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Fish-oil-derived drug fails in massive final phase human trial

Food & Health

newatlas

Pharma company AstraZeneca has discontinued a large Phase 3 clinical trial into the efficacy of a fish-oil-derived drug called Epanova. The drug had been previously approved by the FDA to treat patients with very high triglyceride levels but this trial was designed to establish the broader use of the drug as an adjunct to conventional statin therapy for heart disease.

Fish-oil-derived drug fails in massive final phase human trial

A variety of studies in recent years have reported mixed results for omega-3 fish oil supplements effectively reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. A massive metastudy in 2018 found no evidence that omega-3 supplementation conferred protective benefits against coronary heart disease or reduced all-cause mortality.

Several pharmaceutical companies have been working to show that certain fatty acids found in fish oil can be purified, concentrated, and turned into targeted medicines. In December 2019 a drug called Vascepa was approved by the FDA for broader cardiovascular treatments after an advisory panel recommended its efficacy as an adjunctive treatment to regular statin therapy.

Vascepa is a purified concentrated form of one particular fatty acid found in fish oil, called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Epanova, on the other hand, is a combination of EPA and a second omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Both drugs have been previously approved by the FDA to only treat patients with very high trigliceride levels. The race had been on for several years to complete larger clinical trials in the hopes of gaining official approval for the drugs to be used more broadly as a heart disease treatment.

The failure of Epanova in this large Phase 3 trial comes after an independent data monitoring committee evaluated the data following over 13,000 patients. The trial, called STRENGTH, spanned 22 countries and was investigating Epanova’s efficacy in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in association with statin therapy, compared to a placebo.

The full trial data is promised to be presented at a future medical meeting. It has been suggested that the addition of DHA in Epanova could be what was compromising its efficacy, explaining why Vascepa’s simple EPA formulation has been successful while this similar fish-oil-derived formulation has failed.

“The academic leadership of the STRENGTH trial is obviously disappointed in this result, but we are very proud to have had the opportunity to answer this important scientific question,” says Steven Nissen, Study Chair of the STRENGTH trial. “We are also grateful for the opportunity to conduct the STRENGTH trial as an exemplary collaboration between academic physicians and industry.”

Article Original Source : https://newatlas.com/health-wellbeing/fish-oil-drug-fails-epanova-cardiovas...

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5 air-purifying indoor plants that are great alternatives to modern-day air purifiers

Food & Health

Timesnownews

Air pollution in Delhi gets worse around Diwali and these 5 air-purifying plants can reduce the pollution levels inside your room significantly. They are great alternatives to expensive air purifiers.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Indoor plants are not just used for home decor but they can also be used to clean the air inside your house

• From spider plant to money plant, these 5 indoor plants are great natural air purifiers

Every year, around Diwali, air pollution gets worse. This year, the impact was mostly felt in Delhi and its neighbouring cities. The sky is covered with smog, there is minimal to no visibility, schools are shut and hospitals are overcrowded – that's what the situation is like in the capital. From stubble burning to cracker burning, a lot of factors contribute to air pollution.

However, there are a few ways that can help you improve the condition. From air purifiers to masks to salt lamps, there are a ton of ways to purify the air around you. But we will discuss possibly the most effective solution – air-purifying indoor plants.

Indoor plants are not just used for home decor but they can also be used to clean the air inside your house. According to a flower-selling company, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the orders of indoor plants post the festive season.

5 best air-purifying plants:

Money Plant - Money plant is able to absorb chemical toxins from the air such as toluene, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene and it also releases fresh oxygen to breathe.

Peace Lily - This plant is one of the best indoor plants for air purification. It can break down and neutralize toxic gases found in the air such as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and benzene.

Snake Plant - Snake Plant is a hardy succulent. This plant removes toxins from the air, such as xylene, formaldehyde, toluene, and nitrogen dioxide while releasing moisture and oxygen in the air.

Areca Palm - Areca Palm is amazing for eliminating toxins from the air while adding beauty to your abode. This plant absorbs poisonous gases, such as carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air.

Spider Plant - According to several studies, spider plant has the ability to remove formaldehyde from the air and it also removes harmful contaminants from the air, such as ammonia and benzene.

Article Original Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/trending/article/5-air-purifying-ind...