Category Archives: Drugs

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis often skip the drugs they are prescribed, and telephone counseling does little to change that, according to new research. Researchers said osteoporosis is involved in more than two million fractures a year in the U.S., racking up medical costs of $19 billion. In addition to exercise and a healthy diet with enough calcium and vitamin D, as well as measures to prevent falls, medications may reduce the risk of broken bones -- which can take a serious toll on the health of old people. For people at high risk, bone drugs such as bisphosphonates may cut the yearly fracture risk from five percent to three percent, said Dr. Daniel Solomon of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. But people often stop taking the medications, added Solomon, also of Harvard Medical School. "It's the problem with all chronic conditions," he told Reuters Health. "Drugs for asymptomatic chronic conditions are universally poorly adhered to." Some 10 million Americans currently suffer from bone thinning, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The majority are postmenopausal women. Bone drugs include Merck's Fosamax, Roche's Boniva, Novartis's Reclast and Warner Chilcott's Actonel. To see if they … Continue reading →

VIENNA (Reuters) - Illegal "Internet pharmacies" are using social media to market drugs to young people, an international report said on Tuesday. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), which monitors the implementation of U.N. drug control conventions, said illicit drugs as well as prescription medicines were being ordered online from such unscrupulous operations. "Disturbingly, illegal Internet pharmacies have started to use social media to publicize their websites, which can put large audiences at risk of dangerous products," INCB President Hamid Ghodse said in a statement accompanying its 2011 report. He told a news conference in London that the rogue pharmacists used social media such as YouTube or Facebook to draw people to chatrooms and engage them "in a variety of ways which, in the first instance, you do not see as that they are marketing the drug....then of course they are bombarding them with the sort of drugs." The Vienna-based body called on governments to shut down illegal Internet drug activity and to seize substances smuggled via the postal system, adding that many of the medicines sold in this way were counterfeit. "Key aspects of illegal Internet pharmacies' activities include smuggling their products to consumers, finding hosting space for their … Continue reading →

By Saundra Young, CNN updated 4:29 PM EST, Tue February 28, 2012 FDA warns of statin side effects STORY HIGHLIGHTS Washington (CNN) -- An entire class of statin drugs will get new labels that alert the public to safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday. Statins, which treat cholesterol, now will come with labels that include a warning that the drugs, taken by almost 32 million Americans, can cause memory loss and confusion. The FDA says reports in general have not been serious, and the symptoms subsided when patients stopped taking the medications. The new labeling will also warn doctors and patients that statins can cause hyperglycemia, an increase in blood sugar levels and increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. The FDA will no longer recommend routine and periodic monitoring of liver enzymes of patients taking statins. Instead, it said liver enzyme tests should be performed before a patient starts taking statins, and then only when clinically indicated. That's because according to the FDA, serious injury to the liver is rare, and routine monitoring doesn't detect or prevent it. The new label will tell patients who experience fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, upper stomach pain or … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A growing number of drugs are coming to market to help treat rare diseases in children, a new U.S. government study finds. Don't miss these Health stories At just 15, Kyra Kline has already injured both her knees playing her favorite sport, basketball. A new study by researchers at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia finds an increase of 400 percent in the number of ACL tears treated at the hospital between 1999 and 2011. Officials say the findings, reported in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that a U.S. law known as the Orphan Drug Act is working as intended. "Orphan" drugs are called that because they target uncommon diseases that have traditionally been neglected by drug companies -- since developing treatments for rare conditions is a generally unprofitable endeavor. The Orphan Drug Act was passed in 1983 to offer companies tax credits, marketing rights and other incentives to focus on rare diseases. In the new study, officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that between 2000 and 2009, there were more than three dozen orphan drug approvals for rare disorders affecting children and teenagers. And pediatric diseases are accounting for a growing proportion … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A growing number of drugs are coming to market to help treat rare diseases in children, a new U.S. government study finds. Officials say the findings, reported in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that a U.S. law known as the Orphan Drug Act is working as intended. "Orphan" drugs are called that because they target uncommon diseases that have traditionally been neglected by drug companies -- since developing treatments for rare conditions is a generally unprofitable endeavor. The Orphan Drug Act was passed in 1983 to offer companies tax credits, marketing rights and other incentives to focus on rare diseases. In the new study, officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that between 2000 and 2009, there were more than three dozen orphan drug approvals for rare disorders affecting children and teenagers. And pediatric diseases are accounting for a growing proportion of those approvals. In the first half of the 2000-2009 decade, just 10 of 57 orphan drug approvals were for pediatric conditions. In the latter half, that rose to 28 of 91, the FDA found. In all, there were 38 approvals for rare pediatric conditions -- though that sometimes meant a single … Continue reading →

