was handled by the agencies and European governments.
The terse report continues stating that "several factors lead to suspect that there may have been a bad influence from the pharmaceutical industry, notably the possibility of conflicts of interests represented on the expert advisory committees to WHO, the initial stages of preparing contractual arrangements between member states and pharmaceutical companies as well as the actual earnings that the companies obtained as a result of pandemic influenza, "says the draft report, which will be announced when all the evidence has been gathered.
Current Situation
In early May began to receive the first vaccine to drugstores and pharmacies Rosario.
According to a document that is accessible at the College of Pharmacists of the 2nd district of the Province of Santa Fe are available two types of flu vaccines: monovalent (containing only the influenza virus A) and trivalent (containing influenza virus plus 2 seasonal influenza virus) (13).
Monovalent influenza vaccine used is produced by Novartis under the brand Focetria ? and contains A/California/7/2009 strain (H1N1) strain that circulated mainly throughout the year 2009.
The trivalent influenza vaccine is also produced by Novartis under the brand Begrivac ? and contains three viral strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60 / 2008. A/California/7/2009 strain (H1N1) is the same that was used for monovalent influenza vaccine.
According to information obtained, all flu shots available Rosario containing the influenza virus A. Those who just want to be vaccinated against common seasonal flu, will be in a situation virtually impossible to achieve. Like last year, the members of the PAMI can be vaccinated for free with vaccines provided by the charity. If you are under 65 years will also require a prescription to do so.
References
1. http://www.continental.com.ar/nota.aspx?id=820931
2. http://www.cronica.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=445452
3. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a9acc7qIJFdU
4. http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/31/news/newsmakers/fortune_rumsfeld/?cnn=yes
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseltamivir
6. http://www.cfsf2.org.ar/upload/news/OseltamivirZanamivir.pdf
7. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6071WL20100108
8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8631447.stm
9. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Bu...wine-Flu-Vaccine-H1N1/Article/201004415621792
10. http://www.physorg.com/news168682913.html
11. http://www.physorg.com/news176099207.html
12. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/28/who-public-confidence-flu-pandemic
13. http://www.cfsf2.org.ar/index.cgi?wid_seccion=8&wid_item=&wAccion=news&wid_news=118&wid_grupo_news=5
9:53 | Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Influenza A: current situation
.
Since its inception back in March 2009 in the town of La Gloria, Mexico, swine influenza has been brought all the wrong way. The disease spread rapidly to the rest of Latin America and since the end of May 2009, Argentina recorded 115 cases (1). But the situation far from improving, worsened and by mid-July 2009, Argentina moved to Mexico from the second list of countries with more deaths with a total of 137, but still behind the U.S., with 246 (2).
The first weapons
One of the first medications used to combat the disease was the drug oseltamivir, sold by Roche since 1996 under the brand name Tamiflu. Studies indicate that this drug is used to bridge the symptoms of the disease between half and one day, according to a study published in the journal "The Lancet Infectious Diseases. At present it is considered that as the virus responsible for the seasonal flu that appears each year is resistant to oseltamivir, the virus that causes influenza it is in a very low percentage (268 of 15,000 samples tested).
In December last year, the British Medical Journal published an article retracting previous findings. In short, the article said that could not ensure that the oseltamivir protected against pneumonia and other flu-related diseases. The benefits for healthy adults are minor if he took it within 24 hours of symptom onset. There is clear evidence that this drug protects against lower respiratory tract infections or other complications from the flu. Similarly, the study did not indicate the risks of using this drug in pregnant women, children below 5 years or patients with pre-existing diseases (3).
The owners of oseltamivir
The patent belongs to oseltamivir Gilead Sciences and is valid until 2016. Gilead political connections are not minor: Donald Rumsfeld was president of the company from 1997 until he became Secretary of Defense U.S. in 2001 (4). Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz and wife of former California Gov. Pete Wilson were on the board of Gilead Sciences.
Oseltamivir was used during the epidemic of bird flu in Southeast Asia in 2005 and several governments accumulated large quantities of the drug at the possibility of a pandemic. The U.S. government was no stranger to these measures, allocating several billion dollars to buy stock and take the medicine.
There are generic versions of oseltamivir. From that produced by Thailand in February 2006 to elaborate in India after the country won a court case allowing him to make the Antiflu in May 2009 (5).
In Argentina, the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) said in a statement in 2009 that "The antiviral neuraminidase inhibitors are sensitive to virus type A (H1N1) are Zanamivir and Oseltamivir and date conditions registration based on controlled experiments indicate that:
? Zanamivir is approved for the treatment of influenza in adults and children from 7 years of age and for the prevention of influenza in adults and children over 5 years. Only available for administration by inhalation.
? Oseltamivir is approved for the treatment and prevention of influenza in adults and children over one year of age. It's available as pharmaceutical capsules and oral suspension (6).
Europe 1: Vaccine
With the condition stated in early 2009, the efforts of the laboratories were frantic to have a vaccine ready before the start of the winter in the northern hemisphere. But the fate of the vaccine in this hemisphere has been, at best, controversial.
In January 2010, France cut its order of swine flu vaccine produced by Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Baxter International. 94 million doses, the French government decided to buy only 50 million. The cut was because the demand for this vaccine was lower than expected, due to skepticism of the population on the need for vaccination. The fact that only one dose is needed to obtain immunity instead of two, was another cause of the cut (7).
Before this change, a spokesman for Novartis said the laboratory would assess each government orders individually and within the framework of contracts signed.
The decision of France joined Germany, Spain and Switzerland, governments also took steps to cut their orders to return the already received or sell to other countries due to low domestic demand. According to sources consulted in Germany, this country has been trying to sell its surplus vaccines to countries like Macedonia, Moldova and Albania, but without much luck.
