2004-05-28
AREZZOr powers new interactive anaemia guideline
InferMed, the UK’s leading provider of clinical decision support software and services, announces yet another success for its unique AREZZO® decision support technology. AREZZO® has been used in conjunction with InferMed's MACRO electronic data collection software to create a leading edge computer-based anaemia management programme for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies - Roche. The programme is part of the ORAMA project (Optimal Renal Anaemia Management Assessment) launched by Roche at the European Dialysis and Transplant Association meeting in Lisbon last week (see Roche Press Release below).
InferMed's Clinical Director, Dr. Robert Dunlop, said, “The programme will collect data about the effectiveness of the new European anaemia management guidelines, just like a standard clinical trial. Uniquely, it will also provide advice from the guideline that is customised for the individual patient. I believe that this project shows the way forward in implementing national and international guidelines and integrated care pathways”.
ORAMA is the second decision support system that InferMed has created for Roche, the first in HIV prescribing, RetroGram™, has already shown the benefit that can be achieved with such technology. (see www.retrogram.com and www.hivandhepatitis.com/recent/test/101100a.html )
AREZZO® is a generic technology which is being used to develop guidelines and integrated care pathways with expert groups in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US.
EDITOR’S NOTES:
InferMed LimitedInferMed (www.infermed.com) is a privately held company spun out from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in 1999 (Cancer Research UK continues to hold a 24% stake). Based in central London, InferMed is focused on providing software and services that enable investigators and patients to research into and apply best available clinical practice. InferMed operates in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, the not-for-profit clinical research and healthcare sectors.
AREZZO is a registered trademark of InferMed Limited RetroGram is a trademark of F.Hoffmann-La Roche Limited
Roche Launches Innovative New Computer-Based Anaemia Management Programme (ORAMA)
LISBON, Portugal, May 17 /PRNewswire/
- ORAMA will help physicians adopt new European renal anaemia guidelines
Roche announced the launch of a state of the art computer-based anaemia management programme - ORAMA. ORAMA has been developed to help physicians follow the new European renal anaemia guidelines which will ultimately improve patients' lives. The launch of ORAMA (Optimal Renal Anaemia Management Assessment) coincides with the announcement of the latest European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG) for the management of renal anaemia at the ongoing EDTA (European Dialysis and Transplant Association) meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.(1)
Leading nephrologist Dr Iain MacDougall, of King's College Hospital, London, UK said "ORAMA has the potential to optimise the implementation of the new renal anaemia guidelines whenever physicians make treatment decisions for their patients. This new user-friendly system will ease physicians' workload and enhance patient care."
This programme further demonstrates Roche's commitment to improving the management of anaemia and optimising patient care. John Michailidis, Roche's Global Head of Anaemia stated: "ORAMA is all about providing physicians with an innovative tool that will support clinical decision-making in line with the new guidelines - ultimately we believe that this will lead to better treatment of anaemia and better overall care of patients suffering from this debilitating condition."
The ORAMA computer-based programme is accompanied by a unique pan-European clinical study which will involve in the first phase 500 patients with chronic kidney disease who have been referred for dialysis, haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and will roll out through 100 centres in 10 European countries. The evaluation study will observe patient outcomes when best practice guidelines are followed and contribute to the further optimization of these guidelines. ORAMA is the brainchild of Roche, makers of NeoRecormon
(R) (epoetin beta) a recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) used for the treatment of renal anaemia in pre-dialysis and dialysis patients. NeoRecormon can be administered as either an intravenous or subcutaneous injection.
Subcutaneous NeoRecormon is recommended by the European Best Practice Guidelines as it achieves the same therapeutic effect as intravenous administration with a lower dose requirement, and with the added benefit that it can be administered once a week or once every two weeks.(2) The once weekly subcutaneous administration is as safe and effective at maintaining target haemoglobin/haematocrit levels as more frequent dosing schemes.(2),(3) In addition, it may improve hypertension control.(4) Moreover, NeoRecormon can be self-administered by patients, and treatment can therefore continue without the need for clinic visits.
Anaemia is responsible for a significant proportion of the disabling symptoms in patients with chronic kidney disease, including decreased sexual function, anorexia, and the development of heart problems.(5) At least 30% of diabetic patients have some degree of kidney damage and are at risk of developing renal anaemia and potentially fatal cardiac complications.(6) The World Health Organisation estimates that there are approximately 150 million people worldwide who suffer from diabetes, a figure that is likely to double by 2025.
References: (1). Locatelli F Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation 2004; 19 [Suppl 2]: ii1 - ii47 (2). Locatelli F et al. Am J Kidney Dis 2002; 40: 119-125 (3). Weiss LG et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2000; 15; 2014-2019 (4). Navarro JF et al. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1995; 29: 11-14 (5). Drueke TB Clinical Nephrology 1999;51:1-11 (6). Viberti GC Diabetic Medicine 1996; 13: S6-12. Roche in anaemia
Anaemia occurs when erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells, is disturbed. Diseases of the kidney often result in impaired production of erythropoietin leading to anaemia. Anaemia in cancer patients may be related to the disease itself or the effect of concomitant chemotherapy.
In the field of anaemia therapy, NeoRecormon (epoetin beta) is Roche's leading treatment for patients with kidney disease and cancer with over one million patient years of experience. Patients who are anaemic and who have renal disease or cancer benefit from treatment with NeoRecormon because it helps give back the energy they need to make a real difference in their everyday life.
In addition, Roche is developing the first Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator (CERA) for global commercialisation in renal and cancer related anaemia. CERA is a distinct molecule with a unique mechanism of action which promises to deliver rapid, sustained and stable correction of anaemia.
(R) NeoRecormon is a registered trademark of F. Hoffman-La Roche and is legally protected. All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and research and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.