VICTORIA - Health officials in B.C. are working to deal with a shortage of drugs, including the pain killer morphine, that's the result of problems at a Quebec pharmaceutical company. Sandoz Canada has been forced to reduce production at its site in Boucherville after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration raised safety and reliability issues at the facility. An agency of the B.C. Health Ministry called Health Shared Services BC says it's working with regional health authorities to deal with the problem. The agency says that includes monitoring all current supplies of Sandoz products, co-ordinating their distribution, finding alternative products and working on the issue with the B.C. Medical Association, pharmacists and Health Canada. Most of the products are injectable drugs like morphine used in hospitals, as well as a few topical eye products, and hospital patients will be most affected. The government says patients should not be concerned but if they have any questions, they should call their doctor. View original post here: B.C. deals with shortage of drugs, including morphine, from Quebec facility … Continue reading →

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The end of 2011 saw the US approval of two new molecularly-targeted cancer drugs, alongside companion diagnostic tests that identify the patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Pfizer's Xalkori (crizotinib) and Roche's Zelboraf (vemurafenib) were both approved following a priority review, highlighting the importance that the FDA has placed on hastening the passage of these therapies to market. With sales of many blockbuster drugs being cannibalised by generic competitors, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are populating their pipelines with candidates directed at novel targets, enhancing development and commercialisation potential. The opportunities for small and medium-sized companies is increasing as the dynamic of the market changes. New market research study "Targeted Cancer Drugs: The Launch Landscape to 2018" prepared by Espicom examines the current market for targeted cancer drugs, with an overview of both products and players. It covers statistics, competitive rankings, timelines and sector share comparisons. Looking ahead, the report identifies 79 new candidates that are currently under a minimum of Phase II development for solid tumours and provides a timeline detailing estimated launch dates to 2018. Report Details: Title: Targeted Cancer Drugs: The Launch Landscape to 2018 Published: February, 2012 Pages: 306 Price: US$ 2,265 http://marketpublishers.com/report/medicine_pharmaceuticals_biotechnology/healthcare_equipment_services/targeted_cancer_drugs_launch_landscape_to_2018.html Report … Continue reading →

27 February 2012 Last updated at 21:29 ET People who choose not to eat animal products may be unaware that common medicines could contain them, a study suggests. Many tablets and liquid medicines use gelatin, derived from animal bones or skin. A survey in the Postgraduate Medical Journal shows a quarter of patients are unknowingly prescribed drugs containing gelatin contrary to their beliefs. The report authors say clearer drug labelling is needed. A spokesman for the ABPI, which represents the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, said that European Union legislation required the disclosure of all ingredients in the leaflet accompanying the drugs. He added: "Patients are able to check if a product contains a material which may cause them concern. If patients are unsure if an ingredient is derived from animals they can seek the advice of their pharmacist or contact the company manufacturing the product. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote Some vegetarians will be shocked to learn about the widespread use of animal ingredients in medicines” End Quote Liz O'Neill The Vegetarian Society "There is a general trend for manufacturers to move away from the use of animal derivatives in medicines but there remain occasions where the … Continue reading →

The head of Britain's biggest drugs company has accused the Government of systematically delaying the introduction of new cancer drugs in order to save money. GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Sir Andrew Witty warned that ministers were making false economies as they tried to grapple with the deficit in the public finances. In an interview with the BBC, he said that governments across Europe had already cut drug prices by 5 per cent a year - costing GSK around ?300 million per annum. Warning: Sir Andrew Witty, head of GSK, warns that government attempts to save money by delaying the introduction of new drugs is a false economy However, he said governments were now seeking to go further in an effort to achieve even bigger savings - and he highlighted Britain's decision to delay new cancer treatments. 'The bit I'm much more frightened about is that what's now beginning to become clear is that, in addition to price reductions, governments are delaying the approval of innovative new drugs,' he said. 'So a second way they can save money, they think, is 'Let's just not buy the next round of innovation'. 'Cancer in the UK is a good example where we're seeing oncology … Continue reading →

85% of pharmacists were 'concerned' about drugs shortages Drugs suppliers can exploit EU rules and sell medicines overseas for profit By Rob Cooper Last updated at 3:38 PM on 26th February 2012 The lives of NHS patients are being put at risk because vital prescription medicines are being sold abroad by drugs companies for bigger profits. In at least one instance a patient is reported to have died after not getting his drugs in time. Drug suppliers and pharmacies can exploit EU rules and sell medicines intended for the UK abroad as long as they have the correct licence. Drugs shortage: Manufacturers are selling medicines overseas for large profits - and not leaving enough available in the UK, pharmacists have said Drugs made in this country are produced almost exclusively for the UK market and selling them abroad has created major shortages. Manufacturers are able to exploit the fluctuating exchange rate to make big profits when selling medicines in Europe. New research shows almost half of pharmacists say patients have suffered because of medicinal shortages and over 40 per cent say they have seen a patient hospitalised because of the problem.   More than 85 per cent of 322 pharmacists … Continue reading →