News published in April 2010 indicate that the earnings of Novartis rose by almost 30%, driven primarily by sales of its influenza vaccine during the pandemic (8). Glaxo increased its profits by 13% (698 million pounds) for the first quarter of 2010 thanks to sales of its influenza vaccine (9).
Europe 2: The first tests
In August 2009, Novartis stated in a cable carried by the Associated Press that the first trials began injecting their vaccine in humans (10). The tests were to be extended by one year injected 6,000 people of all ages in Britain, Germany and the U.S. The company spokesman added that it was likely that the vaccine was on the market before the test ends. At that time another laboratory, Sanofi-Pasteur, producing 40% of flu vaccines worldwide, also plans to begin testing its vaccine in the U.S. and Europe.
Europe 3: Permissions and Prohibitions
In late October 2009, Switzerland surprised many by prohibiting the use of Pandemrix vaccine, produced by Glaxo British laboratory, in pregnant women, children under 18 and adults over 60 years (11). Swissmedic, the Swiss authority responsible for managing medications, argued that they had received results of vaccination in adults, but very little information about the effects of vaccination in children and nothing about vaccination in pregnant women.
Moreover Swissmedic authorized vaccination using Focetria, vaccine developed by Swiss drugmaker Novartis using the classic method using chicken eggs, considering that it was safe for children and adults. A second vaccine Novartis using another method using cell culture of dog kidney allowing faster production was delayed, according to the Swiss newspaper "Tages Anzeiger" due to possible contamination with bacteria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended vaccination of health workers and vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children. The death toll in October 2009 by the influenza A was estimated in 5000, since its inception in April of that year, according to WHO.
Europe 4: mistrust
The grand finale of the whole situation associated with influenza vaccine in Europe had as a corollary a report to be elevated to the Council of Europe by Paul Flynn vice president of the health committee of the council and who had access to the British newspaper The Guardian "(12). In this preliminary report, Flynn says that the World Health Organization (WHO) and other public health agencies have squandered the public trust by exaggerating the dangers of pandemic flu. The report emphasizes that a lack of credibility could put lives at risk: "This loss of confidence could be risky in the future. When the next pandemic appears many people may not give much credence to the recommendations issued by WHO and other agencies. People can refuse to be vaccinated risking their own health and their lives. "
Flynn continues to startling figures when referring to differences between the expected number of fatalities and reality: "In the UK, the Health Department initially announced that it expected about 65,000 deaths. Meanwhile, by early 2010, this estimate was lowered to only 1000 deaths. By January, less than 5,000 people had been reported sick and had registered about 360 deaths. "
Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, told Flynn that an official investigation was to evaluate how he had handled the issue in Britain and that its report would be issued in June. The report also indicates that European countries reacted very differently to the pandemic and that not all mass vaccination campaigns mounted as did the United Kingdom.
According to the story in "The Guardian", Flynn accused the WHO of a lack of transparency. As indicated in the news, some members of its advisory committee are influenza experts have also received funding, especially for research projects, from drug companies that manufacture drugs and vaccines against the flu. "The neutrality of these can be questioned," continues the report of Flynn. "To date, WHO has not provided convincing evidence to refute these allegations and the organization has not published the relevant declarations of interest. By adopting a closed position, the body has joined other agencies such as the European Medicines Agency, which similarly has not published such documents. "
The report was prepared by Flynn at the request of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, which is conducting an investigation as the situation of influenza A was handled by the agencies and European governments.
The terse report continues stating that "several factors lead to suspect that there may have been a bad influence from the pharmaceutical industry, notably the possibility of conflicts of interests represented on the expert advisory committees to WHO, the initial stages of preparing contractual arrangements between member states and pharmaceutical companies as well as the actual earnings that the companies obtained as a result of pandemic influenza, "says the draft report, which will be announced when all the evidence has been gathered.
Current Situation
In early May began to receive the first vaccine to drugstores and pharmacies Rosario.
According to a document that is accessible at the College of Pharmacists of the 2nd district of the Province of Santa Fe are available two types of flu vaccines: monovalent (containing only the influenza virus A) and trivalent (containing influenza virus plus 2 seasonal influenza virus) (13).
Monovalent influenza vaccine used is produced by Novartis under the brand Focetria ? and contains A/California/7/2009 strain (H1N1) strain that circulated mainly throughout the year 2009.
The trivalent influenza vaccine is also produced by Novartis under the brand Begrivac ? and contains three viral strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60 / 2008. A/California/7/2009 strain (H1N1) is the same that was used for monovalent influenza vaccine.
According to information obtained, all flu shots available Rosario containing the influenza virus A. Those who just want to be vaccinated against common seasonal flu, will be in a situation virtually impossible to achieve. Like last year, the members of the PAMI can be vaccinated for free with vaccines provided by the charity. If you are under 65 years will also require a prescription to do so.
References
1. http://www.continental.com.ar/nota.aspx?id=820931
2. http://www.cronica.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=445452
3. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a9acc7qIJFdU
4. http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/31/news/newsmakers/fortune_rumsfeld/?cnn=yes
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseltamivir
6. http://www.cfsf2.org.ar/upload/news/OseltamivirZanamivir.pdf
7. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6071WL20100108
8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8631447.stm
9. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Bu...wine-Flu-Vaccine-H1N1/Article/201004415621792
10. http://www.physorg.com/news168682913.html
11. http://www.physorg.com/news176099207.html
12. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/28/who-public-confidence-flu-pandemic
13. http://www.cfsf2.org.ar/index.cgi?wid_seccion=8&wid_item=&wAccion=news&wid_news=118&wid_grupo_news=5