ImmunoGen Announces Encouraging New Clinical Data With The Company's IMGN901 Compound In The Treatment Of Small-Cell Lung Cancer
ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMGN), a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics using its Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology, today announced the presentation of encouraging initial efficacy, safety and tolerability clinical data with its IMGN901 product candidate in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In two early-stage clinical trials that enrolled patients whose SCLC had recurred following treatment with standard chemotherapies, IMGN901 administration achieved notable tumor shrinkage and/or sustained stable disease. The compound also demonstrated encouraging activity against other CD56-expressing (CD56+) solid tumors. These clinical data are being presented at the 13th World Conference on Lung Cancer taking place in San Francisco, CA, from July 31 to Aug. 4, 2009.
Health Insurance
Pages: 1 [2]
Doctors Talk Frankly About What Encourages And Impedes Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's
Callaghan. NSW, Australia. Disclosure Block: N.E. Paterson, None; D. Pond, None. Background: GPs are the gatekeepers to service provision for the elderly and the usual first point of contact with the health system for individuals with dementia and their carers. Increasing evidence suggests that early diagnosis and timely intervention is beneficial, both for patients and carers. Despite this, there remains a need to overcome GPs" therapeutic nihilism surrounding dementia. GPs report that the most difficult problem with the management of dementia is the communication and disclosure of the dementia diagnosis. Methods: An extensive literature review was performed to determine the barriers and enablers for diagnosis of dementia by GPs. The Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched for peer reviewed articles published in English from January 1996 to 2009. No limitations were placed on sample size or response rate. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included. A structured search methodology was used to locate the relevant body of publications and the search strategy allowed for the fact that a number of terms are used inter-changeably in the literature. Additional references were identified through hand searches of selected journals and bibliographies of relevant articles. Results: Forty-nine papers met the inclusion criteria. Research indicates the barriers to the early diagnosis of dementia and diagnostic disclosure in primary care include: * Negative attitude to dementia care/therapeutic nihilism * Stigma * Difficulties in differentiating normal ageing from dementia * The paucity of specialist diagnostic services, especially in rural areas * GPs lack of confidence or training * Lack of a recognized, time-efficient screening tool * A perceived lack of need to determine a specific diagnosis * Limited time * Risk of misdiagnosis * The patient"s impaired ability to provide an accurate history and participate in self-care * Perception that the patient cannot comprehend/cope with the diagnosis * Risk of damaging the doctor-patient relationship There is emerging evidence that the involvement of practice and community nurses in the diagnostic process may overcome some of the barriers and improve detection rates. Conclusions: Compelling evidence suggests that there are several structural and ideological obstacles that GPs encounter when attempting to diagnose dementia. However, there is also evidence of factors which encourage diagnosis and disclosure. Future educational supports for GPs need to concentrate on both these areas. Niles Frantz Alzheimer"s AssociationPages: 1 [2]