MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'drug'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:51:55 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181781&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F09%2Finfant-rotavirus-vaccine-may-protect-all-of-us.html Rotavirus infections can be devastating for infants and young children, causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines leading to severe diarrhea, and often abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. But a study published this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that rotavirus may infect many more older children and adults than previously thought—and that vaccinating infants may protect the older groups as well. Rotavirus vaccines were introduced and recommended for infants in 2006, and can prevent 85 percent or more of severe cases. Before the current vaccines, rotavirus was the leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants and small children in the U.S., causing up to 70,000 hospitalizations each... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181781 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5181781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182292&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fglaxosmithkline_reviews_the_troops.php Several readers sent along this article from the Times of London (via the Ottawa Citizen) on GlaxoSmithKline's current research setup. You can tell that the company is trying to get press for this effort, because otherwise these are the sorts of internal arrangements that would never be in the newspapers. (The direct quotes from the various people in the article are also a clear sign that GSK wants the publicity). The piece details the three-year cycle of the company's Drug Performance Units (DPUs), which have to come and justify their existence at those intervals. We're just now hitting the first three-year review, and as the article says, not all the DPUs are expected to make it through: In 2008, the company organized its scientists into small teams, some with just a handful of staff, ... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182292 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:35:15 +0100 5182292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181765&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fr0cNjxl2pWc%2F By David RittgersThe controversy over the ATF’s ill-conceived scheme to “walk” guns across the border with Mexico finally resulted in the removal of one high-ranking official: Acting Director Kenneth Melson. The U.S. Attorney for Minnesota, Todd Jones, will fill the position for now. A quick review:  ATF supervisors ordered agents to facilitate firearm sales to known or suspected “straw buyers” that intended to move the guns across the border and give them to drug cartels. Gun dealers in the U.S. reported the suspicious transactions to the ATF, expecting to cooperate in apprehending the gunrunners. As it turns out, the suspect buyers had disqualifying conditions that should have shown up in federally mandated instant background checks…but didn’t. The firearms trafficked acro... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181765 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:24:18 +0100 5181765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182315&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fshould-us-government-step-in-to-ease.html (Source: Pharma Marketing Blog) Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182315 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:20:00 +0100 5182315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174611&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcancer-drug-demonstrates-no-survival-benefit-receives-fda-approval%2F2011.08.29 Recently, the FDA announced its approval, upon accelerated review, of a new drug, Adcetris (brentuximab) for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has relapsed after bone marrow transplant and for some patients with T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). This interests me for a lot of reasons, among them that I used to work in the field of lymphoma immunology and spent some time in my life studying molecules like CD30, the protein to which the new antibody binds. First, a mini-primer on the disease and numbers of patients involved: (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medical Lessons* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174611 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:00:19 +0100 5174611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174606&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fdont-use-medicines-affected-by-hurricane-irene.html If Hurricane Irene left you with flooding and water damage, chances are food, drinking water, and even medicines in your home were affected, exposing you and your family to potential illness and other serious health risks. To lessen these risks, the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that you discard any drug products—even those in their original containers—that have come into contact with flood or contaminated water. That includes capsules, tablets, and liquids in drug containers with screw-top caps, snap lids, or droppers and injections, inhalers, and skin medications. If needed, contact your doctor or pharmacist for replacements. In addition, medications that have been placed in any alternative storage containers should be discarded if they have come in contact wi... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174606 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0100 5174606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169588&cid=t_101856_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fbromocriptine-is-used-for-treating-high.html Bromocriptine is a drug which is used specifically to treat women with hyperprolactinemia - a condition in women fail to ovulate because the pituitary is producing too much of the hormone called prolactin. Hyperprolactinemia is the cause of menstrual disturbance in about 10% of anovulatory women. Bromocriptine lowers prolactin levels to normal (the normal range in most laboratories being less than 20 ng/ml) and allows the ovary to get back to normal. Some doctors sometimes misuse bromocriptine by using it to treat marginally elevated prolactin levels. This is not a good idea. Side effects: The drug often causes nausea and dizziness during the first few days of treatment but the chances of these symptoms occurring can be reduced by starting the drug at a very low dose and gradually buildi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169588 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 02:45:00 +0100 5169588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169712&cid=t_101856_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2Fvldi_VN_0Og%2F Every drug treatment center is a product of its geographical location. Even the most exclusive drug abuse treatment centers in New York, for example, can’t possibly replicate the Malibu drug abuse treatment experience. As a result, a patient who enrolls in a Malibu drug treatment facility enjoys inherent advantages during the drug abuse recovery process. Under the circumstances, it’s hard to imagine that any selling point could ever be more persuasive than that one. You already know what you stand to lose in the fight against drug abuse. Now it’s time to learn exactly what you stand to win. The day you arrive at a luxury drug abuse rehab in Malibu will be the day you start to rediscover yourself as you once were, before your disease turned you into the person you are today. Coun... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169712 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:14:16 +0100 5169712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169552&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-state-of-drug-seeking-in-america-nothing-should-hurt%2F2011.08.26 This might sting a little… When I was a child, I was often painted orange with Merthiolate.  My grandmother, like every good grandmother, kept a bottle handy at all times.  Merthiolate was an antiseptic, containing Mercury, that was marketed for cuts and scrapes. A fall on the gravel, a slide on the pavement, a run through the briar patch and you’d be sitting on the kitchen table while grandma colored you orange with the magical elixir, which incidentally burned like fire! On a recent emergency department shift, we were colluding about the general state of drug-seeking in America, which has been enabled by our ‘nothing should hurt’ ideology.   One of my dear friends, Nurse Nancy, had a realization; an epiphany, really. (more…) *This blog post was originally publ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169552 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:00:34 +0100 5169552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159743&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fastrazenecas-elite-sales-force-doctors.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159743 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:10:00 +0100 5159743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158967&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fvaccines-cause-very-few-serious-side-effects.html The start of school means it’s vaccine time, and a new 667-page report released today from the Institute of Medicine should offer parents some reassurance. It found that there is no connection between the vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and autism, despite some parent’s lingering concerns. And it said that other serious side effects of that and other childhood vaccines were rare. A committee of experts convened by the IOM culled through more than 12,000 peer-reviewed articles to examine whether eight childhood vaccines caused adverse events. The report specifically ruled out any causal relationship between the flu shot and Bell’s Palsy, and found that getting vaccinated against the flu doesn’t make asthma worse. It also dispelled any notions of a con... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158967 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:01:00 +0100 5158967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159746&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fuk-alert-antipsychotic-seroquel-xl-50.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159746 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:46:00 +0100 5159746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158994&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-shown-to-protect-obese-mice-from-the-diseases-of-obesity%2F2011.08.25 I usually choose not to write about the “new new scientific thing” that gets picked up by the press,  because early research is usually not reproducible and good science takes a long time to validate as true.  But since we know that mice and rats that are kept on low-calorie diets live 30% longer (and healthier) than their fat cohorts, I was interested in a new research compound, SRT-1720,  that was shown to protect obese mice from diseases of obesity.  Fat mice lived 44% longer if they were given this drug. The “designer” drug works by (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158994 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5158994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159839&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPurA_f_d9CE%2F The ongoing shortage of many medications is generating not only considerable angst among physicians and politicians, but mushrooming gray market activity, as we have reported previously. And yet another survey reveals that shadowy offers and purchases are on the rise, along with an accompanying rise in price. To be specific, purchasing agents and pharmacists at 549 hospitals were queried by the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices, a non-profit watchdog group, and 56 percent reported receiving daily solicitations from up to 10 different gray market vendors by phone, e-mail and fax. And 52 percent acknowledged by one or more meds from gray market vendors in the last two years. Not surprisingly 80 percent reported such purchases had increased in the last two years as shortages rose. Meanwhi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159839 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:35:39 +0100 5159839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158969&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Ffda-warns-that-high-doses-of-celexa-are-linked-to-heart-problems.html People should not take more than 40 milligrams a day of the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa and generic) because higher doses appear to trigger potentially fatal heart rhythm problems, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. People at greatest risk include those with heart conditions or low potassium or magnesium levels. The FDA's warning is based on reports it received of people taking the drug who developed abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that could lead to deadly heart rhythm conditions. In addition, a study involving 119 adults found that higher doses of citalopram (up to 60 mg per day) increased the abnormal heart activity. Other research suggests that doses over 40 milligrams are no more effective than lower doses. Bottom line: If you’re ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158969 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:55:00 +0100 5158969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159796&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F24%2Fdisappearing_information_courtesy_of_aldrich_chemical.php I've been in the lab all afternoon setting up reactions, and that prompts me to write about something that I've been noticing. Is it just me, or does Aldrich seem to be abandoning the practice of putting any useful information on their labels? This has been creeping up for a while, but I worry that instead of an anomaly it's the way of the future. I just got in several bottles of reagents from Aldrich, and basically all they have on their labels are the names of the compounds. No molecular weight, no density, no melting or boiling point: nothing but a line of type surrounded by an Aldrich label. And while I can go look these things up, and while my electronic notebook often is able to provide the information, it would still be a lot more convenient to have it on the label as well. You kno... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159796 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:16:03 +0100 5159796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159841&cid=t_101856_151_f&fid=35794&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCliffsideMalibu%2F%7E3%2Ft1NW-RX5Ij0%2F Drug rehabs are most successful when they cater to the individual needs of individual clients. As obvious as that might sound, the unfortunate truth is that many California drug rehab facilities provide the same generic drug rehab programs to all of their clients. As should go without saying, these drug rehabs routinely fail to help patients achieve meaningful and lasting drug recovery. Drug addiction is a personal problem. By the same token, drug rehabilitation must be a personal process. Only by trusting your health to a drug rehab center that will care for and about your personal needs can you expect to reach your recovery goals. Successful drug rehabs really do save lives. For your own sake, for the sake of the people who care about you, let today be the day you start learning the goo... Cliffside Malibu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159841 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:48:45 +0100 5159841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159754&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fquote-astrazeneca-made-patients-into.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159754 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:21:00 +0100 5159754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159742&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35436&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseroxatsecrets.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F21%2Fseroxatpaxil-addiction-studied-by-glaxo-or-not%2F This a repost – originally from March 2007. It’s worth reading again because of recent legal stuff that I can’t talk about at the moment. You might think that after all the years of doctors and patients all around the world saying Seroxat is highly addictive and Glaxo saying “Oh no it isn’t” – that Glaxo would simply undertake the definitive study to prove us all wrong and to show the world once and for all really how safe and non-addictive Seroxat is… well, it turns out Glaxo has already done this – or maybe they haven’t….? Confused – now read on. Finding a copy of the Paxil Protest website once again has been great. It’s a veritable treasure trove of fantastic stories and link, such as this one: The following exchange is f... seroxat secrets... