专家称Ru486将很快上市(English)
http://www.100md.com
2000年10月6日
Experts Say RU486 To Be Available Very Soon
By Kate Fodor
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - RU486, or mifepristone, the abortion drug that has just been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites), will become widely available to women very quickly, experts predicted during a press conference held by the drug's marketer, Danco Laboratories, on Thursday.
Danco plans to launch the drug under the tradename Mifeprex within about a month, and speakers at the briefing said that many doctors are poised to offer it to their patients as soon as it becomes available.
, 百拇医药
``If there's any silver lining to the long delay in getting this product to the American market, it's that many American physicians and other clinicians have had the opportunity to learn to use it,'' according to Columbia University's Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, who served as a principal investigator for the US trials of the drug.
A large number of physicians have gained experience in using mifepristone through their work on the trials, which enrolled about 2,000 women, Westhoff explained, while others have attended training programs held in anticipation of the approval.
, 百拇医药
Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that Planned Parenthood Centers will begin to provide mifepristone ``very soon.''
About 120 of the organization's more than 800 health centers will offer the drug as soon as it is launched ``and that number will continue to grow as we are able to train more people in more places to provide it,'' she said.
A recent survey conducted by the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association for abortion providers, found that about two thirds of the group's members will offer the drug when it becomes available, Vicky Saporta, NAF's executive director said.
, http://www.100md.com
``We expect that this number will continue to grow until nearly all, if not all, of our members will be offering the early option pill to women throughout the country,'' she said.
Before placing an order for Mifeprex with Danco's distributors, doctors must certify that they have read and understood materials about the drug, but no training program is required.
However, many doctors have chosen to enroll in courses on mifepristone. NAF has instructed more than 1,800 clinicians on the use of the drug at workshops and seminars over the past year, Saporta said.
, 百拇医药
Now that the drug has been approved, the federation will step up its training efforts, which are funded through a grant from Danco, she noted.
NAF also plans to play a role in alerting consumers about mifepristone and helping them to understand the new option. The group will launch a public service campaign in November and, through its existing toll-free hot line, will counsel women on the drug and provide referrals to qualified providers, Saporta added.
, 百拇医药
Both the cost of the drug and the level of reimbursement that will be provided by insurance companies are still up in the air. However, Danco is optimistic that at least some insurance coverage will be available for the procedure. ``We have been talking to major health maintenance organizations and those that have drug plans and provide financial support for pregnancy termination expect to provide Mifeprex,'' Danco Medical Director Dr. Richard Hausknecht said.
Mifepristone, which is approved for use for up to 7 weeks after the beginning of a woman's last menstrual period, is expected to increase patients' access to abortion services, as it can be used by doctors who are not trained to provide surgical abortions., http://www.100md.com
By Kate Fodor
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - RU486, or mifepristone, the abortion drug that has just been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites), will become widely available to women very quickly, experts predicted during a press conference held by the drug's marketer, Danco Laboratories, on Thursday.
Danco plans to launch the drug under the tradename Mifeprex within about a month, and speakers at the briefing said that many doctors are poised to offer it to their patients as soon as it becomes available.
, 百拇医药
``If there's any silver lining to the long delay in getting this product to the American market, it's that many American physicians and other clinicians have had the opportunity to learn to use it,'' according to Columbia University's Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, who served as a principal investigator for the US trials of the drug.
A large number of physicians have gained experience in using mifepristone through their work on the trials, which enrolled about 2,000 women, Westhoff explained, while others have attended training programs held in anticipation of the approval.
, 百拇医药
Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that Planned Parenthood Centers will begin to provide mifepristone ``very soon.''
About 120 of the organization's more than 800 health centers will offer the drug as soon as it is launched ``and that number will continue to grow as we are able to train more people in more places to provide it,'' she said.
A recent survey conducted by the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association for abortion providers, found that about two thirds of the group's members will offer the drug when it becomes available, Vicky Saporta, NAF's executive director said.
, http://www.100md.com
``We expect that this number will continue to grow until nearly all, if not all, of our members will be offering the early option pill to women throughout the country,'' she said.
Before placing an order for Mifeprex with Danco's distributors, doctors must certify that they have read and understood materials about the drug, but no training program is required.
However, many doctors have chosen to enroll in courses on mifepristone. NAF has instructed more than 1,800 clinicians on the use of the drug at workshops and seminars over the past year, Saporta said.
, 百拇医药
Now that the drug has been approved, the federation will step up its training efforts, which are funded through a grant from Danco, she noted.
NAF also plans to play a role in alerting consumers about mifepristone and helping them to understand the new option. The group will launch a public service campaign in November and, through its existing toll-free hot line, will counsel women on the drug and provide referrals to qualified providers, Saporta added.
, 百拇医药
Both the cost of the drug and the level of reimbursement that will be provided by insurance companies are still up in the air. However, Danco is optimistic that at least some insurance coverage will be available for the procedure. ``We have been talking to major health maintenance organizations and those that have drug plans and provide financial support for pregnancy termination expect to provide Mifeprex,'' Danco Medical Director Dr. Richard Hausknecht said.
Mifepristone, which is approved for use for up to 7 weeks after the beginning of a woman's last menstrual period, is expected to increase patients' access to abortion services, as it can be used by doctors who are not trained to provide surgical abortions., http://www.100md.com