Daridorexant, a Recently Approved Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonists (DORA) in Treatment of Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the major challenges in medical science nowadays as it leads to great socio-economic burden by impairing daytime function as well as the development of exhaustion, depression, and memory disturbance in affected individuals. Several important classes of drugs have been tried, including the BZDs and non-BZD hypnotics. Available drugs to combat this disease have the limitations of abuse potential, tolerance, and cognitive impairment. In some instances, withdrawal symptoms have been observed upon the abrupt cessation of those drugs. The Orexin system has been very recently targeted as a therapeutic option to overcome those limitations. Treatment of insomnia with Daridorexant as a Dual Orexin Receptor Antagonist (DORA) has been evaluated in several preclinical and clinical studies. Available information obtained from those studies has shown a promising future for this drug in the management of insomnia. Beyond its effectiveness in insomnia, it has been successfully used in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea, chronic obstructed airway disease (COAD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. Larger studies need to address the safety issues as well as obtain robust pharmacovigilance information to safeguard the risk-benefit aspect of this drug in insomniac adults.

Cefiderocol: A new Antimicrobial for Complicated Urinary Tract Infection (CUTI) Caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

The incidence of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative (CRGNB) bacterial infections has increased globally. The wide diversity of strains, multiplicity of infections, and rapid development and spread of resistance are a matter of great concern both in community and hospital settings. Cefiderocol is a novel injectable siderophore containing cephalosporin with potent microbicidal activity against most carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). It has recently been approved by USFDA for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) caused by susceptible gram-negative microorganisms. This review focuses on the salient pharmacological profile of the drug and the clinical studies that were undertaken. Cefiderocol is first in class injectable siderophore cephalosporin showing potency against carbapenem- resistant Enterobacteriaceae. It has recently been approved by US FDA for the treatment of adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) caused by susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms, where there are limited or no alternative treatment options.

Hypertension Clinical Practice Guidelines (ISH, 2020): What Is New?

OBJECTIVE

In May 2020, the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) published "Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension." The ISH 2020 guidelines were developed based on evidence criteria (i) to be used globally, (ii) to be fit for application in low-middle-income and high-income settings, and (iii) to be concise, simple, and easy to use by clinicians, nurses, and community health workers, as appropriate. The defined purpose was to adhere to the current evidence and develop a balanced proposal for global use in line with the ISH mission.

METHODOLOGY

Multiple novel approaches have been included keeping in mind about lifestyle modification and flexibility in treatment options.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The ISH 2020 guidelines are practical and physician friendly. It also proves immensely helpful for low-resource countries without national guidelines on the management of hypertension.

Will controlled release mebeverine be able to surpass placebo in treatment of diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by abdominal pain-discomfort and altered bowel habits. The IBS-diarrhoea predominant subtype (IBS-D) is defined as >25% of bowel movements representing type 6 or 7 of the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Management of IBS-D is mainly symptomatic, including lifestyle modification. Due to absence of standard treatment, multiple drugs are used. A controlled release (CR) form of mebeverine, recommended for spasmodic gastrointestinal disorders (including IBS) has recently been introduced in Indian market. We have conducted a placebo-controlled double blind randomized controlled trial [CTRI/2018/03/012897] to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this product.

METHODS

40 patients of IBS-D were recruited from medicine out-patient department (OPD) of a tertiary care hospital and randomized to two parallel groups. One received mebeverine 200 mg CR tablets twice daily for 8 weeks, while other received matching placebo. Outcome parameters were number of bowel movements per day over past 7 days (NoBM7d), severity of abdominal cramps and IBS quality of life (IBSQoL) score. Medication adherence record and treatment emergent adverse events were captured.

RESULTS

Mebeverine group showed modest but statistically significant improvement in NoBM7d, cramps and IBSQoL from baseline to 4 and 8 weeks. The changes within the placebo group were not statistically significant. Also, the intergroup differences at both 4 and 8 weeks were not statistically significant. Adherence was better in mebeverine group and both interventions were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Mebeverine 200 mg CR twice daily has modest effect in IBS-D and therefore will not be a good choice for patients with severe symptoms.

Effect of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 supplementation on pain relief in early rheumatoid arthritis

Background:

To assess effect of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 supplementation on pain relief in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials and Methods:

An open-labeled randomized trial was conducted comparing 60,000 IU 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 + calcium (1000 mg/day) combination [Group A] versus calcium (1000 mg/day) only [Group B], as supplement to existing treatment regimen in early RA. Primary outcome included (i) minimum time required for onset of pain relief (Tm) assessed through patients’ visual analog scale (VAS); (ii) % change in VAS score from onset of pain relief to end of 8 weeks. Secondary outcome included change in disease activity score (DAS-28).

Results:

At the end of 8-weeks, Group A reported 50% higher median pain relief scores (80% vs. 30%; P < 0.001) and DAS-28 scores (2.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.1 ± 0.4; P = 0.012) compared to Group B; however, Tm remained comparable (19 ± 2 vs. 20 ± 2 days; P = 0.419). Occurrence of hypovitaminosis-D was lower (23.3%) compared to Indian prevalence rates and was a risk factor for developing active disease (Odds Ratio (OR) = 7.52 [95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.67–21.16], P < 0.0001). Vitamin D deficiency was significantly (P < 0.001) more common in female gender, active disease, and shorter mean disease duration. Vitamin D levels were inversely correlated to disease activity as assessed by DAS-28 (r = –0.604; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Vitamin-D deficiency is a risk factor for developing active disease in RA. Weekly supplementation of 60,000 IU of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D3 in early RA results in greater pain relief. The number needed to treat for this additional pain relief was 2.

Identifier:

CTRI/2018/01/011532 (www.ctri.nic.in).