Formulary Watch |
All News - Page 134
ACIP recommends bacterial meningitis vaccine for at-risk infants
October 25, 2012
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the use of Meningococcal Groups C and Y and Haemophilus b Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine (MenHibrix, GlaxoSmithKline) in infants at increased risk for bacterial meningitis.
Mass. DPH finds multiple health, safety violations at NECC
October 24, 2012
Numerous health and safety violations related to the practice of pharmacy at the New England Compounding Center (NECC), Framingham, Mass. have been documented by investigators of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), according to Madeleine Biondolillo, MD, in a press conference Oct. 23
Investigational drugs to be studied for preventing Alzheimer's
October 23, 2012
Three investigational drugs will be studied in a worldwide clinical trial to determine whether they can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In people with inherited mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer’s, the study will seek to identify whether the drugs can improve Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and prevent the loss of cognitive function.
FDA approves perampanel as adjunctive treatment for partial-onset seizures in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older
October 23, 2012
FDA has approved perampanel (Fycompa, Eisai), an AMPA receptor antagonist, as an adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in patients aged 12 years and older who have epilepsy.
Look for meningitis symptoms beyond 6 weeks after contaminated steroid injections
October 22, 2012
meningitis, steroids, FDA, CDC, compounding
New recommendations issued for pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk adults
October 19, 2012
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated its recommendations for pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk adults.
Screening for those at high risk for T2DM does not reduce mortality within 10 years, study finds
October 19, 2012
Screening patients who are at high risk for diabetes does not reduce their all-cause, cardiovascular, or diabetes-related mortality within 10 years, according to a study published October 4 in The Lancet.
HRT can reduce risk of heart failure, heart attack in first 10 years following menopause
October 19, 2012
Women who take HRT for 10 years following menopause have a significantly reduced risk of mortality, heart failure, and heart attack without any increased risk of cancer, DVT, or stroke, a Danish study published on bmj.com showed.
FDA warns of serious blood disorder resulting from abuse of Opana ER
October 19, 2012
FDA has warned patients of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a serious blood disorder, resulting from misuse of oxymorphone hydrochloride extended-release tablet (Opana ER, Endo).
FDA confirms specific fungus associated with meningitis outbreak
October 19, 2012
FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirm that the fungus Exserohilum rostratum contaminated 1 of the 3 implicated lots of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80 mg/mL) from the New England Compounding Center (NECC), which the company recalled September 26.
FDA expands use of Actemra for earlier-stage arthritis
October 15, 2012
FDA has expanded the approved indication for tocilizumab (Actemra, Genentech) for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to 1 or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Social value of statins merits actions to broaden treatment, improve adherence, study finds
October 15, 2012
New evidence suggests that statins generate large survival and health benefits at the population level and shows that the social value of the survival gains are large and go predominantly to consumers, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Intranasal fentanyl spray benefits compared with oral agents for breakthrough cancer pain
October 12, 2012
Patients with breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) may want to consider intranasal fentanyl spray over oral agents to treat their breakthrough pain because of improved onset of analgesia and avoidance of nausea and vomiting, according to a report published online for The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
Resuming warfarin after GIB event decreases risk of thrombosis, death
October 12, 2012
Patients who experience a warfarin-associated gastrointestinal tract bleeding event should resume anticoagulation therapy during the 90 days following the event to decrease the risk of thrombosis and death, according to a study published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Combination therapy provides rapid sedation for acute agitation in ED
October 12, 2012
Use of concurrent sedating agents provides rapid sedation and reduces the need for resedation in acutely agitated patients, according to clinical trial results published online in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
FDA approves therapy for first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC
October 12, 2012
FDA has approved paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) (Abraxane, Celgene) for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in combination with carboplatin, in patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation therapy.
First universal medication labeling standards may lead to better adherence
October 11, 2012
With medication misuse resulting in more than 1 million adverse drug events per year in the United States, new standards released today by the U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention (USP) for the first time, provide a universal approach to the format, appearance, content, and language of instructions for medicines in containers dispensed by pharmacists.
FDA approves cysteamine ophthalmic solution 0.44% for treatment of corneal cystine crystals in cystinosis patients
October 9, 2012
FDA has approved cysteamine ophthalmic solution (Cystaran, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals) 0.44%, a topical ophthalmic therapeutic, developed in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for the treatment of corneal cystine crystal accumulation in patients with cystinosis.
Generic antidepressant taken off the market
October 8, 2012
After reviewing new data, FDA has concluded that Budeprion XL 300 mg (bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets), manufactured by Impax Laboratories, Inc., and marketed by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., is not therapeutically equivalent to GlaxoSmithKline’s Wellbutrin XL 300 mg.
FDA gives green light to ANDA for chewable diabetes tablet
October 8, 2012
FDA has approved Boston Therapeutic’s petition to file an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for a new, chewable tablet formulation of the diabetes drug metformin hydrochloride. The company plans to market the new formulation under the name Pazamet.
Study: Tranexamic acid reduces bleeding deaths, thrombotic events in all trauma patients
October 5, 2012
Tranexamic acid can safely be used in all trauma patients, not just those who are the most severely injured, according to data analyses results published in the September 11 issue of the British Medical Journal.
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements not helpful for CVD prevention, JAMA reports
October 5, 2012
Treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acides to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been controversial. A recent meta-analysis and review showed that overall, omega-3 PUFA supplementation did not lower the risk of CVD, according to data published in the Sept. 12, 2012 issues of JAMA.
Long-term use of NSAIDs following MI is risky, study shows
October 5, 2012
Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs following a first-time myocardial infarction is associated with persistent increased cardiovascular risk, according to an online study published September 24 in the journal Circulation.
FDA fast tracks delafloxacin
October 4, 2012
FDA has granted delafloxacin (Rib-X) as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) for the indications of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).
Lower rates of stroke, bleeding seen with apixaban compared to warfarin in Afib patients, regardless of risk profile
October 4, 2012
Apixaban (Eliquis), an investigational anticoagulant developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer, has lower rates of stroke, systemic embolism, and bleeding than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, regardless of level of risk for these events, according a recent online analysis published October 2 in The Lancet.
Paliperidone palmitate label adds more dosing options, warnings
October 4, 2012
Paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna), a monthly extended-release injectable suspension atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia, has a new updated product label that describes greater flexibility and dosing options for healthcare providers as well as additional warnings and precautions, according to its manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Take charge of medication reconciliation to reduce readmission rates
October 1, 2012
A recent study indicates that hospitals can reduce readmission rates if they work on medication reconciliation.
From the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session & Expo 2012: Modifying antiplatelet therapy based on platelet function testing does not improve outcomes in stroke/TIA patients
October 1, 2012
In the quest to adopt personalized medicine approaches, optimizing antiplatelet therapy based on platelet function testing is controversial.
