Drug Formulary Review articles from December 2004

Drug Formulary Review archives from December 2004

Pharmacists report price gouging after flu vaccine shortage: the system has to change, say infectious disease experts.
December 1, 2004... In September, health officials had concerns about the severity of the upcoming influenza season. Then Chiron Corp. notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Oct. 5 that it would not provide its influenza...

Antivirals receive renewed attention this flu season: CDC stockpiling drugs in case of shortages.
December 1, 2004... With the flu vaccine supply cut almost in half this season, health care providers and officials are turning to antivirals to fill in the gap. No one knows, however, if the four antiviral medications--amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine...

Intradermal vaccinations may stretch supply: articles encourage some physicians, frustrate others.
December 1, 2004... Two new studies suggest intradermal delivery of a reduced dose could expand the supply of influenza vaccine. This approach may be a promising way to address critical shortages of the flu vaccine, such as those experienced across the country...

FDA moves to strengthen drug safety program.
December 1, 2004... The FDA announced in early November that it was strengthening its safety program for marketed drugs. Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, acting FDA commissioner, says that he has authorized the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) to...

Pfizer to sponsor new celecoxib clinical trial.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Pfizer has announced that it is sponsoring a major clinical study to further assess its COX-2 medication celecoxib (Celebrex) in osteoarthritis patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease. This announcement came several weeks after Merck &...

New drug safety warnings issued.
December 1, 2004... The FDA, Janssen Pharmaceutica Products, and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development have notified health care professionals of reports of medication errors involving confusion between galantamine hydrobromide (Reminyl), a drug...

New FDA approvals.
December 1, 2004... These drugs recently were approved by the FDA: * Lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol) by Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc. The FDA has approved lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol), a new phosphate binder that reduces elevated blood levels of phosphate...

Hospital-associated Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections.(In The Pipeline)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Inhibitex has announced that the FDA has granted Aurexis, its humanized monoclonal antibody, fast track designation. Aurexis is being evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial for the first-line treatment of serious hospital-associated...

Follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.(In The Pipeline)
December 1, 2004... Favrille has initiated a Phase III clinical trial (FavId-06) evaluating the company's lead product candidate, FavId. FavId, an active immunotherapy, is being studied as a potential therapy for the treatment of follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's...

Atrial fibrillation.(In The Pipeline)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Cardiome Pharma Corp. has initiated subject dosing in its Phase I study of a controlled release formulation of oral RSD1235, which is being developed as a chronic treatment for atrial fibrillation.

Cinacalcet HCI (Sensipar) formulary evaluation: part 2 of 2: availability and cost, clinical studies, critique of studies, recommendations/conclusion.
December 1, 2004... Availability and cost Cinacalcet was approved for release on March 8, 2004. It is made available by Amgen Pharmaceuticals as Sensipar. Wholesale cost of Sensipar: * 30 mg--$8.10/tablet * 60 mg--$16.20/tablet * 90...

CE questions.
December 1, 2004... Pharmacists participate in this continuing education program by reading the article, using the provided references for further research, and studying the CE questions. Participants should select what they believe to be the correct answers. ...