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159742 Sun, 21 Aug 2011 07:47:07 +0100 5159742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139686&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FbnZJRxaxutE%2F By Tim LynchThe New York Times has an article today about how city officials take children away from parents because of marijuana use.  Here is an excerpt: Hundreds of New Yorkers who have been caught with small amounts of marijuana, or who have simply admitted to using it, have become ensnared in civil child neglect cases in recent years, though they did not face even the least of criminal charges, according to city records and defense lawyers. A small number of parents in these cases have even lost custody of their children. The article explains that even if a child is not immediately removed a “neglect finding” can kill prospects for certain jobs involving kids, such as a daycare assistant, and will make it easier for judges to order a removal down the road.  Even though m... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139686 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:26:05 +0100 5139686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140274&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fis_anyone_doing_the_pfizer_screening_deal.php A couple of years ago, I wrote here about an initiative from Pfizer. They were proposing letting other (smaller) companies screen their compound collection, with rights to be worked out if something interesting turned up. The thing is, I haven't heard about anyone taking them up on it. Does anyone know if this ever got off the ground, or did it get lost in the trackless Pfizer territories somewhere? It sounded like a reasonable idea in some ways, and I'm curious if it ever went anywhere. . . (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140274 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:14:11 +0100 5140274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140223&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fseroquel-lawsuit-blog-author.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140223 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:04:00 +0100 5140223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140224&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Falison-frankels-on-case-blogger-weitz.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140224 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:16:00 +0100 5140224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139737&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrlindagalloway.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F803342_pills_1.jpg A nurse recently asked a very important question that bears repeating: What effect does long-term use of pain pills have on pregnant women? She was concerned because of the increase in number of pregnant women who are taking pain pills on a long term basis based on previous surgeries, accidents or a history of chronic pain. The most common “pain pills” prescribed are opiates which effectively eliminate or reduce pain but have a great tendency to be abused. Opioids are natural and synthetic type drugs that have the characteristics of morphine. It can only be obtained with a prescription and unfortunately physicians contribute to the problem of dependency and abuse through their lack of scrutiny regarding patient requests. My present home state of Florida has the unsavory distinction of ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139737 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:00:46 +0100 5139737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139628&cid=t_101856_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fthe-safer-management-of-controlled-drugs-annual-report-2010%2F Scan or click 'The safer management of controlled drugs annual report 2010' Title: The safer management of controlled drugs annual report 2010 The Skinny: Recommends that: Chief executives and accountable officers should continue to keep the safe management of controlled drugs a high priority on their organisation’s agenda during the reorganisation of the NHS to ensure that the gains in safety made over the past four years are not lost. Chief executives and accountable officers should ensure that CD LINS have robust working arrangements and are fit for purpose and adequately prepared for the transition. Non-designated bodies should also participate in the information-sharing process to ensure that intelligence-gathering is thorough and complete, capturing information fr... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139628 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:36:29 +0100 5139628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139638&cid=t_101856_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fcommissioning-prison-based-substance-misuse-services-201112%2F Title: Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 Scan or click to download 'Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12' The Skinny: Dear Collegue letter that recommends the composition of Joint Commissioning Groups for Commissioning prison based substance misuse services 2011/12 should comprise of: • Prison governor or member of the prison senior management team (NOMS1) • PCT • DAAT lead • Local Authority representative • Probation (NOMS) • Police Publisher: DH Published: 27/07/11 Size: 3p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Behaviour disorders, Commissioning, Drug Abuse, Drug abuse services, Dual Diagnosis, Grey Literature, Health Services, Management cont... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139638 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:58:20 +0100 5139638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130744&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-approves-ges-newest-ct-scanner%2F2011.08.15 GE Healthcare has received the FDA OK for its Optima CT660 computed tomography (CT) system. The CT660, which is already available in Europe, Latin America and Asia, distinguishes itself by its compact footprint combined with a modular design and low dose imaging. In addition, it is also one of the most energy efficient CT scanners available and has an “environmental design” that eases refurbishment and end-of-life recycling. The scanner itself is scalable from 32 to 128 slices through purchasable options and features automatic table positioning and a color 12-inch integrated gantry display monitor. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130744 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:05:47 +0100 5130744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130713&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fis-pharma-ready-for-a-conversation-on-facebook Jonathan at Dose of Digital talks about pharma’s fear of Facebook pages centering around 2 issues that pharma thinks require 24/7 monitoring: Adverse Events and negative publicity. I hear the same excuse on why pharma companies are so scared to look at patient comments on blogs: adverse events. I’m sorry, but adverse events are happening [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130713 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:28:26 +0100 5130713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130657&cid=t_101856_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fpiloting-payment-by-results-for-drugs-recovery-%25e2%2580%2593-draft-outcome-definitions%2F Title: Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions Scan or click to download 'Piloting Payment by Results for Drugs Recovery – draft outcome definitions' The Skinny: The Government has set the following high-level outcomes: Free from drug(s) of dependence Offending Employment Health and well-being A Co-design Group has developed proposals to measure these outcomes and set eligibility criteria and now invites comments from the sector on draft proposals. Publisher: DH Published: 13/07/11 Size: 13p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Addiction, Addiction units, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol abuse services, Alcohol and drug consumption, Clinical Governance, Drug Abuse, Drugs of Abuse, Grey Literature, Health Outcomes, Health Services, Outcomes, ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130657 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:04:28 +0100 5130657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130660&cid=t_101856_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fkeeping-patients-safe-when-they-transfer-between-care-providers-%25e2%2580%2593-getting-the-medicines-right-good-practice-guidance-for-healthcare-professions%2F Title: Keeping patients safe when they transfer between care providers – getting the medicines right: Good practice guidance for healthcare professions Scan or Click to download 'Keeping patients safe when they transfer between care providers – getting the medicines right: Good practice guidance for healthcare professions' The Skinny: Guidance from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society on the safe and effective transfer of information about patients’ medicines. The guidance contains high level core principles and responsibilities that underpin the safe transfer of information about medicines whenever a patient transfers care providers both internally within an organisation or externally, at any point in the care pathway. Publisher: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Published: 13/07/1... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130660 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:53:30 +0100 5130660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5131021&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fdoes-fda-ever-listen-seroquel-for.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5131021 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 16:33:00 +0100 5131021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125941&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Ffeeling-pensive-take-antipsychotic.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125941 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:18:00 +0100 5125941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118990&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FwbuuG2ELBEc%2F As Washington looks to shrink overwhelming deficits, the pharmaceutical industry is gearing up to fight any plan to seek more discounts and rebates for Medicare. Having contributed $112 billion to health care reform last year, drugmakers are bolstering their lobbying efforts and are warning that any move to extract more money will cost them a collective $20 billion and jeopardize 260,000 jobs. “We made a contribution to the Affordable Care Act that was substantial and fundamental,” Pfizer ceo Ian Read tells Bloomberg News. “We are only 10 percent of the health-care spend in the United States, and we are the most efficient part of that.” And he adds that Pfizer will “oppose any further changes” to Medicare. The industry is centering on the Medicare Part D drug benefit, ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118990 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:43:43 +0100 5118990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118708&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fannouncing-the-psych-central-drug-discount-card%2F I’m proud to tell you about a new, free benefit offered to Psych Central members and readers — a drug discount card. The Psych Central drug discount card can save you up to 80% or more off the cost of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and pet prescription drugs. The Psych Central Drug Discount Card is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies, including major chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and at regional chains and local stores. It is offered in partnership with NeedyMeds. The card may be used by those without insurance and by those who decide not to use their insurance — for example if the drug is not covered under their plan, the copay or deductible is high, the cap has been reached, or if they are in the donut hole. There are no income, insu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118708 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:11:01 +0100 5118708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118643&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-manufacturer-issues-statement-banning-drug-used-for-lethal-injections%2F2011.08.11 A friend sent me a press release a few days ago and I still find myself thinking about it. Here in the United States capital punishment is still legal in many states and is performed, frequently, by lethal injection. Prisoners sentenced to death have an IV placed in their arm which is then infused with the following three solutions: A barbiturate like Sodium Pentothal or Nembutal, used to induce anesthesia A paralytic like pancuronium bromide or succinylcholine chloride, used to stop respiration Potassium chloride used to stop electrical conduction in the heart I remember a few years ago drug manufacturer Hospira, the producer of Sodium Pentothal, issued a statement that it disapproved of its drug being used in capital punishment.  But, that was as far as their opposition went and, alth... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118643 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:36 +0100 5118643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118957&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fweitz-luxenberg-settles-astrazeneca.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118957 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:19:00 +0100 5118957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118711&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2F3-facts-you-might-not-know-about-freud-and-his-biggest-addiction%2F You may know that Sigmund Freud, the famed founder of psychoanalysis, had a fascination with cocaine and abused it for many years. But you might not know these three facts that relate to Freud’s longstanding interest in cocaine. Howard Markel, M.D., Ph.D, professor of medical history at the University of Michigan, documents all this and more in his comprehensive, beautifully written book An Anatomy of Addiction: Sigmund Freud, William Halsted and the Miracle Drug Cocaine. 1. Freud was initially attracted to cocaine because he wanted to help a close friend. One of Freud’s dearest friends, Dr. Ernst von Fleischl-Marxow, was heavily addicted to morphine, and Freud initially believed that cocaine could cure him. A brilliant man and talented doctor, Fleischl-Marxow had an accident while do... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118711 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:18:48 +0100 5118711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118762&cid=t_101856_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fstudies-point-complexity-hit-transition Like it or not, spending the public’s money on the HIT transition is a Catch-22. On the one hand, billions of dollars are being spent on a promise. On the other hand, there’s no way of knowing for sure whether the promise will come true until those billions are spent. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118762 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:19:03 +0100 5118762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118974&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2Fthe_economics_of_the_drug_industry_big_cant_be_big_enough.php I wanted to extract and annotate a comment of Bernard Munos' from the most recent post discussing his thoughts on the industry. Like many of the ones in that thread, there's a lot inside it to think about: (Arthur) De Vany has shown that the movie industry has developed clever tools (e.g., adaptive contracts) to deal with (portfolio uncertainty). That may come to pharma too, and in fact he is working on creating such tools. In the meantime, one can build on the work of Frank Scherer at Harvard, and Dietmar Harhoff. (Andrew Lo at MIT is also working on this). Using simulations, they have shown that traditional portfolio management (as practiced in pharma) does achieve a degree of risk mitigation, but far too little to be effective. In other words, because of the extremely skewed probabilit... