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Intensive statin therapy in elderly patients may be more effective than moderate statin therapy in improving lipid levels and reducing all-cause death, according to a prospective, international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-arm trial in elderly patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD).

In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial, triple therapy with tiotropium plus salmeterol (SAL) and fluticasone failed to reduce the proportion of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experiencing exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics (the primary end point) compared with tiotropium plus salmeterol or tiotropium alone.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease state characterized by vascular narrowing and increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Physical symptoms, which may include fatigue or weakness, exertional dyspnea, and peripheral edema, are often nonspecific and can mimic more common disorders encountered in clinical practice. Healthcare professionals have been limited in which medications could be used to treat this condition because clinical data have been scarce. Recently, multiple new classes of medications, many of which are very costly, have become available; these agents offer physicians more therapeutic options for the treatment of PAH. Managed-care organizations have been challenged with suggesting the appropriate place in therapy for these new agents, as well as ensuring their safe and cost-effective utilization. This review summarizes the data available for the drugs used to treat PAH, with the goal of helping organizations to make appropriate decisions regarding the proper use of these agents.

Briefs of FDA actions related to medication safety and reliability (ie, boxed warnings, dear healthcare provider letters)

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The latest FDA action (through May 2007) related to armodafinil (Nuvigil), tacrolimus (Prograf), sipuleucel-T (Provenge), Etoricoxib (Arcoxia), AZD-103/ELND005 (Transition), rNAPc2, Satraplatin, and Ganciclovir

Levetiracetam (Keppra) is now approved by FDA as an antiepileptic agent for adjunctive therapy in treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy.

The combination of sitagliptin/metformin is now approved by FDA to improve glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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All authors contributing manuscripts for consideration for publication in Formulary must disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest due to affiliation with any company or manufacturer whose products are mentioned in the article they author.