Pharmaceutical News

RSS

Medicare drug discount cards now available

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that seniors and people with disabilities who receive Medicare can now begin to compare and choose the Medicare-approved drug discount card that best fits their needs in providing savings on their prescription medicines.

3 May 2004

76 percent of Medicare beneficiaries believe the Medicare drug discount cards are a good idea

According to a survey commissioned by the Pharmacy Care Alliance, a large majority-76 percent-of Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage polled believe the Medicare drug discount cards are a good idea and will help them save money.

2 May 2004

Botox helps children with cerebral palsy

Botox, or botulinum toxin, offers a new, non-surgical option for improving the upper extremity function of children with cerebral palsy (CP), report researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. L. Andrew Koman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Brenner Children’s Hospital, and his team recently completed a study using Botox to treat muscle spasticity of the arm and hand in children with CP.

1 May 2004

New medicare website shows inaccurate pricing

The new Medicare Web site with comparative prescription drug pricing contains inaccurate, erroneous information, sponsors of drug discount cards said on Friday. Companies offering the cards said the government and its contractor had posted inaccurate data just hours after the web site launch.

1 May 2004

FDA approves new drug Enbrel for psoriasis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the biologic drug etanercept (brand name Enbrel) to treat chronic, moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults.

1 May 2004

New UK regulations to better protect patients taking part in clinical trials

New regulations which will better protect the rights, safety and well-being of patients taking part in clinical trials of medicines were welcomed today by Health Minister, Lord Warner.

30 Apr 2004

Agreement supports students seeking health careers

Representatives of Ohio University and Columbus State Community College (CSCC) signed an agreement to form the Pathways Institute Partnership on Wednesday, April 28, in Athens.

30 Apr 2004

Changes in the names of medicines, healthcare professionals to be vigilant against medication errors

Healthcare professionals should be aware that alphabetised lists of medicines may have changed and should be careful when selecting medicines to avoid medication errors.

30 Apr 2004

FDA updates Zelnorm labeling a treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the addition of new risk information to the health professional labeling for Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate). Zelnorm is a prescription medication for the short-term treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) whose primary bowel symptom is constipation.

30 Apr 2004

Addition of insulin sensitizer provides lipid benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes

Results of three studies show the oral anti-diabetic agent ACTOS (R) (pioglitazone HCl), in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin or insulin, resulted in triglyceride decreases and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increases that demonstrated statistically significant improvements from baseline.

30 Apr 2004

Functional genomics and proteomics may accelerate the discovery of new drugs and therapeutic molecules

Functional genomics and proteomics have been quite successful in identifying functions of potential therapeutic targets such as encoded proteins. In fact, the possibilities of identifying more than 10,000 novel target antigens in the human genome may accelerate the discovery of new drugs and therapeutic molecules.

29 Apr 2004

Cinacalcet drug more successful than a placebo in treating hyperparathyroidism

Research led by Saint Louis University physicians has shown that a new drug can help control one of the most common side effects of kidney disease.

29 Apr 2004

Antiepileptic drug Levetiracetam may help patients with Parkinson's disease

In patients with Parkinson's disease, the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam (Keppra(R)) reduced the involuntary movements (dyskinesia) associated with levodopa, the medication most commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease, according to a study presented today at the 56th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

29 Apr 2004

MSF celebrated their 1,000 patient on antiretroviral treatment in a South African township

Since May 2001, three HIV/AIDS clinics in the three day-hospitals in Khayelitsha have been offering antiretroviral therapy to people with AIDS who need treatment. During these three years, we have seen more and more people in Khayelitsha willing to confront HIV, have an HIV test and come to the clinics if needed.

29 Apr 2004

New technique of identifying genes may help researchers developing drugs

A quick new technique able to identify genes that evolve rapidly as well as those that change slowly already has pinpointed new targets for researchers developing drugs against tuberculosis and malaria, and it could do the same for other infectious diseases, according to a paper in this week's Nature.

29 Apr 2004

Studies show pregabalin does not affect male reproductivity or interfere with oral contraceptives

Two studies presented today at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 56th Annual Meeting show that pregabalin, when used as an add-on treatment for epilepsy, does not affect male reproductive function or interfere with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

29 Apr 2004

Study of an oral fumarate shows improvement in psoriasis

Biogen Idec and Fumapharm AG today announced results from a Phase II study of BG-12, an oral fumarate, in patients with severe psoriasis.

29 Apr 2004

Securing pharmacists into the future

A need to ensure future generations of pharmacists for rural and regional Australia has driven third generation pharmacist Peter Gissing to take the helm of the Charles Sturt Pharmacy Foundation.

29 Apr 2004

Superdrug has chosen Macmillan Cancer Relief as its new charity partner

Superdrug staff and customers will support Macmillan through a variety of fundraising activities and promote Macmillan campaign information through public awareness messages on their pharmacy prescription bags.

28 Apr 2004

A popular supplement, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), may help prevent migraine

Migraine patients who took 100 mg three times a day of CoQ10—which acts as the body’s energy producer—had fewer attacks in three months than those who took a placebo. The participants taking CoQ10 also had fewer days with a headache and fewer days with nausea.

28 Apr 2004