Study of the cost variation analysis of anti-epileptic drugs available in different brands in Indian pharmaceutical market

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the cost ratio and percentage cost variations in different brands of the commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drugs available in Indian pharmaceutical market.Methods: The maximum and minimum price of each brand of the drug given in Indian rupees (INR) was noted by using CIMS January to April 2020 edition and drug today April to June 2020 volume  1. The cost ratio and the percentage cost variation for individual drug brands was calculated. The cost of one bottle in case of 100 ml syrup and 10 tablets/capsules was calculated in case of oral drugs and the cost of one 1 vial or ampoule was noted in case of injectable drugs. At last the cost ratio and percentage cost variation of various brands was compared.Results: After calculation of cost ratio and percentage cost variation for each brand of anti-epileptic drug tablet clonazepam (2 mg) shows highest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 10.41 and 941.66, carbamazepine (200 mg SR tablet) shows lowest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 1.09 and 9.32.Conclusions: Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder and epileptic drugs are to be prescribed for prolonged period. If a costly brand is prescribed, the patients have to pay more money unnecessarily for their treatment. There is a wide difference in the cost of different brands of anti-epileptic drugs available in India. The clinicians prescribing these drugs should be aware of these variations in cost to reduce the cost of drug therapy

Copper thiocyanate (CuSCN): an efficient solution-processable hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

Here, we report copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) as an efficient and solution-processable hole transport layer (HTL) in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Three different combinations of the most studied active layers of P3HT:PC61BM, PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM were used for photovoltaic device fabrication with the simplest device structure of ITO/CuSCN/active layer/Al. The use of CuSCN as an HTL has improved light absorption within the active layer and thereby leads to up to 5.94% and 4.60% power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) for the active layers of PCDTBT:PC71BM and PTB7:PC71BM, respectively. These results are slightly better when compared to the devices fabricated using thermal deposition of MoO3 and solution processed deposition of PEDOT: PSS as an HTL under similar conditions. We have observed that the annealing temperature for HTLs in organic solar cells has a significant effect on the PCE, specifically the fill factor (FF) and short-circuit current (J(sc)). In the present work, the resulting HTLs were characterized using UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for better understanding. Finally, we have provided a further example of solution-processable CuSCN as an efficient HTL in organic solar cells, in general

Low band gap polymeric solar cells using solution-processable copper iodide as hole transporting layer

In the present work, we have shown the performance of solution-processable copper iodide (CuI) as an alternative hole transporting layer (HTL) for polymeric solar cells. Optical spectra of the CuI thin film reveal highly transparent and practically no absorption in the range vis-NIR region (450-1110 nm). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Cul exhibits as a p-type semiconductor as well as crystalline nature. The photovoltaic devices were fabricated using PCDTBT and PTB7 as donor materials blended with PC71BM as an acceptor material. The power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) based on CuI as an HTL have been achieved to up to 3.04% and 4.48% for PCDTBT and PTB7 based donor materials respectively with a configuration based on ITO/CuI(40 nm)/active layer (60 nm)/AI (120 nm). This study clearly indicated that the devices made with Cul as an HTL showed superior performance than the device fabricated from PEDOT:PSS layer as an HTL. Morphological characterization of the HTL using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were carried for better understanding

An eco-friendly and inexpensive solvent for solution processable CuSCN as a hole transporting layer in organic solar cells

During past few years, significant research on solution-processable deposition of copper(I)thiocyanate (CuSCN) as an efficient hole transporting layer (HTL) for excitonic solar cells have been successfully reported. Surprisingly, till now only two solvents diisopropyl sulfide and diethyl sulfide are known which have been used for CuSCN film deposition as a HTL for device fabrication. Here, we have used ecofriendly and inexpensive solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for solution processed thin film deposition of CuSCN for organic solar cells. The photovoltaic devices were fabricated using two different donor polymers PCDTBT and PTB7 blended with PC71BM as an acceptor material with device structure of ITO/CuSCN/active layer/Al. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) based on CuSCN using DMSO as a deposition solvent have been achieved up to 4.20% and 3.64% respectively, with relative higher fill factor (FF) as compared to previously reported values in literature. The resultant HTLs were characterized by UV vis NIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) for better understanding

ACTR-71. FULL ENROLLMENT RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 1/2, MULTICENTER, OPEN-LABEL STUDY OF MARIZOMIB (MRZ) ± BEVACIZUMAB (BEV) IN RECURRENT WHO GRADE IV MALIGNANT GLIOMA (GLIOBLASTOMA, RGBM)

