Formulary Watch |
All News - Page 142
FDA Pipeline Preview, March 2012 (ViroPharma, Novartis, Amgen, Del Mar Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Genentech, Salix, Gilead, Pfizer, Repligen)
March 1, 2012
Recent FDA action (through February 2012) related to C1 esterase inhibitor [human], progesterone vaginal gel 8%, meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y, and W-135] oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine, denosumab, VAL-083, recombinant fusion protein linking coagulation factor VIIa with albumin, pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab, crofelemer 125-mg tablets, emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, tafamidis meglumine, synthetic version of the natural human hormone secretin, doxycycline hyclate
Give Us Your Opinion
February 28, 2012
Give us your opinion on our latest poll, and see what your colleagues are saying. You can see the results of our previous surveys here as well.
New diet drug overwhelmingly endorsed by FDA committee
February 24, 2012
A new weight-loss medication got an overwhelming endorsement on Wednesday from FDA?s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee voted 20-2 in favor of approving phentermine/topiramate (Qnexa, Vivus).
Study: Most cases of CDI aren't being spread by patients in same ward
February 24, 2012
A recent study challenges the conventional assumption about how Clostridium difficile infection spreads in hospitals, finding that almost three-quarters of the new cases aren?t transmitted by patients in the same ward.
Antibiotic amoxicillin no help in treating acute rhinosinusitis
February 24, 2012
No significant difference was found in treating patients experiencing clinically diagnosed uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis with antibiotic amoxicillin compared with patients who received placebo, according to a study in the February 15 issue of JAMA.
No benefit of B vitamins or omega-3 on cancer outcomes, study finds
February 24, 2012
There are no beneficial effects of supplementation with relatively low doses of B vitamins and/or omega-3 fatty acids on cancer outcomes in individuals with prior cardiovascular disease, according to a study published online February 13 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Zinc plus antibiotics saves lives of children with pneumonia, study finds
February 24, 2012
Zinc used in conjunction with antibiotics significantly reduced mortality in children ages 6 months to 59 months with severe pneumonia when compared with antibiotics alone, according to the findings of a recent study done in Uganda.
ACIP expands recommendations for whooping cough vaccine to 65 and older
February 23, 2012
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) wants all US adults to get vaccinated against whooping cough, according to the Associated Press. The panel voted to expand its recommendation to include all those aged 65 years and older who haven?t gotten a whooping cough shot as an adult.
FDA acts to bolster supply of critically needed cancer drugs
February 21, 2012
FDA announced a series of steps to increase the supply of critically needed cancer drugs, including temporarily importing an unapproved drug from India. The moves are building on President Barack Obama's executive order to help prevent future drug shortages, FDA said
Infants' Tylenol medication recalled by McNeil after dosing-system complaints
February 21, 2012
More than a half million bottles of Infants Tylenol Oral Suspension, 1 oz. grape, have been recalled voluntarily by McNeil Consumer Healthcare because of complaints about using the dosing system, the company announced.
First medication approved by FDA for patients with endogenous Cushing's syndrome
February 21, 2012
FDA has approved the first medication therapy, mifepristone (Korlym, Corcept Therapeutics), for endogenous Cushing's syndrome, a condition that, left untreated, has a mortality rate of 50% after 5 years.
Medco launches program to improve management of costs for specialty drugs
February 17, 2012
Medco Health Solutions and its Accredo Health Group specialty pharmacy have launched a program for employers to better manage specialty-drug costs within major medical coverage.
FDA grants priority review to breast-cancer therapy pertuzumab
February 17, 2012
FDA has granted priority review to pertuzumab (Genentech, a member of the Roche Group) in combination with trastuzumbab (Herceptin, Genentech) and docetaxel chemotherapy for certain breast-cancer patients.
Study finds association between open-angle glaucoma and ED
February 17, 2012
Men with ED also were more likely to have had open-angle glaucoma than those without ED, according to a study published in the February 12 online issue of Opthalmology.
Shortage of anti-infective drugs needs government attention, authors say
February 17, 2012
Anti-infective drug shortages pose significant problems for clinicians and are a rapidly evolving public-health emergency that may require government oversight, according to an article published online January 19 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Poorly controlled diabetes may lead to hearing loss in women
February 17, 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.
ACP recommends metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes
February 17, 2012
Physicians should prescribe oral metformin as a first-line therapy for most patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as for those whose blood sugar cannot be controlled with diet, exercise, and weight loss, according to new guidelines from the American College of Physicians.
FDA warning: Counterfeit version of cancer drug Avastin circulating
February 15, 2012
Some cancer patients may not get proper treatment because a counterfeit version of the drug sold as Avastin 400mg/16mi has been purchased by as many as 19 medical practices in the United States, FDA warned Wednesday.
FDA approves preservative-free solution for glaucoma, ocular hypertension
February 14, 2012
FDA has approved tafluprost ophthalmic solution (Zioptan, Merck) 0.0015%, the first preservative-free prostaglandin analog ophthalmic solution for reducing elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension
FDA approves Mitosol for use in glaucoma surgery
February 10, 2012
FDA has approved mitomycin (Mitosol, Mobius Therapeutics) for use in glaucoma surgery.
FDA issues 3 draft guidances on biosimilars
February 10, 2012
FDA has issued 3 draft guidances for the development of biosimilar versions of approved biologic products, which will help flesh out the abbreviated approval pathway created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law in 2010
Diabetes drug dapagliflozin fails to get approval from FDA
February 10, 2012
FDA declined approval of the diabetes drug dapagliflozin (Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca), based on the recommendations of one of its advisory committees.
Single-tablet option approved for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes
February 10, 2012
FDA has approved linagliptin/metformin hydrochloride (Jentadueto, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly) tablets, a new tablet that provides a single-tablet treatment option, taken twice-daily, for adult patients who need to control their blood sugar.
Inlyta approved by FDA to treat renal cell carcinoma
February 10, 2012
FDA approved axitinib (Inlyta, Pfizer) to treat patients with an advanced kidney cancer called renal cell carcinoma who have not responded to another drug for this type of cancer.
FDA panel votes against wider use of denosumab for prostate-cancer patients
February 10, 2012
An FDA advisory panel recommended against using denosumab (Xgeva, Amgen) to delay or prevent the spread of castration-resistant prostate cancer at risk for bone metastases.
SSRIs increase risk of falls, injuries for elderly patients with dementia
February 10, 2012
Nursing home residents with dementia who use average doses of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are three times more likely to have a fall resulting in injury compared with those who don’t use SSRIs, according a study published online January 18 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Study: Emergency visits increase risk of infections for long-term care residents
February 10, 2012
There was an increased risk of acute infection among long-term care residents who visited hospital emergency departments, according to a study published online January 23 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Researchers warn of IV acetaminophen dosing errors
February 10, 2012
Researchers are warning pediatricians, pediatric hospitalists and intensivists of the potential for intravenous acetaminophen dosing errors, especially in young patients under 2 years old.
