Latest ArticlesTo demonstrate equivalent clinical efficacy of all biosimilars of adalimumab (ADA), etanercept (ETA), infliximab (INF), and rituximab (RIT) with their reference drugs as well as to evaluate the relative safety and immunogenicity of biosimilars in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Sinomed, ClinicalTrial.gov, CNKI and Wanfang database were searched to collect the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about the comparisons between biosimilars and their reference drugs for the treatments of RA published from inception to December 17, 2019. Two researchers screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias independently. STATA 15.0 software was used to perform data analysis. To reduce heterogeneity, subgroup analysis in accordance with the drug treatment duration was conducted.
A total of 27 RCTs were included (ADA: 10, ETA: 6, INF: 7, RIT: 4), involving 10 405 RA patients with inadequate response to the first-line treatment regimen. The clinical efficacy and safety of the four biosimilar drugs were comparable with their reference drugs. In terms of immunogenicity, no statistically significant differences were found between the other three groups except for ETA. It should be noted that the quality rating of the evidence related to the immunogenicity outcome was low, so the results of the immunogenicity need to be further verified by subsequent relevant studies.
This study supports the similarity of the four biosimilars to their respective reference drugs, which may serve as evidence for related clinical practice, guideline development, and policy making.
To investigate the activation mechanism of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) by molecular dynamics method.
The active and inactive states of GLP-1R were constructed and embedded in a palmitoyl oleoyl phosphatidyl choline (POPC) bilayer. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on each system for 50 ns. Conformations of active and inactive states were compared, and hydrogen bond analysis, energy analysis and principal component analysis etc. were performed.
Conformation analysis showed that the N-terminal ectodomain of GLP-1R moved to the transmembrane domain in inactive state. The third intracellular loop (ICL3) was different between active and inactive states of GLP-1R, suggesting that ICL3 played a significant role in the activation of GLP-1R. The outcomes of hydrogen bond analysis and energy analysis indicated that His7*, Glu9* and Asp15* of GLP-1 were important in the binding of GLP-1R.
Molecular dynamics method can be used as a supplementary tool to study the effects of GLP-1R conformational changes on its own activation and the activation mechanism of GLP-1 binding to receptors, providing theoretical guidance for the development of drugs targeting GLP-1R.
To study the neurotoxicity of DH-004, a derivative of harmine (HM).
IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-6 in the brain of mice were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Morphological changes of neurons in cerebral cortex of mice were detected by Nissl staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1) mRNA expression in brain tissue. Iba-1 protein expression in brain tissue was detected by Western-Blot.
ELISA results showed that except for the insignificant changes of IL-6 in each dose group, the expression levels of the other three inflammatory factors with HM-treated mice in the brain tissues were the highest. After the same dose of DH-004 was given, the expression levels of inflammatory factors in the cerebellum tissues were significantly decreased compared with HM-treated mice (P<0.01). The results of Nisier staining, qRT-PCR and Western-Blot showed that compared with the blank control group, HM group had serious and dose-dependent damage to the cortical nerve cells of mice. The expression levels of Iba-1 mRNA and Iba-1 protein in HM group were up-regulated compared with the corresponding blank control group (P<0.01), after the same dose of DH-004 was given, the expression levels of Iba-1 mRNA and Iba-1 protein in cerebellum tissues were significantly down-regulated compared with HM group (P<0.01).
HM can induce the activation of microglia cells in mice, then the activated microglia cells promote the release of inflammatory factors, leading to nerve tissue damage. While DH-004 can inhibit the activation of microglia cells, thus reducing the release of inflammatory factors and reducing neurotoxicity.
To observe the expression of endoplasmic reticulum related protein in hippocampus of VD model rats, determine whether endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays an important role in the progress of VD, and observe whether different doses of butylphthalide (NBP) has protective effect by regulating the expressions of markers related to ERS.
Grouping and model preparation were carried out in accordance. A Morris water maze experiment was conducted after giving NBP intervention. Western Blot and real time-PCR assay were used for evaluating the expression of endoplasmic reticulum related protein after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion among sham group, model group and different doses of NBP-treated groups.
The escape latency of model group was significantly longer than the sham group and NBP-treated groups on day 2 (P<0.05). Compared with the sham group, the escape latency of the model group was significantly longer on days 3~5 (P<0.05). We detected the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum related protein. Except for GRP78 in 30 mg·kg-1 NBP group, the expressions of other proteins in rats treated with NBP significantly decreased compared with the model group (P<0.05). NBP of 120 mg·kg-1 significantly down-regulated the expression of all the proteins except for XPB1 and elF2α (P<0.05). Except for proteins, we also detected the mRNA expression of endoplasmic reticulum related protein. The mRNA levels of CHOP and elF2α were significantly increased in NBP30 group compared with the model group (P<0.01) and there was no significant difference between NBP60 group and the model group. Besides CHOP and elF2α, all the other markers were significantly decreased in NBP120 group compared with the model group (P<0.01). The NBP120 group exhibited the most significant differences among the treated groups except for caspase-12 (equal in NBP120 and NBP60 groups) (P<0.01).
The markers of ERS in hippocampal tissue were activated in the VD model rats. After giving NBP, the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum related protein were down-regulated. NBP played neuroprotective effects by inhibiting apoptosis of neurons and promoting cell survival by down-regulating the markers related with ERS.
