Ranbaxy recalls atorvastatin calcium tablets in 10-, 20-, 40-mg dosages
November 26th 2012More than 40 lots of atorvastatin calcium tablets, the generic version of Pfizer?s Lipitor, are being recalled by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI) because they may contain glass particles that are estimated to be less than 1 mm in size, according to Ranbaxy's website.
Best tocolytic therapy options outlined for preterm delivery
November 20th 2012Prostaglandin inhibitors and calcium channel blockers were ranked as the top tocolytic therapy options in terms of outcomes of 48-hour delay in delivery, neonatal mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, and maternal side effects, according to a systematic review and network meta-analysis published Oct. 9 in BMJ.
Sanofi lowers price of Zaltrap after Sloan-Kettering refusal to use it
November 19th 2012Sanofi is lowering the price of ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap) for previously treated colorectal cancer by half after physicians at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) said that they would not use the drug, according to The New York Times.
Direct renin inhibitor adjunct not helpful in T2DM patients at high risk for CV, renal events
November 16th 2012Adding aliskiren to standard therapy with renin-angiotensin system blockade could be harmful and did not lower the risk of cardiovascular and renal adverse events when used in patients with type 2 diabetes at risk for these events, according to an online study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
NACDS Foundation supports Million Hearts initiative
November 9th 2012Thousands of patients who attended one of 65 health fairs held throughout the United States were educated about the ABCS of heart health, thanks to $35,000 in grant money from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation.
Mass. Board of Pharmacy director fired for not investigating complaint about NECC
November 8th 2012James D. Coffey, RPh, director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, has been removed from his position after allegedly failing to follow up on a complaint about the New England Compounding Pharmacy (NECC) from the Colorado Board of Pharmacy in July.
Details illuminate start of fungal meningitis outbreak
November 7th 2012Investigators from the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided an aggressive public health response following a single case of Aspergillus fumigatus meningitis in an immunocompetent adult who had received an epidural injection of preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate at a clinic in Tennessee, according to a report published Nov. 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
ACIP votes to revise MMR vaccine recommendations
November 7th 2012The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has approved revisions to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine recommendations for individuals with HIV infection, for those with evidence of immunity, and for those at high risk who have been exposed to measles, according to a report published by Medscape Medical News.
Smoking cessation before 40 drastically cuts excess mortality risk
November 6th 2012Smoking cessation before the age of 40 reduces the excess risk of lung cancer mortality and overall mortality by 90% compared to individuals who continue to smoke, according to a prospective study of women in the United Kingdom followed for 12 years.
FDA expands use of rivaroxaban to treat, reduce recurrence of DVT, PE
November 5th 2012FDA has expanded the approved use of oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen) to include three new indications: treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE), and reducing the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial treatment.
Web-based self-management program improves blood pressure control
November 5th 2012An automated online self-management program may help employees with prehypertension or hypertension achieve adequate blood pressure control, according to a study published in the October issue of American Heart Journal.
Similar bleeding rates seen with two anticoagulants
November 2nd 2012Bleeding rates associated with new use of dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) do not appear to be higher than bleeding rates associated with new use of warfarin, according to an FDA safety review of post-market reports of serious bleeding events.
Balancing good customer service with good patient health care
November 1st 2012The United States may be the world's last bastion of customer service. Inherent in our national psyche is the expectation that when we pull out our wallets to purchase something, whether a product or a service, we have a right to satisfaction.