Cost variation study of antidepressant drugs

Background: Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses, each affecting in excess of 10-15% of the population at some time in their lives. Approximately 10-15% of those with severe depression attempt suicide at some point of time. Thus, it is important that symptoms of depression be recognized and treated appropriately.Methods: The prices of 15 antidepressant drugs, available in 43 different formulations were analyzed. Costs of different brands of a particular generic antidepressant drug being manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were used to calculate cost ratio and percentage cost variation.Results: This study shows that there is a wide variation in the prices of different brands of same antidepressant drug in Indian market. The highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for amitriptyline 50 mg, followed by bupropion 25 mg, amitriptyline 75 mg and dosulepin 50 mg. Highest number of brands of antidepressant drugs available in Indian market are for escitalopram 10 mg followed by escitalopram 5 mg and 20 mg.Conclusions: There is wide price variation of different brands of the same generic antidepressant drug in Indian market. Cost of a drug plays an important role in treatment of depression as it follows a long course and adherence to the treatment is related with drug cost. To decrease the wide cost variation among different brands of antidepressant drugs; it is high time to generate physician awareness about impact of cost effectiveness of drug regimen and for regulation of drug prices by the concerned agencies

A REVIEW OF MONKEYPOX DISEASE AND FUTURE TREATMENT OPTIONS

The Monkeypox virus (MPXV) causative agent for Monkeypox disease resembles a smallpox-like illness and can lead to a number of serious medical issues in humans. It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus and belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Monkeypox cases have increased after the smallpox vaccine was no longer administered. Monkeypox did not really receive widespread attention until the 2003 US outbreak. The majority of monkeypox cases connected to the 2022 outbreak are being reported in nations surrounding Europe and in the western world. The neurological, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems are all known to be impacted. There are currently no standardised or ideal guidelines for the clinical management of patients with monkeypox (MPX), especially in low-resource settings. Patient outcomes may also be poor and their illnesses may last a long time. The range of clinical manifestations, including complications and sequelae, as well as characteristics of the illness that may be indicators of illness severity and poor outcomes, must be better understood in order to improve care. Though more research is required before they can be used in an endemic setting, new therapeutics and vaccines offer hope for the treatment and prevention of monkeypox

An introspection of quality of novel drug approvals by United States Food and Drug Administration

Background: United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the fastest drug review agency in the world. FDA is responsible for protection of the public health by assuring that foods are safe, wholesome, sanitary and properly labelled. Approved Novel drugs are often innovative products that serve unmet medical needs or otherwise help to advance patient care.Methods: FDA novel drug approvals were analysed from calendar year (CY) 2012 to 2016 on the basis of three criteria i.e., impact, access and predictability. Impact measured on the basis of: percentage of novel drug approvals (a) first in class (b) for rare diseases. Access measured on the basis of: percentage of novel drug approvals (a) first cycle approval (b) approval in the U.S. before other countries and (c) percentage of priority reviews. Predictability measured by: the percentage of novel drug approvals that met the PDUFA goal dates for the application review.Results: Total number of novel drugs approved from CY 2012 to 2016 was 176 (average 35 novel drugs/ year). Impact of novel drug approvals: 40% were first in class and 39% were for rare diseases. Access of novel drug approvals: 84% were first cycle approval, 60% were approval in US before other countries, 51% priority reviews among novel drug approvals. Predictability of novel drug approvals: 97% approvals able to meet PDUFA goal dates for application review.Conclusions: Novel drug approvals during CY 2012-2016 had a high quality which is very much evident by their high impact, good access and high predictability

