Torasemide is a loop diuretic used for the treatment of hypertension and for oedema in chronic heart failure (CHF), renal failure and cirrhosis. The efficacy of torasemide in reducing salt and water retention in CHF has been established in double-blind comparative studies against furosemide....

Paclitaxel belongs to the group of antitumour agents called the taxanes. Its efficacy in advanced ovarian cancer has been established in large, randomised phase III clinical trials. When used in combination with cisplatin for first-line treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, it is superior to...

Piperacillin/tazobactam is a beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria. Piperacillin/tazobactam is effective and well tolerated in patients with lower...

The addition of candesartan cilexetil (Atacand(R), Amias(R), Blopress(R), Kenzen(R), Ratacand(R)) to standard therapy for chronic heart failure (CHF) provided important clinical benefits at little or no additional cost in France, Germany, and the UK, according to a detailed economic analysis...

A number of first-line chemotherapy options for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are advocated in treatment guidelines and/or by various clinical investigators. Platinum-based chemotherapy has clearly demonstrated efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC and is generally...

Alzheimer disease is a common, progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the elderly, affecting approximately 3% of individuals 65-74 years of age, and up to half of those aged =85 years. Along with progressive loss of memory and cognitive function, other symptoms include depression and...

Etanercept (Enbrel(R)), which inhibits the activity of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, is indicated in the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A lifetime cost-utility analysis in patients with severe disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-resistant RA in the UK...

Cyclosporin microemulsion (Neoral(R)) is a self-emulsifying preconcentrate of cyclosporin which is more rapidly and consistently absorbed than the original oil-based formulation of cyclosporin (standard formulation; Sandimmun(R), Sandimmune(R)). This superior pharmacokinetic profile suggests...

Bimatoprost (Lumigan(R)) is a prostamide analogue used for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. In comparative clinical trials of up to 1 year in duration, administration of 0.03% bimatoprost ophthalmic solution once...

Recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven(R); also known as recombinant activated factor VII or eptacog alfa) is indicated as an intravenous haemostatic agent in haemophilia patients with inhibitors to clotting factors VIII or IX. In noncomparative trials in haemophilia patients with inhibitors,...