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New grant to improve use of bDMARDS through a consortium approach

A new grant to improve the use of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) will see NPS MedicineWise and consortium partners support specialist prescribers and help consumers get the most benefit from these complex medicines.

18 Sep 2019

Rutgers cardiologist recommends individualized treatment with aspirin for primary prevention of CVD

A nationally recognized Rutgers cardiologist recommends that aspirin be used as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease only with select patients, saying that the scientific evidence is too diverse to support a one-size-fits-all approach.

17 Sep 2019

Longtime crusader against Oxycontin begins to see the fruits of her struggle

In the 15 years since she lost her son to a single OxyContin pill, Barbara Van Rooyan has had but one up-close look at the people representing the company that made it.

17 Sep 2019

Paracetamol use during pregnancy linked to childhood behavioral problems

A new study has found further evidence linking paracetamol intake during pregnancy with potential adverse behavioral and cognitive outcomes during childhood.

16 Sep 2019

Experts offer insights into new class of migraine medications

As research continues to show progress towards minimizing the effects of headache disorders on patients' lives, Practical Neurology gathered insights from experts in the field at The American Headache Society 61st Annual Scientific Meeting this year, where new data looking at a range of approaches from nerve stimulation to monoclonal antibodies and neuromodulation devices revealed advancements in migraine treatment.

16 Sep 2019

Purveyors of black-market pharmaceuticals target immigrants

The bootleg medications were smuggled across the border and sold to mostly Latino immigrants in public spaces throughout Los Angeles — at swap meets, parks, beauty salons and makeshift stands outside mom-and-pop grocery stores.

16 Sep 2019

Alzheimer's drug associated with two-fold higher risk of hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis

A drug commonly used to manage symptoms of Alzheimer disease and other dementias -- donepezil -- is associated with a two-fold higher risk of hospital admission for rhabdomyolysis, a painful condition of muscle breakdown, compared with several other cholinesterase inhibitors, found a study in CMAJ.

16 Sep 2019

Drugs used to treat retinal diseases are excreted into human breast milk, study finds

Certain drugs used to treat retinal diseases are excreted into breast milk, raising possible safety concerns for developing infants, suggests a first-of-its-kind study led by St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and published in Ophthalmology.

15 Sep 2019

Congress rakes in millions from drugmakers

Members of Congress raked in almost $4 million from pharmaceutical manufacturers and their trade groups in the first six months of 2019.

12 Sep 2019

Insulin drug could treat glioblastoma

A research team from the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center has found that a compound molecule used for drug delivery of insulin could be used to treat glioblastoma, an aggressive, usually fatal form of brain cancer.

12 Sep 2019

Commonly prescribed antibiotics linked to two types of heart problems

Scientists have shown for the first time a link between two types of heart problems and one of the most commonly prescribed classes of antibiotics.

11 Sep 2019

Enzyme in plants key to developing novel pharmaceuticals

Plants have many superpowers, such as manufacturing compounds to help repel pests, protecting themselves from environmental hazards, and providing a plethora of essential oils and other compounds that can heal a multitude of infections and other diseases.

9 Sep 2019

FDA approves first drug to treat patients with rare lung condition

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Ofev (nintedanib) capsules to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults with interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis or scleroderma, called SSc-ILD. It is the first FDA-approved treatment for this rare lung condition.

7 Sep 2019

Too much vitamin D may reduce bone density, say scientists

Excessive supplementation with vitamin D can cause bone loss and bone weakening, according to a new study.

6 Sep 2019

Benefits of restarting blood thinners outweigh the gastrointestinal‐related risks

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, which are blood thinners such as warfarin and aspirin, are commonly taken to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots, but they carry an increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

6 Sep 2019

Medication adherence linked with lower risks of hospitalization and early death

A recent analysis of published studies examined the clinical consequences of medication adherence. The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology analysis found that medication adherence is linked with lower risks of needing to be hospitalized and of dying early.

5 Sep 2019

Opioids after surgery overly prescribed in USA and Canada

A new study covering several institutions shows that patients recovering from surgery in the US or Canada have a 50% chance of being treated with opioids. This is seven times as high as the corresponding percentage in Sweden. Within the US, the initial dosages are likely to be over 200 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) – much more than in Canada.

5 Sep 2019

NIH trial aims to improve drug discovery for ischemic stroke

The NIH has announced it will fund a nationwide preclinical trial focusing on robust testing of new treatments for acute ischemic stroke.

4 Sep 2019

Drug developed to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer may help prolong life

A drug developed by researchers at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University that targets enzymes involved in the development of pancreatic cancer cells is showing promise for improved treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.

4 Sep 2019

Testosterone-containing nasal spray offers promising alternative for people suffering from 'low T'

A newly patented, testosterone-containing nasal spray developed by a psychology professor at The University of Texas at Austin could provide those suffering from testosterone deficiency and other ailments, such as anxiety disorders, with easily modulated, fast-acting results.

4 Sep 2019