Wyeth contests NEJM hormone therapy report

Following the publication of a report in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) suggesting that a drop in hormone therapy could result in a drop in the incidence of breast cancer, Wyeth has urged readers to be sceptical of this conclusion.

Wyeth contends that the report, based on data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (Seer) database of the National Cancer Institute, could cause “confusion” among readers.

The firm comments that while showing a drop in the incidence of breast cancer with a decline in hormone therapy between 2002 and 2003, the data also showed a levelling off in this drop in 2004, despite a further 20 per cent drop in hormone therapy prescriptions.

Furthermore, Seer data showed a decline in other cancers, including those that do not respond to oestrogen, while the database also does not take into account other factors including lifestyle and medicine use.

Joseph Camardo, senior vice-president of global medical affairs at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, said: “The hypothesis put forth in this report does not change what we know about hormone therapy, which is based on data from numerous, more rigorous studies, including the Women’s Health Initiative.”

He added that randomised clinical trials provide investigators with higher quality evidence regarding the potential benefits and risks involved in hormone therapy.

Earlier this month, Wyeth commented on the an analysis of data from clinical trials showing that women beginning hormone therapy close to menopause do not increase their risk of contracting coronary heart disease.