Anti-Hypertensive Drugs To Enhance Esophageal Contraction

Nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker, was shown to decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure and increase esophageal acid exposure time, while atenolol, a b1 blocker, was shown to inhibit relaxation of the smooth muscle of the esophagus. However, the influence of these anti-hypertensive drugs on the segment of esophageal body contraction using high-resolution manometry was not fully investigated. A research team from Japan observed esophageal body contraction using high-resolution manometry with 36 intraruminal transducers…

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When Drugs Cause Disease

The same drugs that are used effectively to treat diseases in millions of people around the world can sometimes be the cause of disease themselves. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has just released the 2nd edition of Drug-Induced Diseases: Prevention, Detection and Management, edited by James E. Tisdale, Pharm.D., BCPS, FCCP and Douglas A. Miller, Pharm.D. According to the authors, a drug-induced disease is an unintended effect of a drug, which results in illness with symptoms sufficient to prompt a patient to seek medical attention and/or require hospitalization…

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Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute Cardiologist Sanjay Kaul, M.D. Co-Authors Statement On Safety Of Diabetes Drugs

A Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute cardiologist co-authored the joint science advisory issued by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology that calls for close monitoring of patients taking certain blood sugar-lowering drugs. Sanjay Kaul, M.D. co-authored the advisory about drugs called thiazolidinediones (TZDs) such as pioglitazone (Actos) or Rosiglitazone (Avandia)…

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Department Of Health And Children Statement In Relation To Legislation To Be Made Under Misuse Of Drugs Act 1977, Ireland

The Government agreed at its meeting on 2 March 2010 to the commencement of a notification process under Directive 98/34/EC (the “Technical Standards” Directive) as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of the Government’s intention to make a Declaration Order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 declaring certain substances, products and preparations to be controlled drugs for the purposes of the Misuse of Drugs Acts, 1977 and 1984…

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New Model For Testing Anti-Alzheimer’s Drugs: At A Pier Near You

Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 27 million people worldwide. It is the most common form of age-related dementia, possibly the most feared disease of old age. There is no cure, and the available drugs only help to relieve symptoms without slowing progression of the disease. One of the characteristic changes in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients is the accumulation of plaques and tangles; currently, the best hope for curing or at least slowing the disease lies in developing drugs that target this buildup…

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Common Osteoporosis Drugs Are Associated With A Decrease In Risk Of Breast Cancer

Women who take some types of bone-building drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis may be at lower risk of breast cancer, according to a study by U.S. researchers published today in the British Journal of Cancer. The study found that women who used bisphosphonate drugs, such as Fosamax, Boniva and Zomita, for more than two years had a nearly 40 percent reduction in risk as compared to those who did not, according to lead author Polly Newcomb, Ph.D., M.P.H., head of the Cancer Prevention Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center…

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Study Identifies Risks, Benefits Of Anemia Drugs

Aggressive treatment of anemia with intravenous iron and drugs known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) may lower the risk of death for dialysis patients with severe anemia but also may increase the risk of death among patients with milder anemia, a new study led by a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill epidemiologist suggests. Anemia is a common and often debilitating complication of kidney disease that has been linked to poor quality of life and increased risk of hospitalization and death…

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U.S. Food And Drug Administration (FDA) Sets 22 March For Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) Meeting To Review OMAPRO™

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:CXS) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rescheduled the previously postponed Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting to 22 March 2010. The ODAC meeting will consider ChemGenex’s application for OMAPRO™ (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for the treatment of adults with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have failed prior therapy with imatinib and who have developed the Bcr-Abl T315I mutation…

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Teva Gets 180-Day Headstart to Sell Generics of 2 Merck Drugs

In what could be a win-win decision for both Teva Pharmaceutical and Merck, a federal court said that Teva was entitled to six months of exclusivity to sell generic versions of two hypertension medicines made by Merck.
A district court ruled in July that Teva, the largest of the generic drug makers, had forfeited the 180 days of exclusivity that usually goes to the first applicant seeking FDA approval to make a generic versions of drugs — in this case, copycats of Merck’s Cozaar and Hyzaar.
But Teva said today an appeals court found the Israeli company should get the exclusive… Continue reading

Intracranial Stenting, Injecting Clot-Busting Drugs Directly To Brain May Be Better Than Other Treatments For Urgent Ischemic Strokes

Techniques that keep brain arteries open (intracranial stenting) or inject clot-busting drugs directly to the brain (intra-arterial tPA) may be more effective than other urgent ischemic stroke treatments, researchers said at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2010…

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