Anyone see the back-handed compliment from thestreet on 9/29. "ICAAC: Merck, Hoffmann-La Roche Offer Promising New Data on AIDS Drugs"
When discussing Merck's newly formulated crixivan, (twice a day), Jesse Eisenger says "More importantly, Merck faces serious competition largely from Agouron's (AGPH:Nasdaq) Viracept, a more convenient protease inhibitor to take. The drug giant hopes that the new pill can stave off Agouron to some extent."
Merck's new formulation of crixivan is discussed, and says similar results were obtained as in using crixivan twice a day, compared to three times a day. Article mentions that the incidence of kidney stones, which can be one of the most serious and painful side effects of Crixivan, was the same among the twice-a-day as the three-times-a-day. The presenter said that a twice-a-day drug could "potentially enhance compliance." (Bach-Yen Nguyen, of Merck, during her presentation).
In todays thesteet.com, talk is of the new politically correct word: "Adherence"
And not compliance. Are patient treatment failures due to patients lack of "adherence" to their drug regimen? "Adherence" rather than "compliance," suggests an accomplishment on the part of the patient as opposed to a restrictive attachment."
Whatever. According to analysts, viracept promotes "adherence" more so than the other pi's.
Street.com also mentions that Roche's newly formulated soft gel protease inhibitor requires 18 pills a day itself, on top of the other drugs. |
