Number Of Pharmaceutical Companies Research Articles

Buspirone, a new approach to the treatment of anxiety.

Anxiety has historically been treated by agents with a sedative component to their action. In the last decade or so it has been determined that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors may mediate the anxiolytic actions of the benzodiazepines, propanediol carbamates, barbiturates, and ethanol. However, inasmuch as these drugs have additional pharmacological properties (sedation, muscle relaxation, seizure control), the search for an anxioselective drug was continued. Buspirone appears to be such a drug. Clinical studies have clearly demonstrated the efficacy of buspirone in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder without the ancillary pharmacology of earlier anxiolytics. Buspirone does not act on the GABA receptor. Rather, its most salient interaction with neurotransmitter receptors occurs at the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. This action is supported by studies focused on receptor binding, anatomical localization, biochemistry, neurophysiology, and animal behavior. The recognition that action at 5-HT1A receptors may be a viable approach to the pharmacotherapy of anxiety is evidenced by the number of other agents of this class under development by a number of pharmaceutical companies.

Remote Data Entry and Retrieval: The Human and Administrative Aspects

There has been intense activity during the past 2 years in exploring the applications of personal or microcomputers (PCs) as a means of capturing data emanating from clinical investigations. A number of pharmaceutical companies, including Ives Laboratories, have explored this method. Conceptually, this idea is very appealing. Properly posed to management or the medical monitor, the presenter can argue that this method of capturing data is the most effective (both in cost and time) and superior to other currently available procedures. However, detailed examination of this technology reveals that before this method of data collection can be accepted as viable and effective, especially on a large scale, a number of issues must be resolved. The purpose of this paper is to examine these issues, especially in the context of clinical research as sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. An alternative approach to remote data entry, utilizing the currently available facsimile transceiver technology, is discussed.