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All News - Page 223
House approves Medicare Rx benefit while states struggle to expand coverage
June 1, 2002
The House leadership succeeded in toting up just enough votes in late June to approve a Medicare reform bill that provides some coverage of pharmaceuticals for seniors.
Vioxx (Rofecoxib tablets and oral suspension) Merck & Co., Inc.
June 1, 2002
New Indication: COX-2 inhibitor gains rheumatoid arthritis indication
Acova (Argatroban injection) GlaxoSmithKline
June 1, 2002
New Indication: GlaxoSmithKline Indication broadened to include HIT prevention during PCI
Faslodex (Fulvestrant injection) AstraZeneca
June 1, 2002
NME:Once monthly IM injection; treats metastatic breast cancer after tamoxifen fails
Benicar (Olmesartan medoxomil) Sankyo Pharma/Forest Laboratories
June 1, 2002
NME: 7th ARB approved for hypertension
Few CHF patients achieve target dosages of beta blockers, risking hospitalizations and death
June 1, 2002
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia-What are the real-world consequences of inadequate beta blocker therapy in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF)? That is what this group of clinicians at Prestige Health-a 50,000 member managed care organization in Philadelphia-set out to determine.
Long-term trials show good response to new anti-RA biologic
June 1, 2002
In studies reported this month at the European League Against Rheumatism meeting in Stockholm, the anti-TNF antibody adalimumab (D2E7) for rheumatoid arthritis is showing good long-term results, even in patients for whom other disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have failed.
Introduction: Considering Your Quinolone Formulary Options: An overview of Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin
June 1, 2002
This Formulary supplement was produced through an unrestristed educational grant from Bayer Corporation. The views and opinions in this supplement are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect the views of Formulary, Advanstar Communications Inc., or Advanstar Medical Education Services.
Copyright 2002 Advanstar Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
Part 2: Beyond depression: Evaluation of newer indications and off-label uses for SSRIs (PDF)
June 1, 2002
In this final installment of this series, the authors focus on the use of SSRIs in alcohol dependence, chronic pain, eating disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and sexual dysfunction. For each condition, the authors examine how well clinical trial evidence supports the application, discuss dosing and safety considerations, and provide their recommendations on preferred and alternative SSRIs, based on the weight of the evidence.
Tadalafil: An oral selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor for treatment of erectile dysfunction (PDF)
June 1, 2002
Tadalafil (Cialis) was recently deemed approvable for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). When approved, it will join the widely used PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil citrate as an oral therapy for ED management. Among tadalafil?s characteristics are its rapid onset of action, a duration of action of up to 24 hours, and lack of food influence on the drug?s pharmacokinetics. In this Focus article, the pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, and therapeutic aspects of tadalafil are reviewed and compared, when possible, with sildenafil and another investigational agent, vardenafil.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Update on the newest DMARDs and their potential place in therapy (PDF)
June 1, 2002
Leflunomide, etanercept, infliximab, and anakinra represent the four latest additions to the therapeutic armamentarium for rheumatoid arthritis. All four of these DMARDs have demonstrated clinical and radiographic evidence of efficacy that is changing the therapeutic approach to treatment. The authors of this article summarize the pivotal clinical trial and efficacy data up through the perimarketing period, provide the latest efficacy and safety update on these agents, discuss the financial implications of their use, and offer insights into their place in therapy.
General safety of moxifloxacin
June 1, 2002
Moxifloxacin (Avelox®) is a relatively new fluoroquinolone available in both oral and intravenous formulations. Extensive clinical analysis and postmarketing surveys suggest that moxifloxacin is safe and well tolerated.
The potency/efficacy of the fluoroquinolones in community-acquired pneumonia
June 1, 2002
This article reviews the efficacy of fluoroquinolones for treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and discusses clinical advantages of fluoroquinolones relative to other drug classes. Of 19 randomized, controlled trials comparing a fluoroquinolone with another agent or combination of agents in CAP, 6 trials have demonstrated superiority of the fluoroquinolone with respect to clinical and/or bacteriologic efficacy.
The appropriate use of the fluoroquinolones: factors affecting quinolone use versus other agents: uses and indications
June 1, 2002
A roundtable discussion with Vincent T. Andriole, MD, Chairperson; Paul B. Iannini, MD; Lionel A. Mandell, MD, FRCPC; Charles H. Nightingale, PhD; Lance R. Peterson, MD
Antimicrobial agent resistance
June 1, 2002
The emergence of antibiotic resistance to Streptococcus pneumoniae and other bacterial pathogens is, in part, responsible for the increase in infectious-disease–related mortality occurring between 1980 and 1992.
Pharmacodynamics of the quinolones
June 1, 2002
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters serve as guidelines for selecting antimicrobial agents and dose regimens that will maximize efficacy and suppress resistance.
Overview of the fluoroquinolones focus on moxifloxacin
June 1, 2002
The history of the newer quinolone agents began with the discovery of nalidixic acid in 1962. This ultimately led to the development of many newer quinolones, some of which have unique properties.
Ciprofloxacin: a highly active fluoroquinolone with a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive activity
June 1, 2002
Product Profile
Avinza (morphine sulfate extended-release capsules), Ligand
May 1, 2002
New formulation: Once daily administration for continuous Tx of chronic moderate-to-severe pain
Serevent Diskus (salmeterol xinafoate inhalation powder)
May 1, 2002
New indication: Long-term, twice-daily treatment of bronchospasm associated with COPD
Risperdal (risperidone tablets/oral solution), Janssen
May 1, 2002
New indication: For delaying relapse in long-term treatment of schizophrenia
Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate tablets), Sanofi-Synthelabo/Bristol-Myers Squibb
May 1, 2002
New Indication: Antiplatelet approved for acute coronary syndrome
Stavudine: Lactic acidosis, motor weakness warnings
May 1, 2002
Bristol-Myers Squibb has issued a "Dear Healthcare Provider" letter and revised labeling to inform of the potential for lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis-including some fatal cases-when nucleoside analogue therapy is used alone or in combination with other antiretrovirals
Revised rofecoxib labeling adds GI safety benefit, cardiovascular risk
May 1, 2002
Merck has issued revised labeling for its COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) that incorporate findings from the 8,000-patient VIGOR (Vioxx Gastrointestinal Outcomes Research) study.
Methylphenidate-MAOI contraindication.
May 1, 2002
New contraindications and precautions have been added to the labeling of methylphenidate HCl tablets (Ritalin and Ritalin-SR, Novartis)-approved for treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Warning against enoxaparin's use in patients with prosthetic heart values, new teratogenic effects.
May 1, 2002
Enoxaparin sodium (Lovenox injection, Aventis) is not recommended for thromboprophylaxis in patients with prosthetic heart values and particularly in pregnant women with prosthetic heart valves, according to revised product labeling.
