New Medicines Offer Hope To African-Americans (NAPSA)—There’s good news for membersof the African-Ameri- can community who are at risk for op asthma, diabetes and sickle-cell disease. New medicines are being developed by America’s pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies to help fight these and other diseases of particular concern to African-Americans. Asthma—African-Americans have higher asthma rates than any other racial and ethnic group in the United States and are three times more likely to die from asthma than are whites, according to the American LungAssociation. One new medicine now being developed represents a new generation of inhaled corticosteroids. The medicine is intended to reduce inflammation in the lungs and airways. Breast cancer—African- American women are 10 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer but are 35 percent morelikely to die from the disease according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Minority Health. Anew medicine in the pipeline for breast cancer targets the Bel-2 protein. By reducing the amount of this protein in cancercells, the medicine may enhancethe effectiveness of chemotherapy. Diabetes—African-Americans are nearly two times morelikely to have diabetes than whites, according to the American Diabetes Association. A recent survey by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) reveals that one medicine now in development has been shown to improve both longterm glycemic control and the imbalance between insulin and glucose that causes type 2 diabetes. New medicines are being developed to address a numberof diseases of particular concern to African-Americans. Prostate cancer—African- American men are nearly 2.5 times aslikely to die from prostate cancer as compared to white men, according to the HHS Office of Minority Health. Several vaccines are currently being studied as possible treatments for cancer. One potential vaccine has tripled the survival rate of men with advanced prostate cancer inclinicaltrials. Sickle-cell disease—An inher- ited disorder, sickle-cell disease can clog the blood vessels, depriving the patient of oxygen and often causing severe pain, progressive organ fail- ure and reducedlife span. One medicine now in development is designed to address a problem with the lining of the blood vessels. Studies suggest that this dysfunction mayplay role in sickle-cell disease and the vascular problems associated withit. To learn more about new medicines in development, visit PhRMA’s Website at www.PhRMA. org. If you are uninsured and financially struggling and need help paying for your medicines, visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at www.PPARx.org. If you want to learn patients are confronting and winning the battle against disease, visit www.sharingmiracles.com.
