Clinical Research
Canadian Clinical Research
Clinical programs sponsored by Merck Frosst recruit from the best scientists and clinicians Canada has to offer.
Many Canadian researchers have contributed to the success story of SINGULAIR® (montelukast sodium). Canadian investigators from Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia recruited a significant number of patients in an international pivotal trial involving 1800 asthmatic children and adults(1). Another example is the team led by Dr. E. Pizzichini of the Asthma Research Group at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton which helped to define the link between clinical effect and airway physiology by demonstrating that SINGULAIR® decreased eosinophilic inflammation(2). Focusing on clinical efficacy, the Bronchology Unit at the Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Laval, led by Dr. M. Laviolette, participated in an international program which showed that SINGULAIR® provided significant clinical benefits in addition to inhaled beclomethasone(3).
McMaster University in Hamilton has conducted a number of studies on FOSAMAX® (alendronate sodium) over the years. A team which included Dr. J. Adachi completed a two-year safety and efficacy study of FOSAMAX® in the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis(4). Another group, led by Dr. K. Marshall, conducted an endoscopic study to assess the risk of gastric injury and ulceration with FOSAMAX®(5).
In the early 1990s, Canada marked a milestone with the Canadian Coronary Atherosclerosis Intervention Trial which demonstrated that MEVACOR® (lovastatin) could prevent a worsening of coronary artery stenosis(6).
Cardiovascular risks were also the focus of the PRISM trials with AGGRASTAT® (tirofiban HCl). Dr. P. Théroux of the Montréal Heart Institute led the PRISM-PLUS group, which found that the risk of death, myocardial infarction and refractory ischemia were reduced when patients with unstable angina or a subset of myocardial infarction used a combination of AGGRASTAT® and heparin(7).
References
- Described in Prix Galien 2000, pg 11
- Pizzichini E, Leff JA, Reiss TF, et al. Montelukast reduces airway eosinophilic inflammation in asthma: a randomized, controlled trial. Eur Respir J 1999 Jul;14(1):12-8.
- Laviolette M, Malmstrom K, Lu S et al. Montelukast added to inhaled beclomethasone in treatment of asthma. Montelukast/Beclomethasone Additivity Group. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999 Dec;160(6):1862-8
- Adachi JD, Saag KG, Delmas PD, et al. Two-year effects of alendronate on bone mineral density and vertebral fracture in patients receiving glucocorticoids: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled extension trial. Arthritis Rheum 2001 Jan;44(1):202-11.
- Marshall JK, Rainsford KD, James C, Hunt RH. A randomized controlled trial to assess alendronate-associated injury of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Ailment Pharmacol Ther 2000 Nov;14(11):1451-7.
- Waters D, Higginson L, Gladstone P, et al. Effects of monotherapy with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on the progression of coronary atherosclerosis as assessed by serial quantitative arteriography. The Canadian Coronary Atherosclerosis Intervention Trial. Circulation 1994;89:959-968.
- Théroux P, Alexander J Jr, Pharand C, et al. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade improves outcomes in diabetic patients presenting with unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: results from the Platelet Receptor Inhibition in Ischemia Syndrome Management in Patients Limited by Unstable Signs and Symptoms (PRISM-PLUS) study. Circulation 2000 Nov 14;102(20):2466-72.
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