To synthesize a series of Bola type nonionic surfactants using 1, 12-dodecanediol and undecenoic acid as raw materials, characterize the products and evaluate the safety.
Dodecyl Di-10-undecenoate was prepared by esterification, epoxidation was conducted on the product followed by ring opening to prepare disubstituted polyoxyethylene undecanoate dodecyl with different degrees of polymerization glycol ester, and the products were compared with the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 in terms of surface activity, solubilization, hemolysis, etc.
The safe and effective index of PUDD-800 was 10 times that of Tween 80.
PUDD-800 can replace the commercially available surfactants and has the potential for further application in the development of injection formulations.
To compare the rabbit method and dynamic turbidity method for pyrogen detection in heat-clearing Xingnaojing injection.
Three batches of heat-clearing type Chinese medicine injection, Xingnaojing injection, were selected as the research object. Animals were divided into seven groups, including endotoxin, 3 groups of endotoxin+endotoxin test samples, 3 groups of endotoxin test samples. Pyrogen was tested using rabbit pyrogen examination. At the same time, the endotoxin in Xingnaojing Injection was quantitatively detected by dynamic turbidimetry.
No pyrogen reaction was found in 3 batches of test sample groups by rabbit method. The body temperature of rabbits in endotoxin group increased by 0.6 ℃, and the pyrogen reaction occurred. Compared with the endotoxin group, the pyrogen test in endotoxin+test group was false negative. The contents of bacterial endotoxin in 3 batches of Xingnaojing Injection groups were determined by dynamic turbidimetric method, the content of endotoxin was <0.01 EU·mL-1.
Rabbit pyrogen test is easy to produce false negative results for pyrogen test of heat-clearing Xingnaojing Injection, and dynamic turbidimetry can quantitatively detect the contents of bacterial endotoxin.
To analyze the characteristics of serious adverse reactions (ADRs) caused by rituximab in order to provide reference for rational clinical use of rituximab.
A total of 35 serious ADR reports associated with rituximab were collected in Beijing from 2003 to 2019 and further analyzed.
Among the 35 cases of serious ADRs, there were 18 males and 17 females involved. The average age of the patients was 60±17. Systemic symptoms and respiratory system damage ranked the first, and the occurrence time varied from 30 min to 7 mo after treatment. As a result of serious ADRs, 1 case died, 4 cases aggravated, 12 cases prolonged the course of disease, and 18 cases had no obvious effect on the original disease.
The monitoring over middle-aged and elderly patients and serious ADR patients should be strengthened. If serious ADRs occur, the drug should be stopped in time, and the treatment and rescue should be actively taken so as to ensure the safety of the drug application.
To systematically review the impact of patent expiry on drug price and market share, and provide evidence-based reference for promoting the balanced development of innovative drugs and generic drugs in China.
PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were searched to identify studies on the impact of patent expiration on the prices and market shares of original or generic drugs from inception to September 31, 2019. After relevance screening and data extraction, a standardized assessment was performed by two independent reviewers. Then, qualitative analysis was applied to evaluate the impact of patent expiration on the prices and market shares of original or generic drugs.
A total of 26 literatures were included, 10 of which were related to changes in drug prices and market shares after the expiration of patents, 14 related to changes in drug prices, and 2 related to changes in market shares. The identified studies indicated that the market shares of generic drugs ranged from 56% to 92% 1~8 years after patent expiry, and drug prices decreased to 20%~98% of the brand drug price 1~10 years after patent expiry. The prices of original prices were rigid and varied within 25%, while some even increased after generic drugs' entry.
After the expiration of patent, the overall drug prices decrease, and the original drugs show a certain price rigidity. The market share of generic drugs is increasing over time. The number of generic competitors, price discounts, and current generic drug policies could have an impact on the speed of generic substitution.
The aim of the article was to comprehend the global R&D status and technology distribution of antiviral drugs. Metrological methods were used. The annual application number, geographical distribution, applicants, high value patents and technical topics of antiviral drugs patents worldwide were analyzed. The R&D of antiviral drugs had a certain time and space correlation with the prevalence of viral diseases. The United States, China and Japan played a leading role in the field of antiviral drug research, with different emphasis on technology. “Gilead Sciences Inc” biopharmaceutical company occupied a leading position in this field. The research on compounds containing 3,4-dihydrobenzopyran and the herbs from asteraceae or compositae occupied a large part. Antiviral activity and antitumor activity were mostly crossed. The research of antiviral drugs may show a new growth trend in the next three years. The United States plays a leading role in the field of antiviral technology. Traditional Chinese Medicine had a competitive advantage in the research of antiviral drugs in China, being of great significance.
This article analyzed the current regulatory situation of FDA on complex generic drugs (nonbiological complex drugs) from two aspects: First, the feasibility of technical evaluation of pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence of complex generic drugs; second, FDA's response strategy to the doubts and challenges of complex generic drugs. The complex generic drugs defined by the FDA contain natural-sourced complex drug substances. The article summarized the FDA's measures using regulatory science to vigorously promote scientific research when facing scientific challenges of complex generic drugs. The methods of promotion include formulating scientific research plans, identifying key research areas, setting up topics, summarizing annual scientific research results, and strengthening communication with the industry. The thoughts of FDA on complex generic drugs may be used as a reference for the technical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicines with the same name and same prescription.