Innovation in Prescription Medicines
The story of the development of prescription medicine is one of relentless innovation. Prescription drugs have a cascading effect on the general well-being of a society. By reducing mortality through the effective management of diseases and conditions, every Canadian can look forward to living longer and living better.
Pharmaceutical innovations not only improve longevity, they also have a positive impact on multiple aspects of daily life. This includes reduced physician and hospital visits and fewer invasive procedures. Pharmaceutical innovations also allow people suffering from chronic diseases and other illnesses to enjoy the activities of everyday living that would otherwise be reduced or impossible.
Longer, Healthier Lives
The cause-and-effect relationship between the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals and improvements in clinical outcomes is demonstrated in clinical trials.
For example, innovative medicines have contributed to reducing hospitalization rates for stomach ulcers. A surgical procedure called a vagotomy used to be considered the gold standard for treating ulcers. This once very common surgery meant a hospital stay which was costly and stressful for the patient. The advent of the drugs known as H2 antagonists (e.g. Tagamet and others) as well as proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Losec and others) combined with antibiotics has transformed ulcer therapy. What used to require surgery can now be treated by a family physician with a simple prescription.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reports that hospitalizations in Canada have declined relative to baseline measures in 1995–1996. (Search Keywords: CIHI, Canada, Hospitalization)
The trend toward reduced hospitalizations is multifactorial but the introduction of innovative pharmaceuticals has permitted outpatient treatment for conditions that previously required hospitalizations.
- The development of the TNF-α antagonists (e.g. Remicade and others) has allowed patients with severe forms of arthritis to continue to work and enjoy an improved quality of life with their families
- The CIHI publication Health Care in Canada 2009 notes a significant decline in the incidence of HIV/AIDS and AIDS related deaths in Canada. Deaths have declined from over 1000 per year in the early 1990’s to only 28 in 2007. This is more remarkable in light of the fact that HIV positive tests have remained constant since 2002 at about 2,500 per year. To what does the CIHI report attribute the reduction in deaths? “In large part the answer is better drugs”.
The innovative antiretrovirals and then the protease inhibitors have changed the prognosis for HIV/AIDS from a deadly disease into a chronic condition. STATSCAN reported that an estimated 65,040 Canadians in 2014 were living with HIV/AIDS a 30% increase from 2002.
Early screening, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment play an important role in reducing mortality rates attributed to specific diseases.
Canadians are living longer, and that is good. Living longer also means that diseases that did not affect our parents and grand-parents can become manifest as we age. Also, changes in society and the way we live can alter our health status.
The worrying trend in population obesity and early onset diabetes is an important example. Living longer and changes in society are reasons that research into the next generation of innovative medicines and vaccines must continue.
There are several aspects associated with the concept of living longer. To the general population, it means enjoying a healthy productive life for a longer period of time than our ancestors. However, to those suffering from a life-threatening disease, it means improved survival rates.