The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib is associated with a lower risk of gastrointestinal adverse events than the NSAID diclofenac plus the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole in patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study published online June 17 in The Lancet, reported HealthDay News.
Tranexamic acid may be an effective option for reducing bleeding and mortality among trauma patients, without increasing the risk of serious complications such as myocardial infarction, stroke, or pulmonary embolism, according to a study published online June 15 in The Lancet, reported HealthDay News.
About 7 in 10 children who develop epilepsy experience terminal remission, while the condition becomes intractable in only about one in 10, according to a study published online June 14 in Epilepsia, reported HealthDay News.
Many cancer survivors delay or forgo medical care due to cost, and cancer survivors aged <65 are more likely to put off or forgo care than those without a history of cancer, according to research published online June 14 in Cancer, reported HealthDay News.
Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) appear to be associated with a modest increase in risk of a new cancer diagnosis, according to research published online June 14 in The Lancet Oncology, reported HealthDay News.
Recently, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, addressed a press conference of global representatives from advocacy, industry, academia, and government who convened in Washington, DC, to launch a benchmark international consortium to fight tuberculosis (TB).
A neurology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company has launched diclofenac potassium for oral solution (Cambia, Nautilus Neurosciences Inc.) for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in the United States. FDA approved the prescription medication in June 2009.
In women with type 2 diabetes, long-term metformin (Glucophage, Merck Serono) use is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, according to research published in the June issue of Diabetes Care, as reported by HealthDay News.
The use of regular aspirin by individuals aged 40 and older who have been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is a cost-effective treatment strategy, according to a study in the June issue of Diabetes Care, as reported by HealthDay News.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, a once-weekly formulation of exenatide (Byetta, Amylin Pharmaceuticals) is associated with sustained improvements in glycemic control and body weight over 52 weeks, and patients who switch from a twice-daily to a once-weekly regimen have further improvements in hemoglobin A1C and fasting plasma glucose, according to research published in the June issue of Diabetes Care, as reported in HealthDay News.
The use of certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by healthy people is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, but naproxen (Aleve, Bayer Consumer) appears to have a safer cardiovascular risk profile, according to a study published online June 8 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, as reported by HealthDay News.
The use of certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by healthy people is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, but naproxen (Aleve, Bayer Consumer) appears to have a safer cardiovascular risk profile, according to a study published online June 8 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, as reported by HealthDay News.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) skin patches containing low doses of estrogen carry less risk of stroke than oral therapy and may represent a safer alternative, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Lady Davis Research Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, published June 4 in the British Medical Journal.
Using massively parallel gene sequencing technology, researchers were able to identify specific genetic mutations that appear to be predictive of response to a drug commonly administered for metastatic colorectal cancer.
Five-year data from a seminal study in patients with type 2 diabetes who are at especially high risk of heart disease show that intensive glucose control does slow the progression of microvascular disease, but mortality is increased and there is no benefit on macrovascular complications.
A new post-hoc study of rosiglitazone and cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes is adding to the controversy surrounding the thiazolidinedione (TZD) agent. Lead author Richard Bach, MD, associate professor of medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., presented the new data during a late-breaking clinical study symposium Tuesday morning at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, taking place in Orlando, Fla.
New data are changing the way gestational diabetes is diagnosed and treated.
The new standards using glycated hemoglobin for the diagnosis of diabetes issued in January 2010 have not come without controversy.
Hemophilia: Etiology, complications, and current options in management; Rifaximin: A nonabsorbable, broad-spectrum antibiotic for reduction in the risk for recurrence of overt hepatic encephalopathy; Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of female and male cancers
Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of female and male cancers.
New Molecular Entity: Denosumab (Prolia) was approved in June as a treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis in women at high risk for fracture.
Forty-two cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients receiving the humanized monoclonal antibody natalizumab have been documented since 2006 from MedWatch reports.
New Formulation: Aztreonam for inhalation (Cayston) was approved to improve respiratory symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
Recent FDA Approvals (through June 2010) related to Namenda XR, Dulera, Lucentis, Symbicort, Vimpat, Jevtana, Architecht HIV Ag/Ab Combo assay, Tasigna
Generic drugs approved by FDA (through June 2010): Venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules, Meropenem for injection, Adapalene 0.1% gel, Aztreonam for injection, Oxaliplatin for injection
On June 11, 2010, FDA announced in a drug safety communication that the agency was currently evaluating whether the use of the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan (Benicar, Daiichi Sankyo) (also sold in combination with hydrocholorothiazide as Benicar HCT) was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.