Cost variation analysis of antidyslipidemic drugs

Background: Dyslipidemia is the most common cause of premature coronary atherosclerosis manifesting as ischemic heart disease. Hyperlipidemia has a major role in the causation of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-induced conditions, such as ischemic cerebrovascular disease, coronary heart disease (CHD) and peripheral vascular disease.Methods: The prices of 07 antidyslipidemic drugs, available in 19 different formulations marketed in 260 brands and 03 fixed dose combinations available in 11 different formulations marketed in 75 brands were analyzed. Costs of different brands of a particular generic antidyslipidemic drug being manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were used to calculate cost ratio and percentage cost variation.Results: In this study, it was found that there exists a wide cost variation among the different brands of same antidyslipidemic drugs in Indian market. Among individual antidyslipidemic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for atorvastatin 20 mg, followed by atorvastatin 10 mg and atorvastatin 5 mg. Among fixed dose combinations for antidyslipidemic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for atorvastatin 20 mg+fenofibrate 160 mg, followed by atorvastatin 10 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg and atorvastatin 20 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg. Highest number of brands of antidyslipidemic drugs available in Indian market are for atorvastatin 10 mg followed by atorvastatin 20 mg and rosuvastatin 10 mg. Highest number of brands of fixed dose combinations of antidyslipidemic drugs available in Indian market are for atorvastatin 10 mg+ezetimibe 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg+fenofibrate 160 mg.Conclusions: In Indian market, there is very wide price variation of different brands of the same generic antidyslipidemic drug. Treatment of dyslipidemia has long course of treatment. For long term adherence to the treatment, cost of a drug plays an important role for successful drug treatment. Various steps are needed to reduce this wide price variation of different brands of the same generic antidyslipidemic drug

Cost analysis of antiepileptic drugs available in India

Background: Epilepsy is one of the major causes of morbidity, mortality and needs long-term treatment. There is a wide range of variation in the prices of drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to analyse out cost variations of antiepileptic drugs available in Indian market.Methods: Minimum and maximum costs in rupees (INR) of antiepileptic agents manufactured by different companies, in the same strength and dosage forms were obtained from “current index of medical specialties” January ‑ April 2016. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were calculated for each generic antiepileptic agent.Results: There is a wide variation in the prices of different brands of same antiepileptic agent in Indian market. The highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for divalproex 500 mg [(1:3.17) and 216.7], followed by lamotrigine 25 mg [(1:2.5) and 150], clobazam 10 mg [(1:2.47) and 147.3] and clonazepam 0.5 mg [(1:2.46) and 145.9].Conclusions: The average percentage price variation of different brands of the same oral antiepileptic drugs in Indian market is very wide. Treatment of epilepsy has a long course with compliance being a key factor for successful treatment. Improved adherence to the treatment can be ensured by decreasing the cost of therapy, by changes in the government policies and regulations and creating awareness among treating physicians for switching to cost effective therapy

Cost variation among anxiolytic drugs

Background: Indian pharmaceuticals market stands third and thirteenth largest in terms of value and volume in the Global Pharmaceutical Industry respectively. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses affecting more than 15% of the population at some point in their life span. Treatment of anxiety disorders usually follows a long term treatment. Cost of the treatment is an important factor determining the adherence to the treatment.Methods: Data relevant to various brands of anxiolytic drug available in the Indian market particular drug obtained from “Current Index of Medical Specialties” (CIMS) October 2017 - January 2018 was used to calculate the cost ratio and percentage cost variation.Results: There are 16 anxiolytic drugs in the form of 44 different formulations and 384 brands available in the Indian market. Among anxiolytic drugs, highest cost ratio and percent cost variation is for diazepam 5mg, followed by alprazolam 1mg and hydroxyzine 10mg. Highest number of brands of anxiolytic drugs available in Indian market are for clonazepam 0.5mg followed by alprazolam 0.5mg and escitalopram 10mg.Conclusions: In Indian market, there is availability of large number of brands with wide and variable cost variations among the various brands of the anxiolytic drugs

