WASHINGTON (AP) -- Researchers say the U.S. approved more new medicines in less time than Europe and Canada in the last decade, challenging long-standing criticisms that the Food and Drug Administration lags behind its peers in clearing important new drugs. Between 2001 and 2010, the FDA's typical review of a new drug was about 15 percent faster than those by the European Medicines Agency and Health Canada, its counterparts abroad, according to a study published Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine. The analysis by researchers at Yale and the Mayo Clinic is the first to compare the FDA's recent drug review performance to similar agencies around the world. Criticism that the FDA is too slow on drug approvals is a perennial theme for the pharmaceutical industry, which spends more than $50 billion annually to develop new drugs. The complaint has resurfaced in the past year as the industry renegotiates the fees it must pay the FDA to review new drug applications a program which is reauthorized by Congress every five years. The study authors address this issue directly, defending the agency's performance. "Our findings contradict recent criticisms of the speed of review by the FDA and lead to … Continue reading →

Bust ... police with marijuana plants in Melbourne last month. Photo: Jason South The war on drugs has raged for decades with organised crime the only winner. Catherine Armitage reports. Retired Salvation Army officer Brian Watters was startled to see Mick Palmer's name on the recent Australia21 think tank report which declared the war on drugs a failure and called for a national debate on ending drug prohibition. When Major Watters was made prime minister John Howard's key adviser on combating illicit drugs, Palmer, then Australian Federal Police commissioner, was his deputy. Heading the Australian National Council on Drugs from 1998, the two men fought side by side to implement Howard's ''tough on drugs'' policy. Palmer, then part way through what was to be a seven-year stint as head of the AFP, was responsible for implementing many of its beefed-up law enforcement measures. Advertisement: Story continues below Still hardline ... Major Brian Watters backs the tough approach. Photo: Lee Besford "He was just as strongly supportive of the [tough on drugs] approach as myself," said Watters this week. "If he went down the line with the stuff that was put out by Australia21, I would be be very, very surprised." … Continue reading →

Enlarge Keith Srakocic/AP Surplus and expired drugs collected during the DEA's fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. New research suggests it might be better for the environment to dispose of drugs in household trash. Surplus and expired drugs collected during the DEA's fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. New research suggests it might be better for the environment to dispose of drugs in household trash. American homes are filled with unused prescription drugs. Each year we squirrel away 200 million pounds of pharmaceuticals we don't need anymore, according to some estimates. Left in medicine cabinets, those drugs can end up in the hands of children or others who really shouldn't be taking them. Proper and timely disposal can avert those problems. Flushing or trashing drugs has been the norm for decades, but take-back programs have been springing up at pharmacies and police departments lately. The Drug Enforcement Administration has organized four nationwide take-back events since 2010. The most recent, in late April, collected more than 500,000 pounds of unwanted medications. Of course, any disposal method has environmental consequences. Flushing, for instance, has fallen out of favor for all but a handful of drugs because of concerns about water contamination. And … Continue reading →

DALLAS, May 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Anesthesia Drugs Market (2011 - 2015) - U.S. Market Entry Study" analyzes and studies the U.S. market for intravenous anesthesia drugs with special focus on ketamine, distribution structure of anesthesia drugs in U.S., potential buyers, export & import system for controlled substances in U.S. and U.S. market entry strategy. Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of"Anesthesia Drugs Market (2011 - 2015) -U.S.Market Entry Study". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/anesthesia-drugs-ketamine-market-713.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports. This report studies the U.S. Ketamine market over the period of 2007-2015. Ketamine market is expected to grow at a moderate rate from 2011 to 2016. Anesthesia is a condition in which sensation is totally or partially blocked. This enables the patients to undergo medical procedures and surgery. Based on the applications (type of surgery or medical procedure) anesthetic drugs are broadly categorized into two types; i.e. local anesthetic drugs and general anesthetic drugs. Local anesthesia is a condition when sensation within a specific body part in inhibited, where as general anesthesia results in loss of consciousness and sensation. General anesthesia includes blockage of pain, awareness, and memory. Advantages offered by general anesthesia includes - rapid onset of anesthesia, … Continue reading →

Bust ... police with marijuana plants in Melbourne last month. Photo: Jason South The war on drugs has raged for decades with organised crime the only winner. Catherine Armitage reports. Retired Salvation Army officer Brian Watters was startled to see Mick Palmer's name on the recent Australia21 think tank report which declared the war on drugs a failure and called for a national debate on ending drug prohibition. When Major Watters was made prime minister John Howard's key adviser on combating illicit drugs, Palmer, then Australian Federal Police commissioner, was his deputy. Heading the Australian National Council on Drugs from 1998, the two men fought side by side to implement Howard's ''tough on drugs'' policy. Palmer, then part way through what was to be a seven-year stint as head of the AFP, was responsible for implementing many of its beefed-up law enforcement measures. Advertisement: Story continues below Still hardline ... Major Brian Watters backs the tough approach. Photo: Lee Besford "He was just as strongly supportive of the [tough on drugs] approach as myself," said Watters this week. "If he went down the line with the stuff that was put out by Australia21, I would be be very, very surprised." … Continue reading →