Resource® Support(TM) has been specifically designed to help improve patients' quality of life and improve their tolerance of cancer treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer show that there were an estimated 2.6 million new cases of cancer in Europe in 1995, and around 1.6 million deaths from cancer. After adjusting for differing population age structures, overall incidence rates in men were highest in the Western European countries[1]. Lung cancer, with an estimated 377,000 cases, was the most common cancer in Europe in 1995. Together with cancers of colon and rectum (334,000), and female breast (321,000), the three cancers represented approximately 40% of new cases in Europe.
Data from the American Cancer Society suggest that 1.33 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2003. In men, cancers of the prostate, lung, colon and rectum, and urinary bladder will be diagnosed most often, whereas in women, cancers of the breast, lung, colon and rectum, and uterine will be diagnosed most often[2].
Weight loss is common in patients with cancer, particularly those with solid tumors. Up to 20% of cancer patients are thought to die from the effects of malnutrition alone rather than from the direct effects of their disease[3]. Even minor weight loss - as little as 5% - can affect the patient's response to therapy, lowering their chance of survival compared to patients who have not lost weight[4]. Clearly, the sooner that cancer patients can be helped to maintain or regain a healthy weight, the better is their long-term outlook.
Weight loss may be the result of mechanical obstruction, treatment side-effects, pain or malabsorption, which are typically seen in patients with head and neck, esophageal and intestinal tumors. But it may also be the result of a complex range of metabolic abnormalities that result in cancer cachexia, a syndrome characterized by muscle loss and symptoms such as anorexia, asthenia, and weight loss, from both fat and lean tissue.
Patients begin to show changes in the mass and function of a variety of organs that result in symptoms and signs such as weakness and anemia, all of which contribute to a reduction in the quality and duration of the patient's life.
Early nutritional intervention can help prevent the development of malnutrition and weight loss. But while conventional nutritional supplements may help to increase overall dietary intake they cannot tackle the underlying metabolic disorders that lead to cachexia and its characteristic loss of muscle mass[5].
The formulation of Resource® Support(TM) is based on the latest understanding of these metabolic abnormalities. It is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). In addition, it contains a high level of proteins, essential amino acids and vitamin E.
These nutrients have been shown to improve rates of protein synthesis, while the carefully selected nutrient blend is known to limit the magnitude of cachectic metabolic abnormalities and to support immune responses.
Dr Carmen Gomez Candela, Head of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department, la Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain, said "Early and continued use of specialized nutrition such as Resource® Support(TM) will allow the oncology team to help patients gain weight, optimize nutritional support and tackle the detrimental effects of malnutrition on patients' responses to standard therapies and their well being."
She added that, "specialized nutritional support should be viewed as a cornerstone of weight management for patients with solid tumors who have cachexia or are at risk of developing it."
Delegates heard from Dr Mike Tisdale, Professor of Pharmacology, Ashton University, Birmingham, UK, how the use of EPA has been shown to modulate the metabolic response to cancer induced weight loss.
Dr Robert Wolfe, Professor of Clinical Research, University of Texas, US. said "Certain amino acids are important in both normal metabolism and cachexia. In particular, essential amino acids such as leucine appear to be critical to stimulating protein synthesis."
Patients will find that Resource® Support(TM) is convenient and easy to use, offering a nutritionally complete medical food - prepared as a ready-to-use beverage designed to deliver calories, proteins and other specific nutrients quickly and efficiently.
Disclaimer
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements," relating to the Company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may now benefit" and "can help prevent," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding the potential development and commercialization of new products or regarding potential future sales from any such products. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the transactions that are the subject of this release will reach any particular sales levels. Any such sales can be affected by, among other things, regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection and competition in general, as well as factors discussed in the Company's Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.
Novartis Medical Nutrition offers a complete range of enteral (tube feeding) and oral nutrition products and devices tailored to the varying needs of patients and healthcare professionals. The product range encompasses supplements, which are taken orally, as well as other products administered through tube feeds and specific medical devices.
Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) is a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2002, the Group's businesses achieved sales of USD 20.9 billion and a net income of USD 4.7 billion. The Group invested approximately USD 2.8 billion in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 78 200 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com.
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Resource® Support(TM) is a registered trademarks of the Novartis Group
References
1. Bray F, Sankila R, Ferlay J, Parkin DM. Estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in Europe in 1995. Eur J Cancer 2002; 38: 99-166. Data available at http://www-dep.iarc.fr/europe95/frame3.htm
2. American Cancer Society. Cancer Statistics 2003. Available at www.cancer.org
3. Warren S. The immediate cause of death in cancer. Am J Med Sci 1932; 184: 610-3.
4. Dewys WD, Begg C, Lavin PT, et al. Prognostic effect of weight loss prior to chemotherapy in cancer patients. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Am J Med 1980; 69: 491-7.
5. Argilés J, Moore-Carrasco R, Fuster G, Busquets S, López-Soriano F. Cancer cachexia: the molecular mechanisms. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2003; 35(4): 405-9.
