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Research may offer potent vaccines for viruses such as HIV and West Nile

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) have identified two molecules (TL and CD8aa) that cooperate to trigger immune cells to develop into long-lived memory cells to fight recurring infections. This finding may have important implications for the future development of longer lasting and more potent vaccines for viruses such as HIV and West Nile.

23 Apr 2004

SSRI antidepressants may be unsuitable for children

A UK study in this week's issue of THE LANCET suggests that reliance on published studies alone to guide the treatment of childhood depression could be inappropriate. A systematic review including published and unpublished data shows that only one drug, fluoxetine (Prozac), was not associated with negative outcomes for children with depression.

22 Apr 2004

Access to effective malaria treatment for Africa threatened by drug shortages

Widespread use of a new fast-acting and potent treatment for malaria is finally on the horizon in Africa, where malaria is the number one killer of children.

22 Apr 2004

Clinical trial of curcumin in people with cystic fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. (CFFT), the nonprofit drug discovery and development affiliate of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, today announced that it is funding a clinical trial of curcumin in people with cystic fibrosis (CF).

22 Apr 2004

SkyePharma delivery technologies for respiratory drugs to feature at two international conferences

SkyePharma PLC has announced that its proprietary delivery technologies for respiratory drugs will be presented later this month at two international conferences, one in the UK and one in America.

22 Apr 2004

Schering-Plough submits Japanese application for hepatitis C drug

Schering-Plough Corporation has announced that Schering-Plough K.K., the company's subsidiary in Japan, has submitted a New Drug Application (J-NDA) to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) seeking marketing approval for PEG-INTRON(R) (peginterferon alfa-2b) Powder for Injection for use in combination with REBETOL(R) (ribavirin) Capsules for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

22 Apr 2004

FDA approval for drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals has received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of CONCERTA® (methylphenidate HCl) CII Extended-release Tablets in adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to expand labeling to include a 72 mg dosing regimen.

22 Apr 2004

FDA approves Advair Diskus® for children with asthma

GlaxoSmithKline has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Advair 100/50 in children four years to eleven years of age with asthma who are symptomatic on inhaled corticosteroid therapy alone.

22 Apr 2004

ALTANA gets MHRA approval for Alvesco (Ciclesonide)

ALTANA AG has announced that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom has granted ALTANA Pharma marketing approval for Alvesco (Ciclesonide)

22 Apr 2004

FDA approves new breakthrough Parkinson's drug

FDA has approved Apokyn (apomorphine) as an injectable drug for treating Parkinson's patients during episodes of "hypomobility," so-called "off periods" in which the patient becomes immobile or unable to perform activities of daily living.

21 Apr 2004

Americans over using perscription drugs

Nearly 1.3 million Americans 12 and older abuse prescription drugs and require treatment for their problem, a new study concludes.

21 Apr 2004

500,000 patients have now been treated with REMICADE® worldwide

Centocor, Inc., announced today that more than a half million patients worldwide have now been treated with the anti-TNF agent REMICADE® (infliximab) since it was introduced in the United States five years ago.

21 Apr 2004

FDA revises guidance on changes to an approved NDA, ANDA

FDA has issued a revised guidance to help drugmakers determine how they should report postapproval manufacturing changes to new drug applications (NDAs) or abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs).

21 Apr 2004

Desensitization Useful for Allergy to Life-Saving Drug

When patients with life-threatening bacterial infections are allergic to antibiotics, drug desensitization may be an option when no other alternative exists according to a report published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

21 Apr 2004

Drug importation a 'counterfeit issue'

A new Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting Insight Report by Lew Kontnik Associates (http://www.LewKontnik.com) calls the current debate over drug importation "a counterfeit" issue.

21 Apr 2004

Altana starts legal action to fight generic drug competition

Altana AG, Germany's fifth-biggest drug maker, is facing a generic challenge from an unnamed competitor to its Protonix ulcer drug. Altana is now readying its patent infringement suit to stave off the generic competition.

21 Apr 2004

New drug is effective at treating patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s

An international team of Parkinson’s disease researchers has shown that a potential new drug is effective at treating patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s and may even slow the progression of the disease.

20 Apr 2004

FDA Approves PROSCAR® Combined With Doxazosin to Reduce the Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Symptoms

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved changes to the prescribing information for PROSCAR® (finasteride) based on a landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study.

20 Apr 2004

Myriad Genetics advances drug for chemotherapy-induced nausea

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today released new data on MPC-4505, its Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist, a drug candidate for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (emesis). MPC-4505 is a potent, orally bioavailable, CNS-penetrating, highly selective NK1 antagonist.

20 Apr 2004

Preclinical data on Histamine's ability to prevent liver damage

These new results demonstrate the ability of histamine to prevent LPS-induced liver injury in a rodent model by showing efficacy when delivered in a manner mimicking oral administration.

19 Apr 2004