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Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Disease Topic Overview

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the diagnosis, treatment and/or disease prevention which complements mainstream medicine. CAM contributes to a common whole by satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy, or by diversifying the conceptual frameworks of medicine.¹ This area of medicine has benefited from a gradual recognition in Europe since the 1990’s.²

The use of CAM has dramatically increased worldwide over the past twenty years.³ In the countries of the European Union, for which statistics are available, CAMs are used by 20-50% of the population.² This means that currently more than 100 million Europeans use CAM.³ Therapies most commonly used in Europe are; homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, anthroposophical medicine, naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, osteopathy and chiropracty.³ However, the recognition and the using of these practices differ widely between European countries.³

CAM is increasingly used in parallel with traditional therapies in the treatment of chronic diseases, in particular in treating patients with cancer.⁴ Faced with an increased usage of CAM, several articles point out the importance of educating both patients, and more importantly, health professionals.^5,6 It is essential that doctors can discuss the role of CAM therapies with their patients in a non-judgmental and open manner, and endeavor to provide accurate information in order to allow patients to make an informed decision.⁵

Unfortunately, little scientific data resulting from tests are available to measure the effectiveness, safety techniques and products of CAM.³ The recognition of CAM can therefore be achieved through scientific validation of the practices involved², and the implementation of a clear regulatory framework for these practice and marketing of associated products.³

1. Beers M.H. et al. The Merck manual of medical information. Merck research laboratories. Second home edition. 2003, 1704-1707.
2. Parlement européen. Rapport du 16 mars 1997 sur le statut des médecines non conventionnelles. Commission de l'environnement, de la santé publique et de la protection des consommateurs. PE 216.066 - A4-0075/97.
3. EICCAM : European Information Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. November 2008. Booklet available online.
4. Tovey P. et al. Oncologists’ and specialist cancer nurses’ approaches to complementary and alternative medicine and their impact on patient action. Social Science & Medicine. June 2007 ; 64 (12) : 2550-2564.
5. Molassiotis A. et al. Complementary and alternative medicine use in colorectal cancer patients in seven European countries. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. December 2005 ; 13 (4) : 251-257.
6. Scott J.A. et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with cancer: A UK survey. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. June 2005 ; 9 (2) : 131-137.

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MOVIPREP Orange, powder for oral solution

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Latest Journal Publications

Birth

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine is increasingly prevalent in contemporary Western societies. The objective of this study was to explore trends and patterns in complementary and alternative medicine practitioner consultations and the use of complementary and alternative medicine consumption before, during, and after pregnancy and between pregnancies. Methods: Analysis focused on data from 13,961 women from the younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health collected between 1996 and 2006. Chi-square tests were employed for the cross-sectional analysis of categorical variables and t tests for continuous variables. Generalized estimating equations were used to conduct multivariate longitudinal analysis. Results: Complementary and alternative medicine use among pregnant and nonpregnant women continued to increase over the 10-year period. Although pregnancy status was not predictive of the use of alternative treatments, pregnant women employed these therapies or modalities for the relief of pregnancy-related complaints and symptoms. Analysis also revealed that women used complementary and alternative treatments selectively during pregnancy. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further research that is sensitive to the consumption of specific complementary and alternative therapies or modalities and to the wider contexts within which women perceive risk associated with their use of complementary and alternative treatments.

Rhematology

Objective: To critically evaluate the evidence regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) taken orally or applied topically (excluding fish oil) in the treatment of RA. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of RA using CAMs, in comparison with other treatments or placebo, published in English up to August 2010, were eligible for inclusion. They were identified using systematic searches of bibliographic databases and manual searching of reference lists. Information was extracted on outcomes and statistical significance, in comparison with alternative treatments, and reported side effects. The methodological quality of the primary studies was determined using the Jadad scoring system. Results: Reported RCTs were available for 18 CAMs in the management of RA. There was no consistent evidence available for any of the reviewed substances to suggest that they were efficacious as complementary medicines to standard treatment. Nevertheless, the studies conducted on borage seed oil (n = 2) and thunder god vine (n = 3) have been positive and may warrant further investigation. Not all CAM compounds studied were free of major adverse effects. Conclusion: The major limitation in reviewing the evidence for CAMs is the paucity of RCTs in the area. The available evidence does not support their current use in the management of RA.

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23^rd February 2012

NX 1207 (Recordati/Nymox) starts Phase III trial for BPH Men's Health, Andrology and Urology Page

Recordati and Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation announced the start of activities aimed to the preparation of a European Phase III clinical trial for NX-1207, following the successful completion of a Scientific Advice meeting with the European Medicines Agency. NX-1207, is a Phase III investigational drug from Nymox and is currently in clinical development in the United States for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The pivotal controlled clinical trial will assess the efficacy and safety of a single TRUS-guided intraprostatic injection of NX-1207 in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with BPH not adequately controlled by medical therapy.The drug is injected by a urologist in an office setting directly into the zone of the prostate where the enlargement occurs and involves little or no pain or discomfort. NX-1207 has successfully completed a series of blinded controlled multi-center U.S. clinical trials where a single dose of NX-1207 has been found to improve the signs and symptoms of BPH, with improvements about double those reported for currently approved BPH drugs, and without the side effects associated with those drugs, which can include sexual problems and blood pressure changes. Follow-up studies have shown evidence of long lasting benefit with a significant proportion of men reporting maintained improvement in BPH symptoms without other treatments for up to 7½ years.

Zelboraf (Daiichi Sankyo/Roche) is EU approved for BRAFV600 mutation Metastatic Melanoma Page

Plexxikon Inc., a member of Daiichi Sankyo Group,has announced that the European Commission has approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for the monotherapy treatment of adult patients with BRAFV600 mutation-positive unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma. The cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test, a companion diagnostic used to identify patients with the BRAF mutation, is CE marked and commercially available in Europe. Zelboraf is designed to selectively inhibit the BRAF mutation that occurs in about half of all cases of melanoma. Zelboraf and its companion diagnostic have already been approved in the United States, Switzerland, Israel, Brazil, New Zealand and Canada. In the United States, Zelboraf is being co-promoted by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Roche promotes Zelboraf outside of the United States.

CHMP recommends Pixuvri (CTI Life Sciences) for Non Hodgkin's B-cell Lymphoma Oncology Page

The CHMP has given a conditional recommendation for the approval of Pixuvri (pixantrone dimaleate) from CTI Life Sciences for relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin’s B-cell Lymphoma. The drug application at the FDA was withdrawn as additional information was requested. The drug is now scheduled to be considered at the FDA Advisory Comitteee meeting in April 2012.