Pharmacoligaclly Active : Clinical Trials and the Pharmaceuticals Industry

The global clinical trials industry is driven by the needs of pharmaceutical companies to bring new products to market; rapidly and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Many of the largest multinational pharmaceutical companies - the so-called 'pharmas' - are active in South Africa in importing and producing pharmaceuticals and in the conduct of clinical trials. This clinical trials industry now forms an important sub-sector of research and development (RetD) in the country. The release in August 2007 of the long-awaited Department of Trade and Industry national industrial policy framework designates four key value chains in the economy; one of which is chemicals; plastic fabrication and pharmaceuticals. This intention raises a key question: is South Africa to be a factory for the pharmas; or can it leverage its existing strengths in medical research and the conduct of clinical trials to develop a discovery-led local industry? This paper therefore offers an analytical and quantitative profile of the current state of the clinical trials industry in South Africa; to enquire as to its potential to grow a local pharmaceutical industry

Iodine deficiency disorders in Bangladesh.

An extensive iodine deficiency disorders survey was conducted in Bangladesh in 1993 to assess the latest iodine nutriture status of the country. The clinical variables of the survey were goitre and cretinism, and the biochemical variable was urinary iodine. The "EPI-30 cluster" sampling methodology was followed for selecting the survey sites. In each survey site, the study population consisted of boys and girls, aged 5-11 years, and men and women, aged 15-44 years, in about equal populations. The total number of survey sites was 78 and the total number of respondents was 30,072. The total number of urine samples was 4512 (15% sub-sample). The current total goitre rate (grade 1 + grade 2) in Bangladesh is 47.1% (hilly, 44.4%; flood-prone, 50.7%; and plains, 45.6%). The prevalence of cretinism in the country is 0.5% (hilly, 0.8%; flood-prone, 0.5%; and plains, 0.3%). Nearly 69% of Bangladeshi population have biochemical iodine deficiency (urinary iodine excretion [UIE] < 10 mg/dl) (hilly, 84.4; flood-prone, 67.1%; and plains 60.4%). Women and children are more affected that men, in terms of both goitre prevalence and UIE. The widespread severe iodine deficiency in all ecological zones indicates that the country as a whole is an iodine-deficient region. Important recommendations of global interest are made from the experience of the survey.

Rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever.

A total of 101 cases of rheumatic diseases collected during a period of six months from a hospital population have been analysed. These did not include rheumatic fever. Paediatric age group up to age of 12 years was not included in the series. Rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be the commonest condition, constituting 60 cases. Cervical spondylosis was next in common (24 cases). Ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis constituted nine and six cases respectively. Emphasis has been laid on the bizarre manifestation of cervical spondylosis. The study, in spite of limitations throws some light on the relative frequency of rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever in Bangladesh.

Rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever.

A total of 101 cases of rheumatic diseases collected during a period of six months from a hospital population have been analysed. These did not include rheumatic fever. Paediatric age group up to age of 12 years was not included in the series. Rheumatoid arthritis has been found to be the commonest condition, constituting 60 cases. Cervical spondylosis was next in common (24 cases). Ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthritis constituted nine and six cases respectively. Emphasis has been laid on the bizarre manifestation of cervical spondylosis. The study, in spite of limitations throws some light on the relative frequency of rheumatic diseases other than rheumatic fever in Bangladesh.