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118974 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:45:04 +0100 5118974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118975&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F09%2Fdrug_research_areas_you_wish_youd_never_heard_of.php A conversation the other day got me to thinking: over the course of my career, I've worked in the following therapeutic areas (more or less in chronological order): CNS (dementia, then Alzheimer's), diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, oncology, anti-bacterials, multiple sclerosis, and antivirals. That covers a fair amount of ground, but there are still areas I've never really touched on - not much that would qualify as cardiovascular and not much inflammation, for example. So I'm sure that there are readers out there who have seen more drug discovery territory than I have - anyone who thinks that they have the local record, feel free to leave details in the comments. A second question is whether there are therapeutic areas that you'd always wanted to try but never have. (Anti-infectives woul... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118975 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:10:17 +0100 5118975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107744&cid=t_101856_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-ms-honeymoon%2F Diagnostics are better. Primary care doctors are more aware. Patients are seeking knowledge. The general population of people newly diagnosed with MS seems to be getting a bit younger. Truth be known, it’s likely that they are being diagnosed earlier in the course of multiple sclerosis, and that’s a good thing! Medications appear to be more effective early in the course of MS. That’s not just to say they seem to “work” better at keeping attacks down. The meds seem to slow the progression to the point where we may have some extra “good years” before (if) our MS decides to get progressive. Herein lay my thoughts for today: The MS Honeymoon. Many, if not most, of us can think back to some physical “oddities” which we experienced well prior to diagnosis. It wasn’t until a f... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107744 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:40:34 +0100 5107744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107875&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fmore_on_cancer_drug_shortages.php I wrote here back in June about the growing problem of shortages of oncology drugs. The blog post I linked to then (at Marginal Revolution) blamed regulatory factors and price controls as two major contributors to the shortages, but pointed out that you can't point your finger at just one factor. A pile of them, taken together, can gum up the system enough to cause trouble. Now Ezekiel Emanuel in the New York Times has weighed in with a good editorial on the situation, and it blames. . .price controls and regulatory factors. For those who thought I was engaging in dangerous FDA-bashing in my last post, here's another factor to consider: Historically, this “buy and bill” system was quite lucrative; drug companies charged Medicare and insurance companies inflated, essentially made-up �... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107875 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:34:33 +0100 5107875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107876&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fread_the_comments.php Just wanted to point out to anyone who's not reading the comments here that the ones to this post are of extremely high quality. If you want to hear the thoughts of a lot of intelligent, experienced people on what's wrong with the drug industry and what might be done to fix it, have a look. (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107876 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:42:09 +0100 5107876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103426&cid=t_101856_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fuk-ms-patients-may-lose-one-medication-option%2F You know when the chief executive of the UK MS Society, Simon Gillespie, is quoted as saying “…people with MS would be better off living almost anywhere else in Europe…” in a press release, things are going terribly wrong for multiple sclerosis patients in that country. Mr. Gillespie’s remarks came on the heels of a decision by the British National Institutes for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE (the agency that recommends action to the National Health Service (NHS) as to what medication costs the NHS should cover for patients), that the oral MS med Gileyna (fingolimod) should not be paid for by NHS. NICE seems to have flat-out ignored science in their decision and focused instead on cost alone. Going so far as to compare the medication’s results to that of patients taki... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103426 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:37:35 +0100 5103426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097080&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fbeac5L8CjbE%2F And the number is… 23 percent. That’s right - 23 percent of physicians will not accept free samples from drugmakers, according to a new survey of 168,834 medical offices representing approximately 480,000 physicians in 56 therapeutic specialties that was conducted by Cegedim’s SK&A unit. This is a rather large figure, although optimists will say that 77 percent of physicians are still taking samples. Of course, this varies by specialty. For instance, 96 percent of allergists and immunologists are happy to take samples, as are 92 percent of urologists, dermatologists and opthalmologists. By contrast, 67 percent of sports medicine practitioners and 62 percent sleep medicine specialists accept samples. Eight of the 56 specialties surveyed had acceptance rates of 90 perc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097080 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:47:54 +0100 5097080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096184&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fover-the-counter-lipitor-thats-risky.html Pfizer hopes consumers will soon be able to get its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) without a prescription, according to two news reports. But our medical advisors say that’s a bad idea because Lipitor and other statins are potent medications that can cause dangerous side effects, and should only be taken with a doctor's supervision. The company is likely looking for ways to make up lost sales—the drug racked up nearly $11 billion last year according to figures from IMS Health—when the patent expires in November. The Food and Drug Administration would have to grant permission for the switch, but that seems unlikely because it has previously said no to over-the-counter sales of two other statins—Mevacor (lovastatin) and Pravachol (pravastatin)&#8212... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096184 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:01:00 +0100 5096184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097038&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Fdoes_anyone_want_axanum.php While we're talking about the cost of drugs, is AstraZeneca really going to be able to sell anyone any Axanum? That's a combination pill of Nexium (esomeprazole) and low-dose aspirin. The FDA didn't go for it last year, but the InVivoBlog details the company's attempts to get it on the market across Europe. Seeing as how AZ's drug is staggering off patent protection in Europe, and seeing as how low-dose aspirin is cheaper than the better grades of dirt, I just don't see how they sell any of this stuff. But desperate times, desperate measure and all that, I guess. . . (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097038 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:06:35 +0100 5097038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097043&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F02%2Fmerck_moving_research_from_rahway.php I've heard from more than one person that Merck has decided to move most discovery research out of Rahway (in favor of the former Schering-Plough site in Kenilworth). Details are welcome in the comments from those with better information. That news does bring on end-of-an-era feelings, since they've been doing medicinal chemistry in Rahway for a long, long time. Kenilworth - well, I joined Schering-Plough when it was still in Bloomfield, and I remember the Kenilworth building site when it was a huge hole in the ground. We migrated into it (the building, not the hole) at the end of 1992, in a massive moving job that involved several convoys of 18-wheel trucks going down a partially-closed-off Garden State Parkway in the middle of the night. The move had to be done; Bloomfield was at the li... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097043 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:42:43 +0100 5097043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086374&cid=t_101856_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-books%2Faddadhd-drug-free-natural-alternatives-and-practical-exercises-to-help-your-child-focus-2.php Price 6 Listprice $15 Description Although attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) affect between 3 to 5 per cent of school-age kids, they remain the most misunderstood problems facing young children today. While medications like Ritalin and Cylert are traditionally prescribed to treat these disorders, they often come with worrying side effects and can cause weight loss, insomnia, and may even slow growth in younger children. Finally, “ADD/ADHD Drug Free” gives frustrated parents a long-awaited natural alternative.The first book to feature activities for children that will help them cope with their disorder by strengthening brain functioning, this life-changing guide shows parents, teachers and counselors how the ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086374 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5086374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077688&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-pharmacogenomic-tests-help-to-improve-public-health%2F2011.07.29 Adverse drug events are a serious public health problem. Consider the following facts: an estimated 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more; 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually; $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug events annually; at least 40% of costs associated with adverse drug events occurring outside hospitals can be prevented. How can genomics help? Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variation as a factor in drug response, affecting both safety and effectiveness. The intended applications of pharmacogenomics research include identifying responders and non-responders to medications, avoiding adverse events, optimizing drug dose and avoiding unnece... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077688 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:00:10 +0100 5077688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078011&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F29%2F2011_drug_approvals_are_up_we_rule_right.php I've been meaning to comment on this article from the Wall Street Journal - the authors take a look at the drug approval numbers so far this year, and speculate that the industry is turning around. Well, put me in the "not so fast" category. And I have plenty of company there. Neither Bruce Booth (from the venture capital end), John LaMattina (ex-Pfizer R&D head) nor Matthew Herper at Forbes are buying it either. One of the biggest problems with the WSJ thesis is that most of these drugs have been in development for longer than the authors seem to think. Bruce Booth's post goes over this in detail, and he's surely correct that these drugs were basically all born in the 1990s. Nothing that's changed in the research labs in the last 5 to 10 years is likely to have significantly affected th... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078011 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:47:18 +0100 5078011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077673&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Ftylenols-maximum-dose-reduced-to-help-prevent-overdoses.html The maximum daily dose for Tylenol will be lowered on all acetaminophen-containing adult products from 4,000 mg (8 Extra Strength Tylenol pills) to 3,000 mg (6 pills), the manufacturer said today. The move is intended to reduce the risk of accidental acetaminophen overdoses that can lead to liver failure and death. People can unknowingly take too much acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, because it's included in more than 600 hundred over-the-counter medications that are intended to treat back pain, cold and flu symptoms, headaches, and other conditions. Acetaminophen is also found in certain prescription painkillers, such as Percocet and Vicodin. The reduction in the maximum daily dose will appear on bottle labels in the fall for Extra Strength Tylenol. Regular strength Tyle... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077673 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:35:00 +0100 5077673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077690&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-best-time-to-be-treated-for-a-dvt%2F2011.07.28 You know I am a cancer survivor – 15 years down the road from a leukemia diagnosis and enjoying a 10 year remission. So whenever something seems weird about my health it’s cancer coming back, right? Wrong! Just how wrong was proven last night. I am writing this from my hospital bed in Seattle. The first symptom of a possible problem came three days ago when I had soreness in my right calf. A pulled muscle? Maybe. But I had not noticed straining it. Back at the gym the next day I had soreness again but thought it was no big deal. Last night it was worse. It hurt some to walk. I got home and, after my wife and son were asleep, got ready for bed. I had a slight fever and then noticed the right calf was not only sore, but swollen and warm. Very strange. I’d never seen that before. Trying... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077690 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:00:02 +0100 5077690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077674&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Ffewer-young-people-dying-from-chickenpox-thanks-to-vaccine.html Chickenpox deaths have declined 97 percent among people under 20, and 88 percent overall since the vaccine came on the market in 1995, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published this week in the journal Pediatrics. In fact, the chickenpox vaccine has been so effective that public health officials now foresee a potential elimination of deaths from the disease in the near future. Before the chickenpox vaccine, approximately 13 children between one and four years old, and 16 children between five and nine died every year from complications of the disease. But since the single dose vaccine was introduced the number of childhood deaths from chickenpox has been drastically reduced. Only 3 children from each of those age groups died during the entire six years betw... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077674 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:20:00 +0100 5077674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078012&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F28%2Fthe_secret_history_of_pfizer.php Here's a fascinating account at Fortune of the departure of Jeff Kindler as Pfizer's CEO. The magazine says that they interviewed over 100 people to round up the details, but some of these meetings only feature four or five people in a room, so that narrows things down a bit. It's also a back-room history of Pfizer over the last ten or fifteen years, and there's a lot of high-level political stuff that wasn't widely known at the time: McKinnell kept boosting R&D budgets, maintaining Pfizer's "shots on goal" approach -- the more compounds you explored, in theory, the more drugs you'd generate. But drugs can take a full decade to be developed and approved, and nothing big would be ready for years. So McKinnell fell back on the refuge of the desperate pharma CEO: In July 2002 he announced t... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078012 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:48:17 +0100 5078012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069765&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fbring-on-generics-so-long-blockbusters.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069765 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:15:00 +0100 5069765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062222&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdqYS8cogEZY%2F Cory Maye was in his home one evening minding his own business when his front door came crashing down.  