Fuzeon wins international innovation award but Roche concerned about uptake
Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) has been recognised by the award of the 2004 International Prix Galien to Roche, its manufacturer, for the most innovative new medicine.
The company, which shared the UK
Prix Galien with Wyeth earlier this
year (PJ, 2 October, p454), said that innovation was only one milestone
of Fuzeon’s success. “The next crucial step is getting the
drug to those who need it.”
Walter Osswald, president of the International Prix Galien jury, commented: “Fuzeon
was considered as the clear winner ... because it represents ...
the only new class of antiretroviral HIV drugs to emerge in the past
eight years. Fuzeon markedly contributes to a significant increase in
patients’ quality of life.”
Janet Sanburg, international business leader for Roche, told The Journal
that the company recognised that many patients eligible for treatment
with enfuvirtide, which is given as an injection, were not taking it
up.
To address this, Roche has set up a nurse training programme to teach
patients self-injecting techniques. The company has also provided telephones
to some patients so that new patients can discuss with them any treatment
concerns they might have. Roche also recommends that doctors suggest
to patients that they try the treatment for three months. “This
is not such a big step for patients,” said Dr Sanburg. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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