Macroeconomic impact of Ebola outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa and potential mitigation of GDP loss with prophylactic Ebola vaccination programs.

Introduction: Decisions about prevention of and response to Ebola outbreaks require an understanding of the macroeconomic implications of these interventions. Prophylactic vaccines hold promise to mitigate the negative economic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between outbreak size and economic impact among countries with recorded Ebola outbreaks and to quantify the hypothetical benefits of prophylactic Ebola vaccination interventions in these outbreaks.

Targeted preventive vaccination campaigns to reduce Ebola outbreaks: An individual-based modeling study.

Introduction: Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPI) and ring vaccination (i.e., vaccination that primarily targets contacts and contacts of contacts of Ebola cases) are currently used to reduce the spread of Ebola during outbreaks.

Daratumumab Monotherapy for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Results of an Early Access Treatment Protocol in Europe and Russia.

Introduction: Daratumumab is a human IgGκ monoclonal antibody targeting CD38. Despite the demonstrated benefit of daratumumab in multiple myeloma, not all patients have access to commercially available daratumumab. Here we report a pooled analysis of patients from the UK, Spain, Italy, and Russia enrolled in an open-label, early access treatment protocol (EAP) that provided daratumumab (16 mg/kg) monotherapy to patients with heavily pre-treated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).

Results of an Early Access Treatment Protocol of Daratumumab Monotherapy in Spanish Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Daratumumab is a human CD38-targeted monoclonal antibody approved as monotherapy for heavily pretreated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. We report findings for the Spanish cohort of an open-label treatment protocol that provided early access to daratumumab monotherapy and collected safety and patient-reported outcomes data for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. At 15 centers across Spain, intravenous daratumumab (16 mg/kg) was administered to 73 patients who had ≥3 prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug, or who were double refractory to both.

Stated preferences for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma treatments in Sweden and Germany.

We aimed to elicit treatment preferences in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (r/r MCL). A discrete-choice experiment comprising six attributes ('overall survival', 'progression-free survival', 'fatigue', 'nausea', 'risk of serious infections' and 'treatment administration') was administered to r/r MCL patients, physicians and the general population (GP) in Sweden and Germany. 18 patients, 68 physicians and 191 GP members participated.

A comparison of the efficacy of immunomodulatory-free regimens in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: a network meta-analysis.

Treatment history influences the outcomes of subsequent therapies in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) and needs to be considered when deciding which treatment to use next. To assess the relative merits of immunomodulatory (IMiD)-free treatments, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify relevant randomized controlled trials in patients with RRMM. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to assess various IMiD-free regimens, including bortezomib and dexamethasone (Vd)-based treatments, and to explore differences in patient outcomes.

A Comparison of the Efficacy of Immunomodulatory-containing Regimens in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: A Network Meta-analysis.

Background: Previous network meta-analyses combined studies of immunomodulatory drug (IMiD)-containing and IMiD-free regimens, despite a lack of head-to-head randomized controlled trials to robustly link them. However, patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) treated with IMiD-containing regimens differ from those treated with IMiD-free regimens, especially relating to treatment history, which is an important treatment-effect modifier requiring clinical consideration when evaluating the most appropriate subsequent treatment options. A need exists to separately assess the efficacy of treatment regimens for patients who are suitable candidates for IMiD-containing and IMiD-free regimens.

Cohort Study on Predictors of Need for Nursing Care in Alzheimer's Disease: An Analysis of Healthcare Data.

Background: The individual and societal burden of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is substantial. Identifying relevant factors deteriorating AD and inducing need for nursing care would be of high relevance for healthcare planning.

Objective: The main objective of this study was the identification of predictors of first assignment of a level of long-term care in AD, used as an approximation for disease progression.

Cost of Dementia and Its Correlation With Dependence.

Objective: To estimate the cost of dementia care and its relation to dependence.

Method: Disease severity and health care resource utilization was retrieved from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care. Informal care was assessed with the Resource Utilization in Dementia instrument.

Patient, physician, and general population preferences for treatment characteristics in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A conjoint analysis.

Due to the disease heterogeneity, treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have differed with respect to efficacy and toxicity. Limited options have also been available regarding modalities of administration. Our study objective was to estimate preferences for treatment characteristics (or "attributes") in relapsed/refractory (r/r) CLL.

Evaluating disease-modifying agents: a simulation framework for Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Considerable advances have been made in modeling Alzheimer's disease (AD), with a move towards individual-level rather than cohort models and simulations that consider multiple dimensions when evaluating disease severity. However, the possibility that disease-modifying agents (DMAs) may emerge requires an update of existing modeling frameworks.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a simulation allowing for economic evaluation of DMAs in AD.

Predictors of patient dependence in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Patient dependence has rarely been studied in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: To identify factors which predict patient dependence in mild-to-moderate AD.

Methods: We studied 398 non-institutionalized AD patients (234 females) of the ongoing Prospective Registry on Dementia (PRODEM) in Austria.

Galantamine versus donepezil in Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease: results from a randomized, double-blind study.

Background: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are considered standard of care for Alzheimer's disease in many countries. Galantamine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that may also act via allosteric modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Therefore, it may provide benefits compared with other acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

The economic impact of galantamine vs placebo: an analysis based on functional capacity in a Swedish cohort study.

Objective: To analyse the economic impact of galantamine, based on basic activities of daily living (ADL).

Methods: Data were derived from Swedish patients enrolled in a 6-month placebo-controlled trial of galantamine (GAL-INT-1; n=80), and from the Kungsholmen-Nordanstig Project, a longitudinal study of 919 elderly persons in Sweden. Basic ADL were assessed using the Katz' Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) (number of ADL lost [dependency in 0, 1-2, 3-4, or 5-6 ADL]).

Cessation versus continuation of galantamine treatment after 12 months of therapy in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled withdrawal trial.

Galantamine improved symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients after 5 to 6 months of treatment. To examine long-term outcomes, this study assessed if continuing of galantamine treatment beyond 12 months delayed further cognitive deterioration. It consisted of two phases: an open label (OL) phase (12 months), followed by a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled withdrawal phase (up to 24 months).

Modelling the clinical and economic implications of galantamine in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease in Germany.

Objective: This analysis was to assess the long-term clinical and economic implications of galantamine in the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Germany.

Methods: An economic model was developed using discrete event simulation to predict the course of AD through changes in cognition, behavioural disturbance, and function over time. It compares the costs and benefits of galantamine versus no-drug treatment and ginkgo biloba.

Projected economic impact of clinical findings of generic entry of topiramate on G4 European countries.

Objectives: To explore the effects of generic substitution of the antiepileptic drug (AED) topiramate (Topamax) in Canada; to convert observed Canadian costs into the settings of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom (UK); and to forecast the economic impact of generic topiramate entry in these four European countries.

Design And Methods: Health claims from Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) plan (1/2006-9/2008) and IMS Health data (1998-2008) were used. Patients with epilepsy and > or = 2 topiramate dispensings were selected.

[IDA project--concept and implementation of a cluster-randomized trial on dementia management in a general practice setting].

Given the multiple deficits in dementia care IDA is a health services research project that addresses the key role of general practitioners in the early detection of dementia, patient and family education, therapy and referral to further counseling and supportive measures. Mid 2005 IDA was started by the AOK Bavaria as a pilot project targeting patients living at home. This three-armed cluster-randomized trial--currently including 180 participating general practitioners--is to compare two supportive measures of different intensity (counseling for care-giving relatives and care management) with the usual care in terms of time to nursing home placement.