Frightened that criminals were going to harm him and his child, Maye quickly retrieved a gun.  When his bedroom door came crashing down next, Maye fired.  When the lights came on, it turned out that the intruders were police officers and that Maye had killed one of them.  The nightmare had only just begun for Maye.  Police and prosecutors twisted a case of self-defense into a “murder” charge and they sought the death penalty.  Cato fellow Radley Balko read about the case when he was researching a paper concerning the militarization of police tactics and no-knock raids.  Radley then wrote about the injustice of Maye’s situation and word spread via the internet.�... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062222 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:20:16 +0100 5062222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062467&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2F3-years-of-detailing-one-psychiatrist.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062467 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:29:00 +0100 5062467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062246&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-effective-are-antidepressants%2F2011.07.24 Antidepressant drugs have been getting a bad rap in the media. I’ll just give 3 examples: On the Today show, prominent medical expert Tom Cruise told us Brooke Shields shouldn’t have taken these drugs for her postpartum depression. In Natural News, “Health Ranger” Mike Adams accused pharmaceutical companies and the FDA of covering up negative information about antidepressants, saying it would be considered criminal activity in any other industry. And an article in Newsweek said  “Studies suggest that the popular drugs are no more effective than a placebo. In fact, they may be worse.” Yet psychiatrists are convinced that antidepressants work and are still routinely prescribing them for their patients. Is it all a Big Pharma plot? Who ya gonna believe? Inquiring minds want ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062246 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:00:36 +0100 5062246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057746&cid=t_101856_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2Fthe-history-of-medicine%2F THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE 2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root." 1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer." 20 A.D. - "That prayer is good, but you have to pray in my name me to get through to Dad." 1850 A.D. - "That prayer is a superstitious chant, drink this potion." 1940 A.D. - "That potion is merely snake oil, swallow this pill." 1970 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic four times a day." 1980 A.D. - "Bacteria aren't the problem. Viruses are enemy number 1! Get this vaccination, but you still better take our pills too!" 1990 A.D. - "Taking pills four times a day? That's ARCHAIC! Take this tablet once-a-day." 1999 A.D. - "That once-a-day tablet is cost prohibitive. Take this cheaper generic. It's the same thing." 1999 A.D. - "Their generic once-a-day tablet isn't ... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057746 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:46:34 +0100 5057746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057718&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Fdrug-used-to-treat-atrial-fibrillation-increases-heart-risks.html The drug Multaq, also known as dronedarone, which is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, appears to double the risk of premature death in patients with a long-term form of atrial fibrillation, according to early results of a major clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said yesterday. Patients 65 and older with the condition who took Multaq also faced a higher risk of stroke and hospitalizations for heart failure. It’s still unclear whether the drug poses similar risks to patients with other forms of atrial fibrillation. The FDA said patients taking Multaq should not stop taking the drug but should contact their doctor or other health-care professional. The agency also said doctors should not prescribe Multaq to patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. About ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057718 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:30:00 +0100 5057718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051166&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35436&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseroxatsecrets.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2Fthe-murdochs-and-glaxo-the-parallels%2F I’ve been following the News International story with great interest. What surprised me today is the news that people think it’s wrong that James Murdoch paid off Gordon Taylor (£700,000 according to some estimates) and  included a gagging order in the agreement to stop the truth from coming out. Of course, Murdoch did this long before the details of the case were in the public domain, so he was spending big in order to try and avoid exactly what’s happening at this very moment. There seems to be outrgage that someone would do such a thing… well, I’ve got news for you – Glaxo has been doing for years and still does.. Here’s an old post from 2007: Buying our silence Buying our silence – that’s what it’s all about when Glaxo opens its cheque... seroxat secrets... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051166 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:37:12 +0100 5051166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051238&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbCFE16uqAmc%2F And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. As you know, this is our welcome signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is modest - a dip in the pool, an evening of soccer with one of the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Given the heat, a few indoor activities may be in order. How about an air-conditioned drive in the country or a movie marathon (if you avoid paying for more than one flick, you have a bargain). You could take a trip to the mall and spur the economy. Or you could stay home and turn on the telly for updates on the debt talks. Whatever you do, have a good time and stay cool. See you soon… Bristol-Myers Buys Amira Pharmaceuticals For Up To $475M (Xconomy) Merck And Simcere Pharmaceutical Form Joint Venture (China Daily) Ex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051238 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:44:20 +0100 5051238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051167&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhere-are-they-now-15-years-after-plans.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051167 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:01:00 +0100 5051167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051168&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fgruesome-crime-to-young-boy-included.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051168 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:11:00 +0100 5051168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050579&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fincreasing-government-oversight-of-irbs-could-help-prevent-seeding-trials%2F2011.07.21 I thought I read the final chapter in the tale of Pfizer’s shady marketing practices for Neurontin years ago. Sadly, there’s at least one more chapter to go. Recall that in 2008, leaked documents from a US District Court revealed that Pfizer had covered-up the results of a clinical trial which showed the drug didn’t work for chronic nerve pain, even as it promoted off-label use of the anti-seizure drug for that purpose. The next year, it was revealed that Parke-Davis (now a subsidiary of Pfizer) took advantage of lax disclosure policies by certain medical journals to publish 13 articles promoting off-label use of Neurontin that were ghostwritten and funded by the company without disclosing such arrangements. Now, it has come to light that Parke Davis’ marketing department sponsored... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050579 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:00:20 +0100 5050579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051200&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Fdrugs_for_multiple_sclerosis_worth_the_price_or_not.php Now this is an uncomfortable study, if you're in the business of treating multiple sclerosis. An article in Neurology looks at the cost-effectiveness of several disease-modifying therapies: the two interferon-beta-1as (Avonex and Rebif), interferon-beta-1b (Betaseron) Copaxone, Betaseron and the immune modulator Copaxone (glatiramer acetate). The authors tracked ten-year quality of life, including lost time at work, overall time without relapses, and so on, and compared that with the cost of treatment. The final figure is in dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). That's not the most exact calculation in the world, but if you're going to try to rank cost-effectiveness, no measure is going to be without controversy. There's been a lot of debate about this in the UK, where the NICE e... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051200 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:30:03 +0100 5051200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050716&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fthe-psychology-of-a-heat-wave%2F As the U.S. and Canada enter into a heat wave, I get a lot of questions about how heat impacts human behavior and our moods. So three years ago, I wrote a blog entry that reviews the research about weather affects our moods and behavior. It’s still a good overview of the research in this area and worth the read. But it’s nice to highlight a few points from that article, as well as other research, that demonstrates how the weather — and especially hot weather, in this case — can impact our mood. Does a heat wave lead to more violence? Do we have more or less energy during high humidity? What about depression and anxiety? Read on for the answers. Heat waves come and go nearly every year in some part of the world. What makes them especially difficult for indigenous po... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050716 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:32:10 +0100 5050716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051170&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fseroquel-and-sudden-death-warning-on.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051170 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:21:00 +0100 5051170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051171&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fastrazenecas-antipsychotic-seroquel-new.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051171 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:11:00 +0100 5051171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050679&cid=t_101856_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fedible-cat-litter-for-drug-delivery.html – Having published a bog about bulldogs and cats, seems quite apt that I was also writing recently about kitty litter the main component of which is the absorbant mineral sepiolite. Sepiolite has been known since Roman times when it was used to filter and purify wine, today it's commonly found in cat litter trays. It absorbs huge amounts of liquid as it is so porous although a detailed understanding was missing. Now, an X-ray study could help explain why and perhaps lead to more technological applications, such as the development of food binders and drug-delivery agents. Related Posts:Composting Chitosan Cat-litter CompositeSpectroscopic science newsCurious X-shooter AntibioticsTuberculosis Waste Disposal Defeats Immune SystemCanned heavy metal and moreEdible cat litter for dru... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050679 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:41:16 +0100 5050679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036274&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F17%2Funwasted-an-interview-with-sacha-scoblic-on-the-sober-life%2F As a recovering drunk myself, I was especially interested in the new memoir, Unwasted: My Lush Sobriety by Sacha Z. Scoblic, a writer in Washington, DC, and a contributing editor to The New Republic. I thought I’d ask her more about what she thinks about life without booze. 1. If you knew all that you do today, what would you have done differently your first year of sobriety? Sacha: The first year of sobriety is riddled with basic epiphanies most adults have sooner than do addicts (like: Paying bills is not optional and I don’t have to drink just because it’s Arbor Day) as well as turbulent emotions rising to the surface after years of self-medication through alcohol, drugs, and denial. And then there’s this feeling that no one understands your loss, cravings, or anxieties, bec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036274 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:42:51 +0100 5036274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036290&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F07%2F16%2Fnicholas-christakis-on-the-situation-of-epidemics%2F From TED Talks: After mapping humans’ intricate social networks, Nicholas Christakis and colleague James Fowler began investigating how this information could better our lives. Now, he reveals his hot-off-the-press findings: These networks can be used to detect epidemics earlier than ever, from the spread of innovative ideas to risky behaviors to viruses (like H1N1). Related Situationist posts: “The Situation of Social Networks,” “The Social Situation of Breaking Up,” “Social Networks,” “Common Cause: Combating the Epidemics of Obesity and Evil,” and “Situational Obesity, or, Friends Don’t Let Friends Eat and Veg.” (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036290 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:01:57 +0100 5036290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029205&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fm__LsA3oi6M%2F In the latest move by the Republican-dominated legislature in Maine to undo laws that have made the pharmaceutical industry uncomfortable, three bills were repealed this week that required drugmakers to report three things: marketing costs, prices subject to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and negative findings in clinical trials. The action follows an effort last month to repeal a 2003 law that was created to prevent pharmacy benefit managers from switching patients to more expensive drugs and protect consumers from co-payments when actual drug prices are cheaper (back story). Taken together, Maine Democrats say the various repeals will roll back important patient safety protections. “It’s part of the pro-pharma agenda being pushed in Maine these days,” says Sharon Trea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029205 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:08:47 +0100 5029205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028199&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fastercures.org%2Fdocuments%2Ffile%2FFasterCures%2520Chronicle%2520of%2520Philanthropy%2520Articles%2520Final%281%29.pdf The following is a guest post by Margaret Anderson, executive director of FasterCures/The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions, an “action tank” working to improve the medical research system and speed up the time it takes to get important new medicines from discovery to patients. Margaret also serves as vice president of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, board member for the Council for American Medical Innovation and the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, and member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation Government Affairs Committee and the Institute of Medicine’s Forum on Drug Discovery, Development and Translation. In 2011, the Clinical Research Forum recognized her with an award for leadership in public advocacy. By Margaret Anderson. What’s missing today in the... