Bosutinib: Valuable therapeutic option for the Bulgarian market.

AIM OF STUDY: This review aims to highlight that bosutinib represents a valuable alternative for patients already treated unsuccessfully with one or more other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with a specific genetic abnormality resulting in a fusion protein with an active tyrosine kinase region. Therefore, TKIs were developed as a suitable treatment option. METHODS: Full-text articles, abstracts, and meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of the five TKIs were included in the review. Efficacy of these enhanced therapies is estimated on the basis of achievement of a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and this outcome is an important goal as a surrogate marker for improved survival. RESULTS: Bosutinib's efficacy is comparable to that of imatinib in the first-line setting and with dasatinib and nilotinib as second-line therapy, while its safety profile is distinctly different. Most therapeutic guidelines for CML recommend an initiation of therapy with imatinib and application of dasatinib and nilotinib as subsequent lines. CONCLUSION: Bosutinib is generally not recommended despite its demonstrated efficacy and manageable toxicity. However, resistance, intolerance, specific mutations, as well as disease progression are often the reasons for the lack of sufficient response to therapy registered by the lower rates or complete absence of CCyR. Treatment options are limited for these patients.

Comparative analysis of therapeutic efficiency and costs (experience in Bulgaria) of oral antidiabetic therapies based on glitazones and gliptins.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a serious, chronic, progressive and widespread disease. Metformin is the most commonly prescribed initial therapy, but combination with other antidiabetic agents usually becomes necessary due to the progression of the disease. Pioglitazone is recommended as a second-line therapy because of its strong antihyperglycemic effect and its ability to reduce insulin resistance. Treatment with pioglitazone is associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular complications and hypoglycemia, while simultaneously improving the lipid profile and the symptomatic and histological changes in the liver. Gliptins (sitagliptin and vildagliptin) are a new class of oral antidiabetic drugs which reduce glycated hemoglobin by a different mechanism. Although the efficacy of sitagliptin and vildagliptin is close to that of pioglitazone, the lack of long-term safety data and the higher price question their predominant use. The objective of this review is to highlight the advantages of mono- and combination therapy with pioglitazone in comparison with gliptins and to underline the inconsistencies in the medicinal and reimbursement policy in Bulgaria.