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The September 11 terrorist attacks and October's wave of anthrax cases have forced hospitals and health systems to examine their emergency preparedness from a new perspective. When it comes to planning for possible shortages of critical drugs and the need for biodefense, experts say the right mix of federal guidance and local implementation is key.

Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare, Wellesley, MA-It's well accepted that the provision of drug samples influences physician prescribing practices. Annually, the pharmaceutical industry provides billions of dollars worth of drug samples to physicians' offices and studies have shown the effectiveness of sample medications in shaping physician prescribing patterns.

New Formulations/Combinations: Hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring

New Formulations/Combinations: Oral form of corticosteroid for Tx of mild to moderate Crohn's disease

New Indication: Hepatitis B indication expanded to pediatric patients

NMEs/biologics:Cephalosporin for various infections

With the government spending billions to fight terrorism at home and abroad, federal investigators are looking closely at all health care programs for opportunities to stymie abuses and collect big penalties.

Pipeline Preview for November

Health care

news brief

news brief

news brief

news brief

Evolution is a process that normally occurs in tiny increments, over extended periods of time. The changes often can't be identified until centuries or millennia have passed.

Workers won't be happy about sharing the costs, but it's an opportunity to teach them the meaning of value

Ranked by total of all payers, 2000

Health plans that dare to be different focus on individuals, use online marketing and empower the consumer

The World Health Organization projects that in less than 20 years, depression will be the leading cause of disability in women worldwide.

Interferon alfa-2b and the nucleoside analog lamivudine are the currently available options for treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This article reviews major efficacy findings with these agents, defines their role according to patients' clinical status, and provides the latest data on optimal duration of therapy, predictors of response, and long-term effects. The authors also explore the emergence of hepatitis B immune globulin for post-liver transplant HBV prophylaxis and offer a progress report on experimental therapies for chronic HBV infection.

University Hospital and Medical Center (Tamarac)/University of Florida (Gainesville)-Dalteparin appears to be at least as clinically effective as enoxaparin for the prevention or treatment of the consequences of venous and arterial thromboembolic diseases, say clinicians from these two facilities.

FDA actions In Brief as reported October 1, 2001

New Formulations/Combinations: Fixed-dose analgesic combination for short-term acute pain management

New Indication: Combination use with docetaxel for breast cancer; new black box

New Indication: Antiepileptic cleared for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; glaucoma warning added

New Indication: Oral contraceptive approved for acne

FDA Pipeline Preview

News brief.

News brief.

Six different companies benefit from programs addressing employees' special health needs.

Six different companies benefit from programs addressing employees' special health needs.