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028199 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:15:00 +0100 5028199 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028143&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fn3H3JMIWUMg%2F By Walter OlsonPhilip Greenspun discovers that an FAA inspector is happy to march a little helicopter charter outfit run by a single owner/pilot through the same paperwork slog that a much busier operation would face: Finally, the FAA inspector looked at my random drug testing program to make sure that everything was in place. I’m subject to the same drug testing requirements as United Airlines. I am the drug testing coordinator for our company, so I am responsible for scheduling drug tests and surprising employees when it is their turn to be tested. As it happens, I’m also the only “safety-sensitive employee” subject to drug testing, so basically I’m responsible for periodically surprising myself with a random drug test. As a supervisor, I need to take training so that I can re... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028143 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:38:29 +0100 5028143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028220&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmeta-analyses-and-a-capricious-drug-approval-process-the-actos-and-avandia-stories%2F2011.07.13 Both Germany and France have now suspended the marketing of Actos (pioglitazone) due to concerns of a link between Actos and bladder cancer. Though we have known about bladder cancer concerns for some time, these recent concerns about the bladder cancer link stem from a recent report analyzing the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), which found that 93 cases of cancer were recorded between 2004 and 2009 in patients treated with antidiabetic drugs, of which 31 patients were treated with pioglitazone, representing a statistically significant increased risk of bladder cancer (ROR 4.30, 95% confidence interval, 2.82-6.52; P less than 0.0001). Interestingly, the FDA announced that it was going to look into the link between Actos and bladder cancer only a few days before it made i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028220 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:00:00 +0100 5028220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029138&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fflorida-seroquel-mdl-plaintiffs-dismiss.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029138 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:41:00 +0100 5029138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028462&cid=t_101856_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Fbetty-ford-dies-at-age-93%2F Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States died Friday at the age of 93. Dr. William Van Ornum gives this succinct summary of her life in a tribute on the website of the American Mental Health Foundation (AMHF): Mrs. Ford was born in Chicago, grew up in modest circumstances, became a dancer, and married Mr. Ford shortly after he returned from the Navy in World War II. She thought she was signing up for a life with a mid-western lawyer; instead he chose politics and she was thrust into the role of a political wife, all the while raising 4 children and trying to keep her own interests as well. Political life became difficult for her and she felt an emptiness inside from which she sought solace in alcohol and prescription pills. She was open about her addiction at a time when othe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028462 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:23:09 +0100 5028462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008634&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F07%2Fphenotypic_screening_for_the_win.php Here's another new article in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery that (for once) isn't titled something like "The Productivity Crisis in Drug Research: Hire Us And We'll Consult Your Problems Away". This one is a look back at where drugs have come from. Looking over drug approvals (259 of them) between 1999 and 2008, the authors find that phenotypic screens account for a surprising number of the winners. (For those not in the business, a phenotypic screen is one where you give compounds to some cell- or animal-based assay and look for effects. That's in contrast to the target-based approach, where you identify some sort of target as being likely important in a given disease state and set out to find a molecule to affect it. Phenotypic screens were the only kinds around in the old days (before,... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008634 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:24:34 +0100 5008634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008209&cid=t_101856_88_f&fid=38153&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ozemedicine.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D957 This Act came into effect 1 March 2011 and essentially provides a mechanism for certain medical practitioners to detain and treat persons with potentially life threatening substance dependence and who are unable to consent to treatment. See details on the wiki (Source: Oz E Medicine - emergency medicine in Australia) Oz E Medicine - emergency medicine in Australia blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008209 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 05:59:40 +0100 5008209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008179&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F07%2Flooking-for-an-alternative-to-recalled-tylenol.html Since the recall last week of nearly 61,000 bottles of Tylenol Extra Strength pain relief because of a musty, moldy odor, you may be finding it hard to find the product on pharmacy shelves. Or the string of Tylenol recalls for that same problem going back over a year now might make you think that it’s time to look for alternatives. Our advice: Look for store-brand or generic versions of acetaminophen instead. Generic acetaminophen typically costs much less than brand-name versions, is just as safe and effective, and hasn’t been implicated in these recalls. Read more about our tips on using generic drugs. (Source: Consumer Reports Health Blog) Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008179 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:30:00 +0100 5008179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008184&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F2NrKe40onN8%2F By Archelle Georgiou. The use of Avastin for breast cancer was addressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week. The outcome was devastating for Roche and an emotional one for many women who believe the FDA is subjecting them to a death sentence.  As usual, there are a variety of perspectives to take into consideration. The history: In 2008, Avastin was given preliminary approval by the FDA for the treatment of breast cancer on the condition that the company would do more studies to demonstrate its effectiveness. Many women have been successfully treated with Avastin — a billion dollar drug for Roche. But when Roche submitted the required follow-up studies in 2010, the data showed that there was no benefit from the drug for treating breast cancer.  Studies did not show ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008184 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:08 +0100 5008184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997516&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FbcwS0CtcGjg%2F By Glenna Crooks. On June 20, New York Times writer Tara Parker-Pope wrote about how FICO, the company with the scores that describe our credit worthiness, has developed a new FICO Medication Adherence Scores to determine – using public, but not medical, information – who is likely to skip or incorrectly use medications. Over the next year, 10 million people will likely be scored (without their knowing it, by the way) within a rage of 0-500. Those over 400 would be deemed ‘likely’ to use medication appropriately; those with lower scores would receive calls, cards, letters or some other intervention to boost their rates of adherence. Halfway into the article, my HIPAA-involved policy-wonk self went bonkers. True, they don’t use medical records information but the fact that without... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997516 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:07:17 +0100 4997516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997793&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fseroquel-lawsuit-blogastrazeneca.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997793 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:55:00 +0100 4997793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997643&cid=t_101856_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fhow-does-your-doctor-interpret-your-hsg.html An HSG ( hysterosalpingogram, X-ray of the uterus and tubes, www.drmalpani.com/hsg.htm) is one of the commonest tests performed for infertile women , to confirm their uterine cavity is normal and their fallopian tubes are open. How does the doctor interpret your HSG films ? Sometimes, the films are of such poor quality , that we cannot make any sense of them. This maybe because the procedure was not done properly; or because the film was overexposed or under-exposed. Sometimes, the patient moves during the procedure, as a result of which the images may be blurred or out of focus. When this happens, this is a major shame, because we are then forced to repeat the study. I hate doing this, because I know the HSG can be quite painful ! This is why it’s best to do the HSG in a clinic which ha... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997643 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:36:00 +0100 4997643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008637&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Finnovation_and_return_europe_vs_the_us.php Here's another look at the productivity problems in drug R&D. The authors are looking at attrition rates, development timelines, targets and therapeutic areas, and trying to find some trends to explain (or at least illuminate) what's been going on. Their take? Attrition rates have been rising at all phases of drug development, and most steeply in Phase III. (This sounds right to me). Here are their charts: And when they look at where the drug R&D efforts have been going, they find that comparatively more time and money has been spent on targets with lower probability of success. That means (among other things) more oncology, Alzheimer's, arthritis, Parkinson's et al. and less cardiovascular and anti-HIV. That makes sense, too, in a paradoxical way. If we were to get drugs in those areas... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008637 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:07:33 +0100 5008637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992652&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FZIx6gXprQZg%2F By Tim LynchPresident Obama is backing away from his campaign pledge to not interfere with the states that choose to adopt medical marijuana reforms.  Here’s an excerpt from the NORML blog on the new policy memorandum issued by the Department of Justice: [T]he memorandum states that the recent flurry of intimidating US Attorney letters to state lawmakers are “entirely consistent” with the Obama administration’s position. In other words, the administration is now on record in support of claims made by US Attorneys in Rhode Island, Washington, and other states alleging that state employees could be targeted and federally prosecuted for simply registering and licensing medical cannabis patients or providers — a position that is even more extreme than that of the previo... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992652 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:59:07 +0100 4992652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992658&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyjJ8mYw5q7Y%2F By Gene Healy…that’s what former Cato policy analyst, Reason senior editor and now Huffington Post reporter Radley Balko reports: I’m in Monticello, Mississippi, this morning, where Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell has just signed a plea agreement between Cory Maye and the state. Maye has plead guilty to a reduced charged of manslaughter, and has been resentenced to 10 years in prison, time he has already served. He’ll be sent to Rankin County for processing. He should be released and home with his family in a matter of days. Cory Maye’s is a story about a paramilitary-style drug raid gone grotesquely wrong, a cautionary tale about the human costs of the War on Drugs, and a lesson in how a dedicated investigative reporter can throw a wrench in the ever-grinding wh... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992658 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:42:39 +0100 4992658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992992&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F4WWaHl1UN4I%2F After months of contentious debate, the Massachusetts legislature reached accord on a state budget last night, but the many provisions failed to include a long-standing effort to repeal the 2008 law that bans drug and device makers from giving gifts to docs. And the budget also failed to overturn a Massachusetts ban on coupons - the only such state ban in the country (read the budget). The effort to repeal the gift ban had passed the House just two months ago in a bipartisan, 128-to-22 vote that reflected heavy lobbying by drugmakers and biotechs, which argued the law robbed the state of revenue from two medical conventions that held their events elsewhere. However, local restaurants also claimed a drop in business could be traced to the ban (see here). However, their argument lost credibi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992992 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:51:11 +0100 4992992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992956&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fpsychiatrist-pleads-guilty-in-200.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992956 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:26:00 +0100 4992956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984445&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpediatric-emergency-drug-calculator-great-idea-not-ready-for-prime-time%2F2011.06.30 Pediatric Emergency Drugs is designed to be a quick med list calculator for pediatric emergencies. For folks who deal with pediatric emergencies have the challenge of not only determining the proper drugs to use, but also to get the dosage right by age. At the first page you are met with a screen to enter the age of the child and either allow the program to pick the estimated weight or put your own weight in. This is a nice feature as often in pediatric emergencies patients arrive through the door needing immediate care and a weight is unavailable. The estimated weight it appears to pick is the 50% for a boy of the selected age. Allowing you to pick the gender of the child would be helpful in narrowing down the weight a little further since girls of a given age would weigh a little less. �... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984445 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 16:00:57 +0100 4984445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984686&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F69M-eNcvLh4%2F As they say, every little bit counts. And so drugmakers may be heartened to hear that the perception held by physicians of the pharmaceutical industry has actually improved this year - 58 percent of docs say they have a somewhat positive or extremely positive overall impression. This is, however, up just 2 points from last year. But this is also the first time since 2004 that a positive impression increased. Consumers, on the other hand, are heading in other direction - 46 percent have an extremely or somewhat negative impression this year, up 1 point from last year. Overall, one could argue the bottom line tallies for both groups is largely static, although perhaps docs are most sensitive to new approval and R&D issues, while consumers tend to focus on safety and price. The responses... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984686 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:56:33 +0100 4984686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984688&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F00EJHTbmsSw%2F Three years after the FDA linked the Heparin scandal to contaminated supplies from China, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is expanding a probe into the episode and wrote 10 drugmakers, manufacturer reps and ingredients suppliers for documents, because the agency has indicated they have info about the Chinese heparin industry and supply chains. The move comes after the committee has twice lashed out at the FDA for failing to find those responsible for the scandal, which was linked to 81 deaths in 2007 and 2008 and traced to heparin sold by Baxter International (back story). The fatalities provoked harsh criticism of the FDA for not conducting greater oversight of foreign facilities - particularly those in China that make medicines or supply active pharmaceutical ingredients. Baxter... