To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: New Arthritis Treatment Aimed at Active Baby Boomers URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/19812.htm Doctor's Guide January 28, 1997
TORONTO, Jan. 28, 1997-- During the next 20 years, as the baby boom generation ages, the number of people with arthritis is expected to increase by more than two million people, or 50 per cent over current national levels. Although arthritis can strike anyone at any time, research indicates that the chance of developing some forms of the disease increases with age. In fact, the possibility of having chronic arthritis for a 50 year old can be almost four times that of the same person at 40. This year, Canada's 9.8 million baby boomers begin to turn 50, the age at which the signs and symptoms of some forms of arthritis commonly begin to appear. In response to the growing need for new arthritis medications for Canada's largest demographic group, the baby boomers, Searle Canada, a unit of Monsanto Canada Inc. today introduced Daypro(R), a once-daily nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent indicated for acute and chronic use in the relief of the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. At a media briefing to discuss the impact of arthritis on Canadian baby boomers -- Canadians born between 1947 and 1966 -- hockey legend Paul Henderson was joined by senior representatives of The Arthritis Society and a panel of medical experts. Mr. Henderson, now in his 50s, talked about the physical toll of his professional hockey career, and his commitment to staying active despite the recent appearance of joint pain commonly associated with arthritis. "Over the past few years, I've started to see the physical effects of more than 50 years of very active living," stated Paul Henderson, who scored Team Canada's winning goal in the 1972 Canada-Russia hockey series. "However, I've made a lifelong commitment to an active lifestyle, and like others in my age group, I am interested in options that allow me to maintain that lifestyle." Early Warning Signs In the next 20 years, Canadians born during the baby boom will move into their 50s and beyond. During that time, fully one-third of the Canadian population will begin to experience the effects of decades of wear and tear on their joints. Among these physical changes is often the development of osteoarthritis, a form of the disease marked by the deterioration of the cartilage that acts as a cushion between bone ends. "On a practical level, joints may feel somewhat stiff upon waking, rings may no longer fit over swollen knuckles, and people may notice `new' pain associated with everyday activities," noted Dr. Eric Babins, a Calgary-based family physician and team doctor for Canada's national hockey team. "While people committed to an active lifestyle may not realize it at first, these are the early warning signs of developing arthritis." Different Treatments for Different Needs To relieve the signs and often debilitating symptoms associated with arthritis, persons with the disease most commonly take some form of NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), the treatment class to which Daypro(R) belongs. However, the treatment needs for every person with arthritis are unique, and no one treatment provides the same effect in all people. "People respond very differently to each type of NSAID," stated Dr. Carter Thorne, a rheumatologist from York County Hospital in Newmarket, Ontario and one of the clinical investigators involved in the Daypro(R) Phase IV clinical trial. "For example, a treatment that provides effective pain control for one person may not have the desired effect on another person. As well, an NSAID that produces an undesirable side-effect in one patient may be very effective in treating another person with similar symptoms." Although currently there are more than 20 different NSAIDs available in Canada, recent research indicates that both physicians and patients are seeking more options. "Searle Canada has a long-term commitment to providing people with arthritis the best possible treatments and the best possible care," stated David Quail, general manager, Searle Canada. "We are supporting this commitment by introducing new treatment choices such as Daypro(R), which ensure that physicians and patients have access to a range of options to best meet their needs." Daypro(R) Shows Increased Pain Relief Searle Canada is currently conducting a clinical trial to further evaluate Daypro(R)'s ability to control arthritis pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. Entitled Comparison of Pain Scales in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Osteoarthritis Treated with Daypro(R), the study has been under way since September of 1996. To date, 50 general practitioners, rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons in sites across Canada have participated in the trial and currently 250 patients are enrolled. As the study continues to unfold, a total of 500 patients are expected to participate. Prior to beginning treatment with Daypro(R), patients' pain levels are assessed using a total of seven scientifically published pain-rating scales, including what many consider to be the medical community's `gold standard' for pain measurement, the McGill Pain Questionnaire. After one month of treatment with Daypro(R), pain levels are assessed again, and compared with the initial readings to determine changes. "One of the study's primary objectives is to determine Daypro(R)'s effectiveness in controlling the pain associated with arthritis, and the results to date have been quite promising," stated Dr. Thorne. "Throughout the trial period, Daypro(R) has shown to be a highly effective and well-tolerated way to treat arthritis pain." Arthritis: The Impact "More than four million Canadians currently suffer daily from some form of arthritis," stated Denis Morrice, president and chief executive officer, The Arthritis Society. "And that number is dramatically on the rise as Canada's largest population begins to turn 50 and starts showing the signs and symptoms of arthritis." Arthritis and related disorders currently cost the Canadian economy nearly five billion dollars a year, only slightly less than similar costs associated with cancer. These costs are expected to skyrocket as the number of people with age-related medical conditions, including arthritis, begins to rise. "As Canada faces the challenges of an aging population, the search for a cure for arthritis becomes more important on a daily basis," continued Mr. Morrice. "Until that cure is found, increased knowledge about arthritis and its treatment will be the key to helping Canada's baby boomers learn to live with this chronic and often debilitating disease." The Arthritis Society is Canada's only not-for-profit organization devoted solely to funding and promoting arthritis research, patient care and public education. Its mission is to search for the underlying causes and subsequent cures for arthritis, and to promote the best possible care and treatment for people with arthritis. Detailed information about arthritis and its treatment can be found on The Arthritis Society's Web site at www.arthritis.ca. A leader in the field of arthritis pharmaceutical products, Searle Canada has provided quality health care products to Canadians for more than 45 years. A research-based pharmaceutical company committed to furthering health education in Canada, Searle Canada is an operating unit of Monsanto Canada Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. 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