Formulary Watch |

Pramipexole

Pramipexole was approved on November 7, 2006, for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Telbivudine

Telbivudine was approved on October 25, 2006, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) in adult patients with evidence of viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease.

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, and related pain (December 2006) (PDF)

Review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis, and related pain (December 2006).

Low testosterone levels associated with increased CHD risk in postmenopausal women

Low levels of testosterone are associated with an increased risk of mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) in postmenopausal women, reported Gail A. Laughlin, PhD.

Study finds that men who suffer from migraines are at increased risk for cardiovascular events

Men who suffer from migraines are at increased risk for cardiovascular events, according to researchers. The new findings follow similar reports that women with migraines are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

Changes in heart rate predict risk of mortality in healthy middle-aged men

A change in resting heart rate in healthy middle-aged men is tied to mortality risk, with those who experience a long-term rise in resting heart rate having an increased risk of mortality and those with a long-term decrease in resting heart rate having a reduced risk of mortality.

Stem cell research could have long-term implications for cardiology

After years of minimal results, stem cell research is forging ahead. "This is a new appetizer for what may be an excellent meal in years to come," said former AHA president Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, at a press briefing Tuesday morning. "Reports the past couple of years have been equivocal at best."

Anemia and heart failure: Improvement in outcomes tied to increase in hemoglobin level

A rise in hemoglobin of at least 1 g/dL appears necessary to affect the course of heart failure in patients with symptomatic heart failure and anemia, according to a post hoc analysis of STAMINA-HeFT (Studies of Anemia in Heart Failure-Heart Failure Trial).

No benefit to late reperfusion in stable MI patients

The practice of late reperfusion-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed 2 to 28 days after myocardial infarction (MI)-in patients who are stable does not lead to improved clinical outcomes compared with medical therapy, said Judith S. Hochman, MD, lead investigator of the Occluded Artery Trial (OAT).

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Pharmacist intervention improves medication adherence, leads to risk factor improvement

Pharmacist-directed education combined with prepackaging of medications increases compliance with medication schedules, leading to improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels among elderly patients, according to a study headed by Allen J. Taylor, MD.

Pioglitazone demonstrates anti-atherosclerotic effect in type 2 diabetics

The thiazolidinedione pioglitazone has a beneficial effect on carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) compared with glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes, said Theodore Mazzone, MD, lead investigator of the CHICAGO (Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Atherosclerosis Using Pioglitazone) study.

New anticoagulant drug-plus-antidote system passes initial safety trials

The first-ever anticoagulant drug-plus-antidote system has passed initial safety trials at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The new platform combines a short nucleic acid chain that quickly blocks clotting with an antidote that removes the clotting blockage in minutes.

Researchers create first heart valves in rabbits using autologous cells

Researchers in Japan have created the first heart valves using the recipients' own tissues-in rabbits. Growing replacement valves in a host with host tissue could virtually eliminate rejection when the valve is implanted.

Conflicting reports of drug-eluting stent safety add to growing controversy

A series of analyses offers no consensus on the safety of drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with bare metal stents. Depending on the study, DES either result in an increase in major adverse coronary events (MACE) or a decrease in subsequent need for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and repeat percutaneous coronary intervention without an excess of adverse clinical events.

Investigational COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib comparable to diclofenac in cardiovascular safety

A comparison of the investigational COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib and diclofenac found no increase in the risk of cardiovascular events over 3 years with etoricoxib.

Coronary calcium screening influences use of statins and aspirin

Screening for coronary calcium may provide an impetus for physicians to initiate preventive cardiovascular therapies in patients who have coronary calcium, but persistence with the medications is no better than in patients who are started on therapies without a coronary calcium test, said Allen J. Taylor, MD

Patient education reduces anxiety in patients who receive pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators

Implanting a pacemaker or a cardiac defibrillator is the beginning of treatment, not the end. That was the message from a panel of researchers who spoke yesterday at the AHA Scientific Sessions.

AHA president warns of 'crisis' in healthcare delivery

Healthcare is a disaster in progress. That was the stark warning from AHA president Raymond Gibbons, MD, during his presidential address yesterday at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions.

New cost-effectiveness analysis supports limits on the use of drug-eluting stents

A cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that restricting the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) is prudent. In the analysis, the substitution of DES for bare metal stents appears to be cost-effective only when the target vessel revascularization (TVR) rate with bare metal stents is high, which is typically the case in small vessels and longer stenoses, said Sanjay Kaul, MD, MPH.

Anemia, CKD are cardiac risk factors

Two studies confirm that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and its severity. In one of the studies, anemia was also a predictor of CHD and its severity.

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TZD use appears safe in ambulatory patients with diabetes and HF

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) do not appear to increase the risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and death in ambulatory patients with diabetes and HF, according to a retrospective analysis of a veterans population.

Chicago: Things to do

The city of Chicago offers a host of activities, museums, shopping and cultural activities for attendees of the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2006.

Chicago beckons

Chicago, host to the AMCP's 2006 annual meeting, has so much to offer including world-class museums, entertainment, shopping, dining, and recreation.

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions

Welcome to Conference Update, highlights from the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, Illinois, Nov. 12-15, 2006.

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic, psoriatic, and rheumatoid arthritis (November 2006) (PDF)

Review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic, psoriatic, and rheumatoid arthritis (November 2006).

PBMs lukewarm to cost-cutting benefits of dose consolidation

Dose consolidation is receiving mixed reviews as a cost-cutting strategy, according to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Although a study by Express Scripts, based in St. Louis, Mo, indicates that savings opportunities are limited, other PBMs have realized more value. With prescription drugs accounting for 10% of total healthcare expenditures according to the California Healthcare Foundation's third Health Care Costs 101 report, various cost-cutting strategies are worth exploring.

Generic medication discounts from retailers seek to limit patients' out-of-pocket cost-sharing

Wal-Mart recently announced a pilot program in Florida to sell 30-day prescriptions of approximately 300 generic medications for $4 each. At press time, Wal-Mart announced it will be rolling out the $4 generic prescription program in 26 additional states-3 months earlier than expected-reportedly because of consumer demand. Wal-Mart said 88,235 new prescriptions were filled in the 10 days after the initial rollout.

Institute of Medicine report calls for extensive overhaul of drug safety procedures at FDA, CDER

FDA's withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx, Merck) in 2004 and other controversies have prompted numerous reports from legislators, the scientific community, and others calling for substantial changes in FDA's and its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research's (CDER's) roles as the nation's overseers of medication safety. The outcry for FDA reform reached another peak in late September when a committee convened by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies released its report, "The Future of Drug Safety," which recommended a "coherent and integrative approach" to transform the agency and a pharmaceutical industry that the committee says has had its credibility "compromised" in the eyes of the public.