Drug Formulary Review articles from September 2004

Drug Formulary Review archives from September 2004

NCEP update promotes more aggressive statin therapy for some patients: goal still may not be reachable for some, panel pharmacist says.(National Cholesterol Education Program)
September 1, 2004... The National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) clinical practice guidelines on cholesterol management have been updated to set even lower treatment goals for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for patients at high and moderately...

FDA approves ezetimibe/ simvastatin combination: drug must be weighed against single agents.
September 1, 2004... Health care providers now have another choice of cholesterol-lowering treatments. The FDA recently approved the combination of two cholesterol drugs, ezetimibe (Zetia) and simvastatin (Zocor), into a single pill. The product is being marketed...

Drug contraindicated for HIV pleural tuberculosis.
September 1, 2004... Prednisolone, a glucocorticoid that is sometimes added to antituberculosis drug regimens, should not be used to treat patients with pleural tuberculosis and HIV infection, nor can it be recommended for those with pleural tuberculosis who are...

Treatment shows efficacy in patients with HIV, HCV.(AIDS Pegasys Ribavirin International Coinfection Trial)
September 1, 2004... Two studies published in the July 29 issue of New England Journal of Medicine have found high efficacy rates among patients coinfected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV who were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. ...

JCAHO posts 2005 National Patient Safety Goals.(Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has posted its 2005 National Patient Safety Goals for hospitals on the organization's web site. The goals, effective Jan. 1, 2005, include five of the 2004 goals as well as...

ISDA appeals to lawmakers for antibiotic development.(Infectious Diseases Society of America)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... To avert a looming public health crisis with a unique set of underlying causes, Congress and the administration, including federal public health agencies, must act quickly to reinvigorate pharmaceutical investment in antibiotic research and...

HHS gives details of Medicare reform proposal.(Health and Human Services )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the proposed regulations for the voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare. The benefit is a key element of the Medicare Modernization Act that was signed...

FDA establishes new cancer office, program.(Office of Oncology Drug Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The FDA has announced plans to make significant changes to its organizational structure to provide for a stronger and more consistent approach to the review process for drugs and most therapeutic biologics used to diagnose, treat, and prevent...

New FDA approvals.(imiquimod (Aldara))(abacavir/lamivudine (Epzicom))(tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine (Truvada))(NeutroSpec)
September 1, 2004... These drugs were recently approved by the FDA: * New indication for imiquimod (Aldara) topical cream by 3M Pharmaceuticals. The FDA has approved imiquimod (Aldara) topical cream for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC),...

Advanced Parkinson's disease.(In The Pipeline)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Titan Pharmaceuticals has announced that the FDA has granted fast track designation for Spheramine for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease. Spheramine consists of normal, human retinal pigment epithelial cells adhered to spherical...

Ventilator-associated pneumonia.(In The Pipeline)(doripenem clinical trials)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Peninsula Pharmaceuticals has announced that patient enrollment has begun in the final Phase III trial of its lead product candidate, doripenem. Doripenem, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, is a new member of the carbapenem class of beta-lactam...

Cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.(In The Pipeline)(PTC124 clinical trials)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... PTC Therapeutics has announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of PTC124 to evaluate the drug's safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile. PTC124 is a small-molecule drug that is being investigated initially as a treatment...

Telithromycin (Ketek) formulary evaluation: Part 2: clinical trials, adverse events, drug interactions, and recommendation.
September 1, 2004... Clinical Studies Definitions used in study descriptions: * Modified intent-to-treat (mITT)--All patients who were randomized and received at least one dose of study medication. * Per protocol population (PPc)--Patients who...

CE questions.(continuing education for pharmacists)
September 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. ...