Cost analysis of antipsychotic drugs available in India

Background: Indian drug market has large numbers of branded formulations for every drug molecule. 1 Cost-sensitive healthcare environment has created a challenging workplace for clinicians. Efficient use of healthcare resources without compromising quality of patient care has been a challenging task for healthcare professionals. There is a wide range of variation in the prices of drugs marketed in India. Thus, a study was planned to analyse out cost variations of antiepileptic drugs available in Indian market.Methods: Minimum and maximum costs in Rupees (INR) of different brands of same generic antipsychotic drugs, in the same strength and dosage forms were compared. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were calculated for each generic antipsychotic drug. The number of formulations for antipsychotic drugs and number of brands for each of them were also taken into consideration.Results: This study shows that in Indian market, there are wide variations in the prices of different brands of same generic antipsychotic drug. The highest cost ratio and percent cost variation was found for risperidone 2 mg [(1:16.27) and 1527.48], followed by risperidone 4 mg [(1:16.25) and 1525.25], risperidone 3 mg [(1:15.67) and 1467.33], risperidone 1 mg [(1:14.86) and 1386.78], olanzapine 10 mg [(1:12.36) and 1136.84], and olanzapine 5 mg [(1:12.31) and 1130.76]. Highest number of brands of antipsychotic drug available in Indian market are for divalproex sodium 500mg(25) followed by olanzapine 15 mg(23), olanzapine 5 mg(23), olanzapine 2.5mg(14), and risperidone 1 mg (14). Highest numbers of formulations of antipsychotic drug available in Indian market are for olanzapine(06), quetiapine(05), haloperidol(05), and aripiprazole(05).Conclusions: In Indian market, the average percentage price variation of different brands of the same oral antipsychotic drugs is very wide. Treatment with antipsychotic drugs usually has a long course with treatment adherence being a crucial factor for successful treatment. Improved adherence to the drug treatment can be ensured by decreasing the cost of therapy. Decreased drug cost expenditure can be ensured by changes in the government policies and regulations, integrating pharmacoeconomics as part of medical education curriculum, and creating awareness among treating physicians for switching to cost effective therapy

An Enquiry on similarities between Renormalization Group and Auto-Encoders using Transfer Learning

Physicists have had a keen interest in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for some time now, with a special inclination towards unravelling the mechanism at the core of the process of learning. In particular, exploring the underlying mathematical structure of a neural net (NN) is expected to not only help us in understanding the epistemological meaning of `Learning' but also has the potential to unravel the secrets behind the workings of the brain. Here, it is worthwhile to establish correspondences and draw parallels between methods developed in core areas of Physics and the techniques developed at the forefront of AI and ML. Although recent explorations indicating a mapping between the Renormalisation Group(RG) and Deep Learning(DL) have shown valuable insights, we intend to investigate the relationship between RG and Autoencoders(AE) in particular. We will use Transfer Learning(TL) to embed the procedure of coarse-graining in a NN and compare it with the underlying mechanism of encoding-decoding through a series of tests.Comment: 16 figures, 1 table, 4 figures in appendi

Isolation and Characterization of Tamarind Seed Gum as Pharmaceutical Excipient

Objective: Tamarind seed gum (TSG) is a polysaccharide having galactomannans as chemical constituents, and it is extracted from the seeds of Tamarindus indica L (Family Fabaceae). Generally, polysaccharides play most important roles as thickening, gelling, emulsifying, hydrating, and suspending agents in pharmaceutical formulations. The purpose of this work was to investigate the film coating potential of tamarind seed gum (TSG), using paracetamol as a model drug. Material and Method: Tamarind seed gum, Paracetamol tablet, Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Sodium alginate, and Distilled water. Core tablets of paracetamol were obtained from a pharmacy shop in the local market and the physicochemical properties such as weight, hardness, friability, and disintegration time were evaluated. Aqueous coating solution consists of 2% TSG hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) (2% w/v), and sodium alginate (1% w/v) were prepared and used to coat the tablets by dip coating technique. The coated tablets were evaluated. Result: The coated tablets showed lower friability; increased disintegration time (14 min) as compared to the core tablet (3 min), improved hardness, and improved drug release profile. TSG film coated batches showed drug release profile up to 10 hrs and HPMC coated batches showed drug release up to 12 hrs. The results of drug release rate of TSG film is very closed to HPMC release profile. This TSG have good film formers properties. It is a promising natural, biodegradable, cheap and eco-friendly film former, particularly when masking of taste or objectionable odor in a solid dosage formulation is desired. It can be used as carrier in sustained release formulation.Conclusion: On the basis of result we can conclude that TSG has promising properties as pharmaceutical excipient. It could be used in the formulation of sustained release matrix as coating agent. &nbsp