We thank Luca Berga, Christian Garavaglia and Nicola Lacetera for their invaluable contribution to the development of the model. We thank the Merck Foundation for its support through the Epris (European Pharmaceutical Regulation and Innovation Systems) Project. 2

In type 2 diabetes, impaired insulin signaling leads to hyperglycemia and other metabolic abnormalities. To study a new class of antidiabetic agents, we compared two small, nonpeptide molecules that activate insulin receptor (IR) beta-subunit tyrosine kinase activity: Merck L7, a direct IR agonist, and Telik's TLK16998, an IR sensitizer. In rat hepatoma cells (HTCs) that overexpress the IR (HTC...

NEW DRUGS Cervical Cancer Vaccine The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gardasil (Merck), the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18 for females nine to 26 years of age. This agent was evaluated and approved in six months under the FDA’s priority review proces...

Background. All elderly 65 years and older are recommended by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to receive pneumococcal vaccination, with a coverage goal of 90% per the Healthy People 2020 objectives. This study aimed to provide real-world data on pneumococcal vaccination coverage and factors associated with receiving pneumococcal vaccination in a large U.S. managed care eld...

STUDY QUESTION What is the impact of initiating GnRH antagonist co-treatment for in vitro fertilization (IVF) on cycle day (CD) 2 compared with CD 6 on live birth rate (LBR) per started cycle and on the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR)? SUMMARY ANSWER Early initiation of GnRH antagonist does not appear to improve clinical outcomes of IVF compared with midfollicular initiation. WHAT IS KNOW...

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a herpesvirus and is the causative agent of chicken pox (varicella) and shingles (herpes zoster). Active immunization against varicella became possible with the development of live attenuated varicella vaccine. The Oka vaccine strain was isolated in Japan from a child who had typical varicella, and it was then attenuated by serial passages in cell culture. Severa...