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All News - Page 141
Some antipsychotics more dangerous for elderly dementia patients
March 9, 2012
Antipsychotic medication should be used on elderly dementia patients only in cases of clear need, authors of a recent study said, but they found that some antipsychotics are more dangerous than others after examining data from thousands of nursing-home residents aged 65 or older.
Bevacizumab improves vision for patients with AMD
March 9, 2012
A treat-and-extend regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) produced "significant visual improvements" for eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to an article published in the March issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
NAMS highlights benefit-risk ratio of hormone therapy for menopause
March 9, 2012
The 2012 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) updates the evidence-based position statement published by NAMS in 2010 regarding recommendations for hormone therapy for postmenopausal women.
AAP now recommends HPV vaccine for boys
March 9, 2012
New guidelines for the use of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend for the first time vaccinating adolescent boys as well as girls.
FDA panel recommends approval of aclidinium bromide for COPD
March 9, 2012
An FDA advisory panel voted 12-2 to recommend approval of aclidinium bromide (Forest Laboratories and Almirall SA) 400 µg twice daily for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
First synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant for prevention of RDS approved
March 9, 2012
FDA has approved lucinactant (Surfaxin, Discovery Labs) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants at high risk for RDS. Surfaxin is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant approved for use in neonatal medicine.
FDA approves first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant for prevention of RDS
March 7, 2012
FDA has approved lucinactant (Surfaxin, Discovery Labs) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants at high risk for RDS. Surfaxin is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant approved for use in neonatal medicine.
Careers Page for Medical and Healthcare Executives
March 2, 2012
Visit our Careers page for Medical and Healthcare Executives, which is updated regularly, to search for postings by date, location, and company name. You may also research salaries by using the PayScale tool link on the site.
FDA: Co-administration of statins and protease inhibitors increases risk of muscle injury
March 2, 2012
Thursday, FDA updated its recommendations concerning drug-drug interactions between protease inhibitors and statins, warning of an increased risk of muscle injury (myopathy). The most serious form of myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, can damage kidneys and lead to kidney failure, which can be fatal.
International Stroke Conference 2012: Mobile health service serves as catalyst to maternal, infant well-being
March 1, 2012
Despite decades of public health outreach and education, more than 500,000 premature babies are born in the United States each year with approximately 28,000 children dying before their first birthday, according to research presented at the Mobile Healthcare Communications 2012: Case Studies and Roundtables, hosted by Business Development Institute, in New York City.
International Stroke Conference 2012: Service encourages teens to text health-related questions
March 1, 2012
A text messaging service for teens attending the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center (MSAHC) in New York, enables them to ask confidential questions, sign up for birth-control reminders, and receive weekly 'healthbytes' of health-based advice.
Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar 13): A pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugated to carrier protein diphtheria CRM197 for the prevention of pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease in adults aged 50+ years
March 1, 2012
New indication: Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar 13) was granted accelerated FDA marketing approval for the prevention of pneumonia and invasive disease (infection of blood or spinal fluid) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F in adults age 50 years and older.
International Stroke Conference 2012: Anticlotting agents offer similar prevention rates of stroke, death in heart failure patients with normal heart rhythm
March 1, 2012
Warfarin is similar to aspirin in preventing deaths and strokes in patients with heart failure and normal heart rhythm, according to the largest and longest head-to-head comparison study of the 2 anticlotting drugs.
Immunotherapy shown to extend life expectancy in metastatic prostate cancer
March 1, 2012
A new analysis of the phase 3 IMPACT study has found that sipuleucil-T (Provenge, Dendreon) increases survival times by an estimated median of 7.8 months in patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer.
FDA Actions in Brief March 2012 (Corcept Therapeutics, Merck, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Alkermes, Sanofi, Mobius Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, UCB, Curis, Genentech, Novartis)
March 1, 2012
Recent FDA Approvals (through February 2012) related to (Corcept Therapeutics, Merck, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Alkermes, Sanofi, Mobius Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, UCB, Curis, Genentech, Novartis)
Racial/ethnic disparities exist in the diagnosis, treatment of depression
March 1, 2012
Minorities are less likely to receive a depression diagnosis and be treated for it than non-Hispanic Whites, according to a new study published on-line and ahead-of-print on December 15, 2011, in the American Journal of Public Health.
Patients becoming more aware that drugs safe, effective for psychological, behavioral disorders
March 1, 2012
The increase in utilization of medications for psychological and behavioral disorders can be attributed to greater awareness among patients that mental health disorders are treatable and that available drug therapies are safe and effective, according to David Muzina, MD, a national practice leader of the Medco Neuroscience Therapeutic Resource Center.
FDA unveils guidance for biosimilar development
March 1, 2012
After months of anticipation, FDA issued guidances last month that outlines its recommendations for developing and approving biosimilar therapies.
Benefit design continues to be influenced by rising medical, pharmacy costs
March 1, 2012
Cost concerns continue to dominate benefit design, resulting in greater cost-sharing from employees, according to survey findings from managed care decision-makers, self-insured employers, and employee benefits consultants.
Ruxolitinib (Jakafi): A twice-daily oral kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of myelofibrosis
March 1, 2012
New molecular entity: FDA approved ruxolitinib, a twice-daily tablet, indicated for the treatment of myelofibrosis.
Second-generation antipsychotics: A review of recently-approved agents and drugs in the pipeline
March 1, 2012
Second-generation antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment in schizophrenia.
FDA user fee renewal addresses drug shortages, new drug development
March 1, 2012
Every 5 years, Congress is called on to reauthorize a series of user fees that support FDA oversight of drugs and medical products. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and similar measures authorizing fees to fund a number of FDA regulatory programs have become increasingly vital for maintaining the agency's ability to maintain an efficient approval process for new therapies.
2012 vaccination schedules published for children, adults
March 1, 2012
The 2012 vaccination schedules for children, adolescents, and adults have been released, with changes to the recommendations for meningococcal and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations in children and in hepatitis B vaccinations in adults.
Poorly controlled diabetes may lead to hearing loss in women
March 1, 2012
Uncontrolled diabetes may result in hearing loss in women, much like it affects vision or kidney function, according to the results of a new study.
Coadministration of boceprevir with ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitors could reduce drugs' effectiveness
March 1, 2012
FDA has notified healthcare professionals and patients that drug interactions between the hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck) and certain ritonavir-boosted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors (atazanavir, lopinavir, darunavir) can potentially reduce the effectiveness of these drugs when they are used together.
FDA: C. difficile-associated diarrhea may be associated with proton pump inhibitors
March 1, 2012
The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD), according to a recent FDA Drug Safety Communication.
Vorapaxar may reduce heart attack and stroke, but raises bleeding risk
March 1, 2012
Vorapaxar added to standard of care reduced the risk of cardiovascular events and stroke compared to standard of care alone, according to Merck, who announced top-line results of its TRA-2P (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of atherothrombotic ischemic events) study earlier this month. However, results also demonstrated that the drug was associated with a significant increase in bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).
International Stroke Conference 2012: Clopidogrel/aspirin not effective for prevention of recurrent stroke
March 1, 2012
The antiplatelet arm of The Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Stroke (SPS3) study was halted in July 2011 due to reasons of safety and futility, according to principal investigator Oscar R. Benavente, MD, FRCP (C), professor of neurology at Canada's University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia.
