Clinical Research Insider [CLiR] number 0

ANSWERS:

Over the past century, healthcare has undergone continuous improvements. However, one of the most significant issues has been the antivaccine movement, which has caused social damage and has set populations back in the face of once-eradicated diseases. Its consequences are catastrophic, and many scientists and physicians still have a heavy burden to carry in their efforts to prevent the spread of false information.

We all need to work together to restore the power of science and trust in data, so that our communities understand the crucial benefits of vaccines – which, after clean water, represent the most significant health improvement in the modern world.

Federico Lerner, MD, PhD

While the idea of personalized medicine has been around for more than 50 years, it was not until the beginning of the 21st century that significant progress was made in the field. The discovery of single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and microarray/ biochips now allows segregation of patients for studies and clinical trials, even when they are diagnosed with the same disease. Hopefully, in the coming years, more and more personalized treatments will emerge and achieve success.

ANSWERS:

Thor Nissen, MD, PhD

A significant reduction of cardiovascular deaths in Diabetics Patients at high risk of cardiovascular events was demonstrated with Empagliflozin in 2015 in the EMPA-REG Outcome trial. (N Engl J Med 2015;373:2117-28.)

Empagliflozin (marketed as Jardiance®) is an oral, once daily, highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that lowers the blood glucose level (Antidiabetic). Empagliflozin is unique and has the most robust evidence for cardiovascular benefits. It was the first type 2 diabetes medicine to include cardiovascular death-risk reduction data on the label in several countries. Inhibition of SGLT2 with empagliflozin in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar levels leads to excretion of excess sugar in the urine. In addition, initiation of empagliflozin increases excretion of salt from the body and reduces the fluid load of the body’s blood vessel system (i.e. intravascular volume).

Jardiance® has won the prestigious Prix Galien International 2018 as best pharmaceutical product. Worldwide, the award is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in the field of pharmaceutical research and innovation.

Guillermo Caletti, MD, PhD