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984688 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:55:31 +0100 4984688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984689&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEygW_voyKzU%2F Rise and shine. Another glorious day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are moving along like a cool breeze. Of course, there is much to be done - phone calls, meetings, reading documents. You name it. And we know you can related. So grab that cup of stimulation - no excuses, please - and pick up your to-do list. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits from around your world. Have a good one… US Court Orders Seizure Of Cipla Pet Drug For Patent Violation (Dow Jones) Lilly Plans 10 Drug In Final-Stage Trials By End Of 2011 (Bloomberg News) Niaspan Prescriptions Fall After Negative Study Results (Dow Jones) Pfizer Signs Deal With Russian Venture Capital Firm For R&D (Associated Press) Forest Files COPD Drug For FDA Approval (Pharma Times) ‘Neurontin Kille... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984689 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:53:38 +0100 4984689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975856&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fcr-secret-shoppers-find-dangers-with-prescription-labels-and-inserts.html It seemed like a straightforward “spot check.” We sent Consumer Reports Health staffers to five pharmacies—Costco, CVS, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart—near our Yonkers, N.Y. office to fill prescriptions for the blood-thinner warfarin to see what kinds of instructions and warnings we’d find on the prescription bottles and patient-information sheets. But what we found was troubling. We expected clear and consistent label information for two reasons. First, if not taken correctly warfarin, the generic version of Coumadin, can cause bleeding problems, which can be fatal. In fact, it’s the second most commonly implicated drug in emergency room visits in the U.S. In addition, it’s taken so often that it ranked among the top 20 most prescribed medication... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975856 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4975856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976190&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2Fdrug_rd_spending_now_down_but_look_at_the_history.php I hate to be such a shining beacon of happiness today, but this news can't very well be ignored, can it? For the first time ever, total drug R&D spending seems to have declined: The global drug industry cut its research spending for the first time ever in 2010, after decades of relentless increases, and the pace of decline looks set to quicken this year. Overall expenditure on discovering and developing new medicines amounted to an estimated $68 billion last year, down nearly 3 percent on the $70 billion spent in both 2008 and 2009, according to Thomson Reuters data released on Monday. The fall reflects a growing disillusionment with poor returns on pharmaceutical R&D. Disappointing research productivity is arguably the biggest single factor behind the declining valuations of the sector... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976190 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:43:56 +0100 4976190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976206&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvinqO6QozGE%2F Hello, again. And how are you this morning? A beautiful day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus - the birds are chirping, the official mascots are lounging about and the cup of stimulation is brewing. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to another day of R&D. We know you can relate. To help you along, here are some tidbits. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Vertex Tops Merck In Hep C Drug Launch (The Street) Glaxo R&D Chief Says Advair Is Safe From Generics (Reuters) J&J Plans To Market More Products Under The Janssen Name (Financial Times) New Prostate Cancer Drugs Are Expensive (New York Times) Amgen Sells $3 Billion In Bonds To Pay For Dividends (Bloomberg News) Diabetes Cases In Adults Worldwide Has Doubled In 30 Years (Reuters) India Suspend... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976206 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:08 +0100 4976206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975857&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Fendocet-bottles-recalled-for-incorrect-dosage.html The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Endo Pharmaceuticals have issued a nationwide recall of bottles of Endocet. The problem: The bottle may contain tablets with higher concentrations of acetaminophen than indicated on the label, which could lead to health complications. The recall affects bottles labeled "Endocet® (oxycodone/acetaminophen, USP) Tablets, 10 mg /325 mg 100 count" with an expiration date of January 2014 and a Lot number of either 402415NV or 402426NV. Some of these bottles may contain the larger Endocet tablets (see image) which have higher oxycodone/acetaminophen ratios of 10mg/650mg. The flawed Endocet bottles were distributed between April and May to wholesalers in 18 states, including California, Florida, New York and Ohio. The affected bottles may have been furt... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975857 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:45:00 +0100 4975857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976158&cid=t_101856_136_f&fid=39212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbahtocancer.com%2F2011%2F06%2Ftennis-again-2%2F This time last year, I wrote this post, about how tennis and birthdays are all wrapped up in memory with the drug trial that left me looking like a sunburned turnip and afraid I was going to die. (Or look like a sunburned turnip forever.) And this time last year, I wondered how I’d be feeling about it all now. Well, the short answer is.. not as good as I’d hoped. The fact that the anniversary of the Amazing Exploding Head is all tied up with tennis and my approaching birthday means that it’s impossible to miss. All of us are a little bit shaky. Alan and I were talking about it the other day, and we think the whole thing was so horrible not just because of the whole turnip/death thing, but because we were utterly unprepared for it. If we were Andy Murray, we’d have ... Bah! to cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976158 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:40:33 +0100 4976158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968478&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Frecall-rugby-child-pain-and-fever-dropspackaging-not-childproof.html Almost 900,000 bottles of children’s concentrated pain and fever drops were recalled because the dispenser fails to meet standards for child-resistant closure. Although the original bottle has child-resistant packaging, a dropper for dispensing the drug to children does not. A child could access the medicine, posing serious health problems or death if more than the recommended dosage is consumed. No injuries or incidents have been reported in relation to this product. This over-the-counter medicine was sold at drug and grocery stores plus other retailers nation wide since January 2009. The drops contain acetaminophen, which calls for child-resistant packaging under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. To arrange for a free replacement dropper, contact Altaire Pharmaceuticals at 80... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968478 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:45:00 +0100 4968478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968905&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkCs8X6zlPB8%2F Earlier this week, Medco Health Solutions, the big pharmacy benefits manager, struck an unusual deal with Sanofi to help the drugmaker navigate the path from laboratory to formulary placement. Specifically, Medco will provide input on clinical trial design, help develop comparative effectiveness data and review usage of existing medications to improve patient adherence. The move reflects a growing awareness among drugmakers that designing and testing a compound for FDA approval is no longer the only key hurdle to winning sales and market share. We spoke with Robert Epstein, Medco’s clinical research and development officer, about the deal… Pharmalot: You’re saying this is the first deal of this sort. But the problems you hope to address aren’t new, right? Epstein: It’s been very ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968905 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:25:12 +0100 4968905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968469&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FxIDAon37R1c%2F By Juan Carlos HidalgoI never thought I would say this, but Evo Morales is right (this time). The Bolivian president asked the nation’s Congress to pass a law that would take his country out of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The bill already passed the lower chamber of Congress and is likely to be approved by the Senate where Morales enjoys a two-thirds majority. Bolivia is withdrawing from the UN Convention over the country’s failed efforts to have the coca leaf removed from the list of international illicit drugs. Chewing coca leaf is an ancestral and common practice in Bolivia and neighboring Andean countries. It helps people cope with fatigue and high altitude (I’ve tried it myself during a visit to the province of Jujuy in Argentina). The Bolivian amend... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968469 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:59:30 +0100 4968469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968912&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FK90Sx9ix8RI%2F In a closely watched case, the US Supreme Court has ruled that generic drugmakers are not required to strengthen product labeling if alerted to side effects, even when the same change has not been made to the labeling for the branded med. However, the court was divided with a 5-to-4 majority deciding in favor of the argument made by the generic industry. The decision came in response to a pair of lawsuits by two women who claimed such changes could have been made under state law and without FDA approval for such changes. They argued generic drugmakers would create uncertainty about safety if they are not held liable under state laws and update labeling in the face of evidence of serious side effects. Generic drugmakers, including Actavis and Pliva, argued they would have been required to p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968912 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:16:43 +0100 4968912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968913&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYL9hJtr6OEk%2F Is Medicaid getting good value for its money? A new study suggests the federal healthcare program may be paying more than is necessary for drugs and not offering the most effective options for patients. Why? The authors suggest Medicaid is apparently ignoring the World Health Organization’s 2009 Essential Medicines List, which offers biannual updates on meds that are safe and effective. The researchers compared Medicaid Preferred Drug Lists in 40 states with the WHO list from 2009 Essential Medicines List (see the latest here) and found that drugs automatically paid for by state-run Medicaid vary widely among the states and generally lack consistent protocols for choosing treatments, including cost, safety or effectiveness. They suggest Medicaid could save money if a more consistent appr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968913 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:23:10 +0100 4968913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960328&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FBKp9JbQ2S5I%2F Good morning, everyone. How are you today? Getting ready for those meetings and deadlines? We relate. There is much to do here on the Pharmalot corporate campus - reading, writing, chasing down interesting people. To prepare, we are brewing that reliable cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Rain Forest Nut. Feel free to join us. And to get things started, here are some tidbits. Have a good one and stay in touch… Bristol And Astra Diabetes Pill Faces Safety Hurdles (Bloomberg News) Biotechs Want Faster Drug Approvals (Boston Globe) Lilly CEO Blames Tax Laws And Immigration For Slower Innovation (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Ordered To Give Plaintiff Lists To United Health (Legal Intelligencer) Too Many UK Patients Are Prescribed Risky Drugs (Pharma Times) Abbott Labs Plant Closure Delaye... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960328 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:54:26 +0100 4960328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960242&cid=t_101856_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FyRR9QNlUqb8%2F Last week, we wrote about research claiming antidepressants could make you more depressed. Italian professor of clinical psychology Giovannia Fava found antidepressants used over long periods of time can actually increase a patient’s chances of relapse more than if they were to take a placebo. Mixed messages on antidepressants and other psychopharmaceuticals seem to be increasingly prevalent. More people than ever are prescribed them—and have a vested interest in selling them. For a fascinating primer on how the psychiatric drug culture we know today came to be, check out this New York Review of Books piece by Marcia Angell. In it, Angell reviews three new books on the psychiatric industry (The Emperor’s New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth, Anatomy of an Epidemic: Mag... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960242 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:43:57 +0100 4960242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960068&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-your-diet-might-interfere-with-prescription-medications%2F2011.06.22 When people talk about prescription medications, everyone is familiar with the concept of side effects from medication. But, did you know that there are things in your diet that may interfere with your prescription medication? In addition, your prescription medication may interfere with over the counter medications. In this video, there are two interviews recorded on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 on local TV news. If you find the information above helpful, I invite you to check out other TV interviews on medical/health issues at MikeSevilla.TV *This blog post was originally published at Family Medicine Rocks Blog - Mike Sevilla, MD* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960068 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:00:54 +0100 4960068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960060&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fchantix-may-cause-heart-attacks.html The drug varenicline—sold under the brand name Chantix and used to help smokers quit—may increase the risk of heart problems, the FDA has warned. Varenicline more than doubles a smoker’s chance of quitting compared with willpower alone, but it has side effects. More than 1 in 10 people taking it feel nauseated, have trouble sleeping, get strange dreams, or get a headache. Some people have reported changes in mood or even suicidal feelings with the drug, although a 2009 study didn't find any link between varenicline and suicidal thoughts. Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that varenicline may increase the risk of heart problems. In a year-long study of people trying to quit smoking, 2 in 100 people taking varenicline had a heart attack, compared wit... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960060 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4960060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960335&cid=t_101856_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fselecting-a-treatment-service%2F What are some questions to ask in choosing an alcohol and drug treatment program? The US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recommends asking the following questions when selecting a treatment program:Does the program accept your insurance? If not, will they work with you on a payment plan or find other means of support for you?Is the program run by state-accredited, licensed and/or trained professionals?Is the facility clean, organized and well-run?Does the program encompass the full range of needs of the individual (medical: including infectious diseases; psychological: including co-occurring mental illness; social; vocational; legal; etc.)