Abstract MRZ – an irreversible, brain-penetrant, pan-proteasome inhibitor with anti-glioma preclinical activity – was evaluated in BEV-naïve rGBM patients. METHODS Phase 1 (P1) MRZ+BEV, 3 + 3 MRZ dose-escalation (N=6, 3, 3 at 0.55, 0.7, 0.8 mg/m2) followed by dose-expansion (N=24, 0.8 mg/m2). Phase 2 (P2) MRZ monotherapy (N=30, 0.8 mg/m2). Treatments (IV, 28-day (D) cycles): MRZ (10min infusion) D1, 8, 15; BEV (10 mg/kg) D1, 15. Tumor response (RANO criteria) every other cycle; MRZ and BEV PK, and proteasome inhibition in blood evaluated in P1. RESULTS as of 14Apr2017: P1 mean age 55 yrs, 64% male, mean treatment duration 5.3 cycles, 1 patient active; P2 56 yrs, 57% male, 2.5 cycles, 6 patients active. One DLT (fatigue) in P1 at 0.55 mg/m2, no other DLTs. P1 treatment-related AEs (TRAEs Grade ≥3 in ≥2 patients): hypertension, headache, confusional state, fatigue, hallucination, proteinuria; three Grade 4 SAEs (appendicitis perforated, depressed level of consciousness, not-related; blindness, BEV-related), three Grade 5 SAEs (2 PD, not-related; intracranial hemorrhage, BEV-related). P2 TRAEs (Grade ≥3 in ≥2 patients): fatigue, hallucination, lethargy; one Grade 4 SAE (hallucination). P1 overall response (≥PR) 44% (16/36) including 1 CR, 15 PR; overall survival (OS) at 6/9/12 months (mos) 75/60/39%, median 9.4mos; OS 68/45/15% (median 7.2mos) in unmethylated MGMT (uMGMT, N=22), 78/78/67% (median not reached) in methylated MGMT (N=10). In P2: 1 PR, 6 SD; 4 patients (3 SD, 1 PR) ongoing at 5–10 cycles. P1 patients experiencing ≥1 CNS-related AEs (any grade: ataxia/balance disorder/dizziness/dysarthria/fall/gait disturbance/hallucination) have increased OS (83/74/45%, median 11.4mos, N=23) versus patients without these AEs (59/34/25%, median 6.3mos, N=13). CONCLUSIONS MRZ monotherapy and MRZ+BEV active in rGBM overall and in uMGMT. Possible therapeutic improvement in patients experiencing CNS AEs will be explored in ongoing P2 MRZ+BEV extension allowing intra-patient MRZ dose-escalation if no CNS AE in first cycle (0.8 mg/m2)

ACTR-71. FULL ENROLLMENT RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 1/2, MULTICENTER, OPEN-LABEL STUDY OF MARIZOMIB (MRZ) ± BEVACIZUMAB (BEV) IN RECURRENT WHO GRADE IV MALIGNANT GLIOMA (GLIOBLASTOMA, RGBM)

Abstract MRZ – an irreversible, brain-penetrant, pan-proteasome inhibitor with anti-glioma preclinical activity – was evaluated in BEV-naïve rGBM patients. METHODS Phase 1 (P1) MRZ+BEV, 3 + 3 MRZ dose-escalation (N=6, 3, 3 at 0.55, 0.7, 0.8 mg/m2) followed by dose-expansion (N=24, 0.8 mg/m2). Phase 2 (P2) MRZ monotherapy (N=30, 0.8 mg/m2). Treatments (IV, 28-day (D) cycles): MRZ (10min infusion) D1, 8, 15; BEV (10 mg/kg) D1, 15. Tumor response (RANO criteria) every other cycle; MRZ and BEV PK, and proteasome inhibition in blood evaluated in P1. RESULTS as of 14Apr2017: P1 mean age 55 yrs, 64% male, mean treatment duration 5.3 cycles, 1 patient active; P2 56 yrs, 57% male, 2.5 cycles, 6 patients active. One DLT (fatigue) in P1 at 0.55 mg/m2, no other DLTs. P1 treatment-related AEs (TRAEs Grade ≥3 in ≥2 patients): hypertension, headache, confusional state, fatigue, hallucination, proteinuria; three Grade 4 SAEs (appendicitis perforated, depressed level of consciousness, not-related; blindness, BEV-related), three Grade 5 SAEs (2 PD, not-related; intracranial hemorrhage, BEV-related). P2 TRAEs (Grade ≥3 in ≥2 patients): fatigue, hallucination, lethargy; one Grade 4 SAE (hallucination). P1 overall response (≥PR) 44% (16/36) including 1 CR, 15 PR; overall survival (OS) at 6/9/12 months (mos) 75/60/39%, median 9.4mos; OS 68/45/15% (median 7.2mos) in unmethylated MGMT (uMGMT, N=22), 78/78/67% (median not reached) in methylated MGMT (N=10). In P2: 1 PR, 6 SD; 4 patients (3 SD, 1 PR) ongoing at 5–10 cycles. P1 patients experiencing ≥1 CNS-related AEs (any grade: ataxia/balance disorder/dizziness/dysarthria/fall/gait disturbance/hallucination) have increased OS (83/74/45%, median 11.4mos, N=23) versus patients without these AEs (59/34/25%, median 6.3mos, N=13). CONCLUSIONS MRZ monotherapy and MRZ+BEV active in rGBM overall and in uMGMT. Possible therapeutic improvement in patients experiencing CNS AEs will be explored in ongoing P2 MRZ+BEV extension allowing intra-patient MRZ dose-escalation if no CNS AE in first cycle (0.8 mg/m2)

Marizomib alone or in combination with bevacizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: Phase I/II clinical trial data.

Background: This phase I/II trial in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) evaluates the safety and preliminary efficacy of marizomib, an irreversible pan-proteasome inhibitor that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Methods: Part A assessed the safety and efficacy of marizomib monotherapy. In Part B, escalating doses of marizomib (0.5-0.8 mg/m Results: In Part A, 30 patients received marizomib monotherapy. The most common AEs were fatigue (66.7%), headache (46.7%), hallucination (43.3%), and insomnia (43.3%). One patient (3.3%) achieved a partial response. In Part B, the recommended phase II dose of marizomib was 0.8 mg/m Conclusions: The safety profile of marizomib as monotherapy and in combination with bevacizumab was consistent with previous observations that marizomib crosses the blood-brain barrier. Preliminary efficacy did not demonstrate a meaningful benefit of the addition of marizomib to bevacizumab for the treatment of recurrent GBM