Vaginal ring treats vasomotor and local symptoms
April 21st 2003Healthcare professionals will soon be able to offer women the first vaginal estrogen product that treats both the vasomotor and vaginal symptoms of menopause. The FDA recently approved estradiol (Femring, Galen Holdings) vaginal ring for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause and treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of vulvar and vaginal atrophy associated with menopause. Femring will be available in pharmacies in June.
Approval of novel anti-HIV drug offers patients hope
April 21st 2003Healthcare providers can now treat HIV-infected patients with an antiretroviral drug that is unlike any other. The FDA recently granted accelerated approval of enfuvirtide (Fuzeon, Roche/Trimeris) to be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced patients with evidence of HIV-1 infection despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy. Enfuvirtide is approved for use in adults and children ages 6 years and older. It is currently available in pharmacies.
Second drug approved for improving photoaged skin
March 17th 2003The FDA recently approved tazarotene (Avage, Allergan) 0.1% cream as an adjunctive agent for use in the palliation of fine facial wrinkling, facial mottled hyper- and hypopigmentation, and benign facial lentigines in patients who use comprehensive skin care and sunlight avoidance programs. Avage became available in pharmacies in January.
Iowa R.Ph.s stepping up to plate on Medicaid services
March 3rd 2003One half of the Iowa communnity pharmacists in 117 participating pharmacies in a Medicaid program failed to provide the pharmaceutical care services they were trained to offer and two thirds of eligible patients never received the services, according to a study.