Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Biotech / Medical : Biotech Valuation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Biomaven who wrote (6038)	3/26/2002 4:53:23 PM
From: Biomaven	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 52153

Some nice publicity today after the close for SCIO: Tuesday March 26, 4:00 pm Eastern Time Press Release SOURCE: Scios Inc. Scios Announces Publication in Journal of the American Medical Association Supporting First-Line Use of Natrecor to Treat Acute Heart Failure SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scios, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCIO - news) today announced that the lead article and editorial published in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) support the use of the company's flagship product, Natrecor® (nesiritide), for the treatment of acutely decompensated congestive heart failure in patients with shortness of breath at rest or with minimal activity. ``This publication reinforces our belief that Natrecor is an ideal initial agent for physicians to use along with diuretics before considering conventional treatment options,'' said Darlene P. Horton, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs at Scios. ``The clinical community has indicated they are enthusiastic about using Natrecor as part of a new treatment paradigm for acute heart failure.'' The lead article reported the results of the VMAC (Vasodilation in the Management of Acute Congestive Heart Failure) study, a randomized double-blind trial involving 489 patients with acute heart failure treated at 55 hospitals between October 1999 and July 2000. These patients were assigned to one of four treatment groups. They received either a fixed or adjustable dose of intravenous Natrecor, intravenous nitroglycerin or placebo plus standard care. The investigators tracked changes in dyspnea, or shortness of breath, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). PCWP estimates the heart's internal filling pressure and is a standard measure of cardiac function in patients with acute heart failure. The improvement (reduction) in PCWP was significantly greater in the Natrecor group than in the nitroglycerin or placebo groups, starting with the first measurement at 15 minutes. Sixty percent of the three-hour reduction in PCWP was observed at 15 minutes and 95 percent of the three-hour reduction in PCWP was seen in the first hour. At three hours, the effect of Natrecor on PCWP was statistically significantly greater than both nitroglycerin and placebo while the effect of nitroglycerin was similar to placebo. At 24 hours the mean reduction in PCWP was significantly greater with Natrecor than nitroglycerin (placebo patients had crossed over to active therapy after three hours). Patients who received Natrecor also reported feeling less breathless at three hours compared to placebo plus standard care whereas the effect of nitroglycerin was similar to placebo. There were no significant differences in the frequency of serious adverse events through 30 days for either treatment group. ``The findings reported in this publication suggest that Natrecor should be used as a first-line treatment for acutely decompensated CHF,'' said lead author James B. Young, M.D., medical director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure at The Cleveland Clinic and head of the Section of Heart Failure at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center. The related JAMA editorial was basically positive but much more cautious than that "first-line" quote might indicate. The full text is available at the JAMA site: Intravenous Nesiritide vs Nitroglycerin for Treatment of Decompensated Congestive Heart Failure jama.ama-assn.org Treatment of Acute Heart Failure Out With the Old, In With the New jama.ama-assn.org See also the report of the failure of Milrinone, a dobutamine-like drug: Short-term Intravenous Milrinone for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Heart Failure jama.ama-assn.org Peter