?Does the treatment program also address sexual orientation and physical disabilities as well as provide age, gender and cultur... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960335 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:21:51 +0100 4960335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952825&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fsafety%2F2011%2F06%2Ffda-report-addresses-safety-concerns-with-imported-goods.html The Food and Drug Administration released a special report Monday that addresses rising number of foods and drugs being imported into the U.S. each year, and the challenges the agency faces in inspecting the safety of those products. The report, titled “Pathway to Global Product Safety and Quality,” says nearly two-thirds of all fruits and vegetables and 80 percent of seafood consumed in America comes from outside the country. Additionally, half of the medical devices and 80 percent of the ingredients for pharmaceuticals that are sold here are manufactured abroad. The number of products being imported has spiked in the last decade. In 2001, the FDA inspected 6 million products at 300 ports around the country; this year, the agency is expected to police 24 million products. ... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952825 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:25:37 +0100 4952825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952834&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F-eAzFLBs7og%2F Beginning September 2012, FDA will require larger, more prominent cigarette health warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements in the United States.  These warnings mark the first change in cigarette warnings in more than 25 years and are a significant and necessary advancement in communicating the dangers of smoking. The final set of cigarette health warnings contains nine different text warnings and accompanying color graphics to: increase awareness of the specific health risks associated with smoking, such as death, addiction, lung disease, cancer, stroke and heart disease; encourage smokers to quit; and empower youth to say no to tobacco. The above is one of the new warnings; to see more of the new warnings of to learn more about them click here. Watch today’s ann... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952834 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:41:40 +0100 4952834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953364&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fxf82daLCbCo%2F And now, a study confirms what many people probably already knew - those brief summaries about drug side effects, contraindications and effectiveness that appear in print advertisements can be hard to fathom. Or to put it another way, “the traditional method of conveying information in the brief summary is neither the most comprehensible nor the most preferred by consumers.” That’s the conclusion reached by a study in Medical Decision Making. The researchers asked 300 consumers who were in shopping malls and, at one time, had been told they overweight and told they needed to lose more than 15 pounds were qualified. About half were female. These people were shown four different brief summary formats as alternatives to the existing approach that usually has two pages in a p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953364 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:08:47 +0100 4953364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953393&cid=t_101856_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F517%2Fprotect-your-skin-this-summer%2F It’s the summer and while you proceed to spend some fun in the sun with your family and friends, it’s important that you properly protect your skin from overexposure—too much sun can lead not only to painful sunburns, but skin cancer and early skin aging such as unattractive wrinkles and sun spots as well. But when it comes to selecting the best sunscreen for you and/or your family, sometimes it’s confusing. So confusing in fact, that the Food and Drug Administration has mandated new sun screen regulations so that consumers can better understand labels and get the protection they need. Under the new regulations, which will take effect next summer, sunscreens will now have to pass a “broad spectrum” test before they can be placed on the market. This test will... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953393 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:31:52 +0100 4953393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952833&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Ffda-warns-of-bladder-cancer-risk-with-actos.html The diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos) increases the risk of bladder cancer in people who take it for a year or longer, the Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday. The warning applies to all drugs containing pioglitazone, including Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR, and Duetact. The FDA said an ongoing study involving more than 193,000 people 40 or older with type 2 diabetes found that those who took Actos for more than a year had a 40 percent higher risk of developing bladder cancer. France banned the drug last week after a study that followed 1.5 million people with diabetes also found an increased risk of bladder cancer, particularly in men. Signs of bladder cancer include blood or red color in your urine, urgent need to urinate or pain while urinating, and pain in your back or... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952833 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:15:00 +0100 4952833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952952&cid=t_101856_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fscience-across-the-spectrum.html Penrose, Escher, back – M.C. Escher‘s famously paradoxical illustration of 1960 depicting a stairway atop an “impossible” building, and made famous recently in a dreamscape of the Hollywood movie “Inception“, that seems to ascend or descend interminably is a good example of how projecting our 3D world into two dimensions in artwork can be exploited to manipulate our perceptions. The stairway was originally conceived by father and son team Lionel and Roger Penrose in 1959. Now, Japanese chemists have reconstructed the illusion using a single molecule. Yet another source of antioxidants, in the trees – Researchers in France explain how several species of poplar tree have been used in traditional medicine for their anti-inflammatory properties. They h... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952952 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 07:16:06 +0100 4952952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945113&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fseroquel-lawsuit-blog-seven-year-itch.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945113 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:27:00 +0100 4945113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934158&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvideogames-as-behavioral-intervention-for-patients-with-chronic-diseases%2F2011.06.16 In recent posts on Web-based and mobile behavioral intervention programs, we reviewed evidence suggesting that social support, in one form or another, can improve participants’ adherence and engagement with the program. That didn’t always mean however, that participants achieved better outcomes as a result. In one study for example, an online community increased engagement with and utilization of a Web-based activity program, but it did not increase participants’ actual activity levels. Another study, slightly older than the ones reviewed above, did show that a Web-based program improved outcomes. In this case, the intervention was an online videogame known as Re-Mission. Since I haven’t touched previously on outcome studies for automated lifestyle intervention tools or videogames ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934158 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:00:43 +0100 4934158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934159&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-to-expect-from-the-new-sunscreen-labels%2F2011.06.16 Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released the new rules regarding labeling of sunscreen.  The goal is to make it easier for the average person to chose a sunscreen. The new labels will not be in place until next summer, so you need to be aware. When the new labels are in place, NO sunscreen will be allowed to be labeled as a SUNBLOCK or as WATERPROOF. Under the new labeling rules Products that have SPF values between 2 and 14 may be labeled as Broad Spectrum if they pass the required test. Only products that are labeled both as Broad Spectrum with SPF values of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed. A warning statement will be required on any product that is not Broad Spectrum, or that is Broad Spect... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934159 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4934159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945201&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCwErfhk-Fqs%2F The FDA is often criticized for moving too slowly to approve new drugs, especially those for cancer. But is the agency as slow as some believe? To explore the question, researchers examined 35 oncology meds that were reviewed by the FDA and the European Medicines Agency between 2003 and 2010, and found the median approval time in the US took about half the time spent in Europe. Specifically, the median time for approval for new cancer meds in the US was six months, according to the paper by Friends of Cancer Research, a non-profit think tank that published the results in Health Affairs (read the abstract). However, they did not review initial approvals or supplemental applications, so their analysis did not include prominent secondary uses for drugs already on the market. The FDA approved ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945201 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:50:37 +0100 4945201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945133&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F15%2Fhigh_pressure_the_good_kind.php I was talking with some colleagues about underused synthetic chemistry technologies the other day, and one that came up was high pressure. Here's a new paper from JACS looking at pressure effects on a common reaction (Michael addition), and there are quite a few others like it scattered around the literature. In general, reactions that have a lot of steric congestion, or whose transition state occupies less volume than the starting complex, will show some effects as you go to higher pressure. But no one ever does it. Well, not quite "no one", but pretty damned few people do. I think the problem is that you need special equipment, for the most part, and you also need to have the idea of using high pressure. Both of those are in short supply. But I wonder if someone were to make a lab-frien... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945133 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:09:32 +0100 4945133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934166&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcya-tmi-drug-label-warnings-list-dizzying-number-of-adverse-events%2F2011.06.15 Drug labels warn about a mean of 70 adverse events per medication, leading researchers to conclude that the glut of information is confusing patients. Jon Duke, MD, an ACP Member, and other researchers extracted 534,125 adverse drug events from 5,602 product labels. There was a mean of nearly 70 events per label. They found 588 with more than 150 adverse drug events and 84 with more than 300, with the top offender having 525 events listed. This top group included selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, anti-virals, and restless leg syndrome drugs. Labels for the 200 most commonly dispensed medications contained significantly more adverse drug events than others (median, 79 vs. 47; P<.001). By specialty, there were more adverse drug events listed in the fields of neurology (n=168), psyc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934166 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100 4934166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934576&cid=t_101856_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-in-the-classroom%2Fadd-and-adhd-%25e2%2580%2593-the-drug-free-solution.php By Tom Ryan (Hypnotist) Are you suffering the consequences of watching your child going through the traumatic experience of ADD/ADHD, of not being able to concentrate, of being disruptive in class and at home as well as all the other expressions of those conditions? Has anybody told you these conditions can quickly and easily be corrected and your child can go on to live a perfectly normal and productive life? Would you like your child to be free of labels, pills and their consequences or the need for them? Have you had enough of what doesn’t work and its consequences for your child? Would you like to know what does work and will give your child the opportunity to experience a normal pill free, label free, ADD/ADHD free life? How Would You Like To Experience Wh Read More (Source: Li... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934576 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945118&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fseroquel-lawsuit-blog-astrazeneca.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945118 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:58:00 +0100 4945118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934144&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Ffda-warns-of-dangerous-mix-up-between-risperdal-and-requip.html If you take either risperidone (Risperdal), used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, or ropinirole (Requip), used for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, check the label carefully to make sure you have the right medication, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned Monday. Confusion between the drugs has led to at least 226 cases in which people took the wrong one, including five who had to be hospitalized and possibly one who died. Similarities between the drugs names and packaging, or illegible handwriting on prescriptions, appear to have contributed to the confusion, the FDA said. The agency has asked manufacturers of the medications to change the labeling and packaging so the drugs are more easily distinguished from each other. Bottom line. If you take risperid... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934144 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:30:00 +0100 4934144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934484&cid=t_101856_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D282 A blood coagulation test (prothrombin time test) that’s as easy to use as a home glucose meter and cheaper?  Wow!  Over 10% of all adverse drug events ending in a hospital stay are associated with blood thinners.  Because of this, regular monitoring is recommended to ensure the desired effect.  Unfortunately, the current technology is either costly or must be performed by qualified technicians. Currently, there are several point-of-care tests on the market, but the cost of the consumable test strips make it more expensive than laboratory testing.  However, the SmartStrip mimics “lab on a chip” technology but instead of fluidics, it’s based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) placed on a disposable test strip.  The result is a low-cost test that can be performed in minute... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934484 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:39:53 +0100 4934484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921406&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Ffda-links-zocor-to-muscle-damage-especially-in-women.html Most people should not take the 80 milligram dose of simvastatin (Zocor, Vytorin, and generic), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said this week after it found a clear link between that dose and muscle pain as well as rare but potentially deadly muscle damage. Our medical consultants go one step further than the FDA, and say people taking any cholesterol-lowering drug should start at the lowest necessary dose. The FDA made the announcement after reports to its adverse-events database and a recent clinical trial found that people who took high-dose simvastatin had a substantially greater risk of developing muscle problems. The danger was greater in older women and those who took simvastatin in addition to blood-pressure drugs known as calcium-channel blockers, particularly diltiazem (... