Survey shows physicians recognize need for improved heart attack treatment
and may be unfamiliar with latest treatment guidelines
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PDL BioPharma, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PDLI) announced today that in a research survey of U.S.
cardiologists and emergency physicians, a considerable number (24%) were
unaware of current heart attack treatment guidelines, with a majority (61%)
believing that there is a significant opportunity to improve heart attack
treatment in the U.S. by improving patient education about early heart
attack symptoms and the need to expedite treatment to quickly restore blood
flow to the heart. The results of the survey, which was supported by the
company, were presented by W. Frank Peacock, M.D., Vice Chief of Emergency
Medicine Research at Cleveland Clinic, at the American College of Emergency
Physicians (ACEP) Scientific Assembly, taking place October 15-18 in New
Orleans, La.
"We found a lack of physician awareness of national treatment
guidelines in the U.S., which means many patients may not be receiving the
life-saving treatments they need in a timely manner," stated Dr. Peacock.
"The goal of heart attack management is to minimize damage to the heart
muscle caused by a lack of blood flow stemming from a clogged artery. Each
minute that ticks by without treatment translates to more damage,
disability and potential death. A systematic, coordinated approach to
restoring blood flow to the heart - either mechanically through a balloon
angioplasty or through clot-dissolving drug therapy when angioplasty is not
possible - is paramount to fixing the system. However, this will only occur
if patients learn to properly identify heart attack symptoms when they
arise and promptly call 9-1-1 and emergency physicians and cardiologists
overcome barriers to work together toward a solution."
The survey showed that a substantial percentage of the survey
participants (24% of emergency physicians and cardiologists) were not at
all familiar or only somewhat familiar with the 2004 American College of
Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for the
Management of Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). The
ACC/AHA guidelines focus largely on crucial timing needed to administer
both mechanical and pharmacological methods to restore blood flow to the
heart while causing as little damage to the patient as possible.
The STEMI guidelines recommend mechanical reperfusion via percutaneous
coronary intervention (PCI) if a patient can undergo the procedure within
90 minutes of establishing medical contact (known as the door-to-balloon
time). If it is deemed that a patient cannot undergo PCI within this
90-minute timeframe, the STEMI guidelines recommend pharmacologic
reperfusion via fibrinolytic therapy within 30 minutes (known as the
door-to-needle time).
Yet, according to more than half (53%) of the physicians surveyed,
fibrinolysis-eligible patients would only sometimes, rarely or never
receive a fibrinolytic when the time to PCI exceeds 90 minutes after
establishing medical contact. Nearly 70% of the physicians surveyed
reported that it is not realistic that STEMI patients can undergo PCI
within 90 minutes of medical contact, because in many cases, patients need
to be transferred from a non-PCI capable hospital to a PCI-capable
hospital. Further, according to one in five physicians, it is not realistic
that STEMI patients can undergo PCI within 90 minutes of medical contact
even when there is a PCI-capable lab at the initial hospital to which they
are transported or present themselves directly.
The company supported this survey as part of its commitment to
improving heart attack management in the U.S. The survey was conducted by
Harris Interactive(R).
About the Harris Interactive(R) Study
This study included interviews with 1,014 U.S. adults ages 18+ who are
physicians that either practice primarily in a hospital setting or have
admitting privileges at a hospital, including 505 cardiologists and 509
emergency medicine physicians. Data are weighted to be representative of
their respective populations: the total combined population of
cardiologists and emergency medicine physicians, as well as the individual
populations of cardiologists and emergency medicine physicians. The
sampling error for the total sample of cardiologists and emergency medicine
physicians (n=1,014) is +/- 3.4 percentage points. The sampling error for
the sample of cardiologists (n=505) is +/- 5.1 percentage points. The
sampling error for the sample of emergency medicine physicians (509) is +/-
4.6 percentage points. All surveys were conducted online between December 8
and December 16, 2005 and averaged 15 minutes in length. Respondents were
recruited using the AMA Master File. Potential physicians were mailed an
alert letter that included an URL link and individual password for the
survey.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market
research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights
and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions
which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris
Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest
running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market
research methods. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its
United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary
Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market
research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained
at http://www.harrisinteractive.com.
About PDL BioPharma
PDL BioPharma, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies for severe
or life- threatening illnesses. The company currently markets and sells a
portfolio of leading products in the acute-care hospital setting in the
United States and Canada and generates royalties through licensing
agreements with top-tier biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies based
on its pioneering antibody humanization technology. Currently, PDL's
diverse product pipeline includes investigational compounds in Phase 2 or
Phase 3 clinical development for inflammation and autoimmune diseases,
cardiovascular disorders and cancer. The company's research platform is
focused on the discovery and development of antibodies for the treatment of
cancer and autoimmune diseases. For more information, please see PDL's
website at http://www.pdl.com.
PDL BioPharma and the PDL BioPharma logo are considered trademarks of
PDL BioPharma, Inc.
SOURCE PDL BioPharma, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.pdl.com
CONTACT:
Ami Knoefler, Corporate and Investor
Relations, +1-510-284-8851 or ami.knoefler@pdl.com, or Jean
Suzuki, Product Communications, +1-510-574-1550 or
jean.suzuki@pdl.com, both of PDL BioPharma, Inc.
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