Drug Formulary Review articles from July 2004

Drug Formulary Review archives from July 2004

Pharmacists who misfill prescriptions often share lack of working memory: intervention can redirect actions and reduce errors.
July 1, 2004... The system often is blamed when pharmacists fill prescriptions incorrectly. For example, pharmacists may say they were distracted by a busy workplace, resulting in the "misfilling" of the orders. A new report, however, says some pharmacists are...

Pharmacists to assess their safety processes: aggregate survey data available soon.(Institute for Safe Medication Practices surveys)
July 1, 2004... The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Huntingdon Valley, PA, is encouraging pharmacists to help conduct a self-assessment of their hospitals' medication safety processes. Data from the surveys then will be compiled and analyzed so...

Here's a look at the ISMP 2004 Self-Assessment.(Institute for Safe Medication Practices)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Here are some of the items included in the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)'s 2004 Medication Safety Self Assessment. This section is listed under Core Characteristic #1: "Essential patient information is obtained, readily...

Iron complex evaluation.
July 1, 2004... Product Introduction 1. Iron sucrose injection (Venofer) is dissociated by the reticuloendothelial system into iron and sucrose. The iron is transferred from the blood into iron stores that are located in the liver and bone marrow. The...

CE questions.(Brief Article)
July 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. ...

Docetaxel (Taxotere) extends life in advanced prostate cancer patients.
July 1, 2004... The results of two recent Phase III clinical trials indicate that docetaxel (Taxotere) extends life in advanced prostate cancer patients who are resistant to hormone therapy, supporting the Food and Drug Administration's approval of docetaxel...

Decision tool available on tablet splitting.(splitting higher dosage medications)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Tablet splitting--the practice of splitting a medication tablet of a higher dosage to obtain lower dosage units--is becoming more widespread. Some patients choose to do it, and some insurers expect patients to do it. However, what might look...

Severe sufferers prefer brand name meds.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... As the severity of a medical condition increases, the likelihood that consumers will choose a generic medication dramatically decreases, according to a survey released at the Medco Health Solutions 2004 Drug Trend Symposium in Orlando, FL. ...

Study: Medicare drug plan is confusing to elderly.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, DC, shows that seniors are confused about the outcome of the Medicare prescription drug debate and the prescription drug law. While about two-thirds of seniors report following...

Applications available for safety award.
July 1, 2004... The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Research and Education Foundation in Bethesda, MD, and the Cardinal Health Foundation in Dublin, OH, have announced the availability of applications for the inaugural Award for Excellence...

Azacitidine (Vidaza) by Pharmion Corp.(New FDA Approvals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * The FDA has approved azacitidine (Vidaza) injection for the first treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The product was given fast-track status and a priority review. Azacitidine also is an orphan product. This approval...

New indication for docetaxel (Taxotere) by Aventis Pharmaceuticals.(New FDA Approvals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * The FDA has approved docetaxel (Taxotere) injection, in combination with prednisone, for the treatment of patients with advanced metastatic prostate cancer. This is the first drug approved for hormone refractory prostate cancer that has shown...

Paricalcitol injection (Zemplar) by Abbott Laboratories for pediatric use.(New FDA Approvals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... * The FDA has approved paricalcitol injection (Zemplar) for use in children and adolescent hemodialysis patients, ages 5-19, with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Paricalcitol initially was introduced in 1998 and currently is used to treat...

Sedative/hypnotic.(In The Pipeline)(Aquavan injection)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Guilford Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase Ill clinical development program for Aquavan injection, a novel sedative/hypnotic that is a proprietary water-soluble prodrug of propofol.

Skin and soft-tissue infections.(In The Pipeline)(dalbavancin trials)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Vicuron Pharmaceuticals has completed enrollment in three Phase III clinical trials involving more than 1,500 patients designed to support registration of once-weekly dalbavancin for the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections.

Non-small cell lung cancer.(In The Pipeline)(TLR Therapeutic CPG 7909 trial)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Coley Pharmaceutical Group has completed the planned enrollment for its Phase II, randomized clinical study of the company's lead TLR Therapeutic, CPG 7909 (ProMune), for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Hepatitis C virus.(In The Pipeline)(combination interferon therapy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... InterMune has initiated a Phase II clinical trial of the combination of interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen) and interferon gamma-1b (Actimmune) for the treatment of patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus who have failed to respond to...

Relapsed or refractory indolent (follicular and marginal zone) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.(In The Pipeline)(bortezomib/rituximab therapy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Millennium Pharmaceuticals has initiated a multicenter Phase II clinical trial of bortezomib (Velcade) for Injection in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory indolent (follicular and marginal zone) non-Hodgkin's...