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921406 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:30:00 +0100 4921406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921407&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F06%2Fpfizer-pulls-chicken-drug-roxarsone-due-to-arsenic-threat.html The drug maker Pfizer announced this week that it will suspend the sale of Roxarsone (3-Nitro), a drug used to kill parasites and promote growth in pigs and poultry, because it contains a form of arsenic that can become carcinogenic in humans. The company took the step after a study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that chickens given the drug had higher amount of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, in their livers. But the FDA says people can continue to eat chicken, because the levels detected didn’t present a health risk. The FDA did not test other chicken parts, like breasts or legs. Our 2005 tests of chicken found some forms of arsenic in many chicken livers on the market, though not in those from organically grown chickens. “Action on this drug is l... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921407 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:45:00 +0100 4921407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921732&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F10%2Fchemgeekery_name_reactions_youve_never_run.php A colleague of mine is running a Diels-Alder reaction this morning, and turned out to have never run one before, despite many years of experience in chemistry. (I'd bet, though, that a fair number of chemists who have run the reaction did it in an undergraduate lab and never have since). I've run them - although it's been a while - and I've done the Claisen rearrangement (ditto), the Knoevenagel condensation, the Barbier reaction, and the Henry reaction. I've done plenty of Horner-Emmons-Wadsworth reactions (although not in the last few years), Jones oxidation, Birch reduction, the Arbuzov reaction, and a Chichibabin pyridine synthesis, many years ago. And I've done a Cannizzaro, the Gabriel synthesis, Ferrier rearrangements, the Shapiro reaction, Peterson olefination, and Lindlar reductio... In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921732 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:05:29 +0100 4921732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921725&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fastrazeneca-pays-doctors-to-speak-is.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921725 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:10:00 +0100 4921725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921757&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FC0tblUFA4DY%2F In what some say would be a highly unusual move, the US Federal Trade Commission is considering using its rule-making power to stop pay-to-delay deals between brand-name drugmakers and their generic rivals, after failing to convince Congress or the courts to act, Bloomberg News reports. A rule to block the deals would involve antitrust issues, rather than consumer protection, and could be made on the agency’s own initiative under its basic statutory authority rather than at the direction of Congress, Bert Foer, president of the American Antitrust Institute, tells the news service. “Any potential attempt by the FTC to move forward unilaterally with such a rulemaking would be unprecedented,” Sean Heather, executive director of the global regulatory cooperation project at the US Cha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921757 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:10:23 +0100 4921757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911820&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWRej8NgksWI%2F Good morning, everyone, and how are you today? A scorcher is predicted to envelope the Pharmalot corporate campus. We plan to keep cool by perusing interesting documents and chatting up interesting people. We will also break later to appear on a PhRMA panel on social media. To prepare, we are downing a few cups of stimulation - our flavor today is Southern Pecan. Meanwhile, here are some nifty tidbits from around your world. Watch out for the heat and see you soon… Pfizer Teams With Harvard In $100M Drug Discovery Deal (Bloomberg News) Merck Ends Trial Of Intercell Vaccine For MRSA (Reuters) Covidien Seeks A Buyer For Its Pharma Unit (Bloomberg News) Orphan Drug Development Success Remains Elusive (Gen New) US Seeks Prison Sentences For Device Execs (Associated Press) Glaxo Faces Adv... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911820 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:00:08 +0100 4911820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911824&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAutTWJ-YZYs%2F Faced with growing challenges in clinical trials, manufacturing and drug safety - among many other issues - the FDA has decided to elevate the Office of Compliance to a so-called Super Office on a par with others in the Center For Drug Evaluation and Research, such as the Office of New Drugs, the Office of Pharmaceutical Science and the Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology. The responsibilities will include ensuring compliance with requirements for good manufacturing practice, good clinical practice, human subject protection, adverse event and drug quality reporting, REMS, drug labeling, drug approval, drug importation, and supply chain integrity, among others, according to a memo from CDER director Janet Woodcock. And the new super compliance office will also have three officewide func... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911824 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:06:07 +0100 4911824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902667&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fneed-to-gain-weight-no-problem-seroquel.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902667 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:29:00 +0100 4902667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902668&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fastrazeneca-to-pay-250000-to-124-women.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902668 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:51:00 +0100 4902668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902680&cid=t_101856_149_f&fid=35776&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpipeline.corante.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F06%2Funderused_lab_solvents.php Interesting post from Milkshake over at Org Prep Daily on solvents that don't get used as much as they might in synthetic chemistry. Among them: trifluoroethanol, methyl t-butyl ether, and 1-methoxy-2-propanol. Definitely worth a look for those of us who are trying to get things to work at the bench - other nominations welcomed in the comments. And if you're looking for someone to do that, I believe that Milkshake himself is still looking for a position (unpaid advertisement!) (Source: In the Pipeline) In the Pipeline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902680 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:28:13 +0100 4902680 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902696&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbKhZl7DkcDs%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. We apologize for the delay this morning, but we were having technical difficulties. To cope, we are having downing several cups of stimulation. Now, though, the time has come to tackle those meetings and deadlines. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits, including news from the ASCO meeting. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… A Contraceptive Pill For Men With No Side Effects? (The Daily Mail) Merck And Ariad Drug Delays Sarcoma In Trial (Reuters) UK Pharma Industry In Crisis (Press TV) Roche Says Avastin And Chemo Cut Ovarian Cancer Growth (Bloomberg News) Bristol Melanoma Drug And Chemo Extended Life In Study (Reuters) Pfizer Divestiture May Hurt Its Credit Rating (Bloomberg News) Chinese Drugmaker Cited For Significant Pollution (East D... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902696 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:47:10 +0100 4902696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902474&cid=t_101856_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fdrug-firms-cut-vaccine-prices-in-developing-world.html Drug firms cut vaccine prices in developing world – This is good news: Several major drugs companies have announced big cuts to the amounts they charge for their vaccines in the developing world. GSK, Merck, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi-Aventis have agreed to cut prices through the international vaccine alliance Gavi. I can think of one problem, however, aside from the antivax conspiracy theory nonsens that will arise, and that's the potential for blackmarket profiteering… Related Posts:H5N1 Vaccine AvailableBird Flu VaccineNeedle free bird flu vaccineEradicating polioThe push and pull of third world drugsCut-price vax for developing world is a post from: Sciencebase Science Blog (Source: Sciencebase Science Blog) Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902474 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:00:06 +0100 4902474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893856&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fseroquel-quetiapine-abuse-in-prisons.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893856 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:06:00 +0100 4893856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893441&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FGKtYZzVjl7Q%2F With summer break right around the corner, more kids unsupervised at home, and prescription drug abuse on the rise, the National Family Partnership’s Lock Your Meds campaign offers tips for parents. Studies show that more teens start using drugs during the summer months – while unsupervised and with more free time. 70% of teens who abuse Rx drugs get them from family and friends. 68% of households do not properly secure their Rx medications. Studies show that unmonitored kids are four times more likely to engage in substance abuse. The distressed employment market makes it harder for teens to find summer jobs, leading to more boredom, restlessness and free time.  A new study surveyed 2,500 high schoolers and reported that one in four admitted to abusing Rx drugs. TIPS F... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893441 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:39:43 +0100 4893441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893916&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F_PKuBogHIcg%2F And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to daydream about the weekend. Our agenda includes some therapeutic swimming, catching up on our reading and taking in a soccer match with the short people. And you? How about enjoying the weather with a nice bike ride? Or spending time with someone special? Perhaps thinking big thoughts is in order. Whatever you do, have a wonderful time. And be safe. See you soon… Pfizer And Hisun Pharmaceuticals Plan Generic Venture (Bloomberg News) Tianjin Tasly Pharmaceutical To Build A Factory In Maryland (CapitalVue) Drugmakers Bolster US Corporate Philanthropy (Reuters) The New Pricing Game In Germany (Business Week) Endo Sales Reps Granted Class-Action Lawsuit For Overtime (Reuters) Teva Gives Big Golden P... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893916 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 12:03:23 +0100 4893916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893410&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FxkW1ceqwI50%2F This report is certainly going to receive a lot of media coverage in the upcoming days. It is, until now, the highest profile endorsement of drug policy reform that we have seen at a global level. And, by having Prime Minister Papandreou as one of the signatories, it offers the hope that other top office holders will also call for an end to the failed war on drugs. Report: ‘The Global War on Drugs Has Failed’ is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893410 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:27:54 +0100 4893410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921560&cid=t_101856_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fdrug-mailings-and-patient-privacy%2F Many of you have quickly realized that I find it a lot more interesting to write about EMR than I do about HIPAA. Seems like most people prefer to read about EMR than they do HIPAA as well (except for this popular HIPAA Lawsuits post I did eons ago). However, I’m sure that many of you will find this article I found about privacy of medical data quite interesting. Here’s a quote from the beginning of the article which prefaces the health privacy situation quite well. A pharmaceutical company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., sent him an eight-page brochure pitching another medicine, Abilify, used to treat patients “when an antidepressant alone isn’t enough.” Lexapro was plenty for Spencer, but the mailing stuck in his craw. He has followed the recent debate over the u... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921560 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:40:22 +0100 4921560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893859&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fquietude-study-quetiapine-use-for.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893859 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:36:00 +0100 4893859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893860&cid=t_101856_140_f&fid=35439&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbipolarsoupkitchen-stephany.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnew-blog-seroquel-lawsuit-blog-place.html (Source: soulful sepulcher) soulful sepulcher blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893860 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:15:00 +0100 4893860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883568&cid=t_101856_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F05%2Fare-doctors-overwhelmed-by-drug-warnings.html There are now so many warnings of potential side effects on drug labels that physicians may miss the important ones for their patients, researchers have warned. The lists of possible adverse effects on medication leaflets are a familiar sight for consumers. While it's important to know the risks as well as the benefits of a medication, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the things that might go wrong. But what about doctors? Long lists of potential adverse effects are one thing. But they also need to think about whether the drug interacts with any other medications you take, whether it's suitable for someone of your age, with your medical conditions, and whether it contains anything that you're allergic to. Researchers set out to see what doctors have to contend with. They assessed al... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883568 Tue, 31 May 2011 20:25:00 +0100 4883568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883906&cid=t_101856_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0AeYJTTYrjk%2F Over the past several years, Congress has regularly considered legislation to restrict direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, perhaps for the first couple of years after a med has been approved by the FDA. The rationale has been that DTC ads encourage unnecessary use of some meds and lead to usage before risks are fully known. Nothing has passed yet, but the idea lives on. And so the US Congressional Budget Office has issued a brief and found drugmakers would probably expand marketing to docs in order to substitute for any banned ads; the number of prescriptions filled for some drugs would probably decline, but for others, scrips may not change, since there would be other forms of promotion, and any change in prices would depend on changes in demand. Moreover, a moratorium c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883906 Tue, 31 May 2011 13:57:51 +0100 4883906