The question is of great importance to purchasers because of the logistic and organisational considerations of early commencement. Now Eric Boersma and colleagues have repeated the meta-analysis using different criteria, and have come up with very different results. The results now indicate that earlier treatment produces greater benefits than earlier indicated. If they are, the challenge for purchasers will be to contract for care which can deliver very early reperfusion. However, health authorities may need to look at what is on the horizon - to see which new drugs are likely to make calls on their budgets in future years and plan ahead accordingly.
Some help is at hand, via networked information.
This has a concise summary of drugs newly approved by the FDA, organised by therapeutic area. For example Fertinex, a highly purified form of follicle stimulating hormone, was approved in September 1996. Much of this information is available because the Internet is a powerful way to market drugs, and the FDA recently held a meeting to discuss aspects of pharmaceutical promotion on the Net. NDA Pipeline is US oriented, but when looking for new drugs this may be an advantage. TI vaccine, cholesterol.