Articles
Shortages of drugs used for treating patients with hematologic malignancies have recently become critical and life threatening. The following is a February 27, 2012, update on the status of hematologic drug shortages and helpful resources for pharmacists.
Limited Quantities of Daunorbucin Are Available
Read More ›The first molecular test to help determine the need for repeat prostate biopsies in men who have had a previous negative biopsy has been approved by the FDA.
Read More ›Four new drugs could help change advanced prostate cancer from a terminal disease to a chronic illness, according to a prostate cancer expert in a recent review for the journal Oncology.
Read More ›Medication errors are common among primary care providers; however, the number of mistakes could be reduced significantly with the use of in-house pharmacists.
A comprehensive study, led by Tony Avery, Professor of Primary Health Care in the School of Community Health Sciences at The University of Nottingham, involved at-risk patients in 72 general practices. Patients were taking the drugs most commonly and consistently associated with medication errors. Study results were published recently in The Lancet.
Read More ›Many women endure hot flashes and night sweats following breast cancer treatment. British researchers are now saying that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for women experiencing these main symptoms of menopause.
Read More ›A warning has been issued by the FDA regarding a counterfeit version of Avastin 400 mg/16 mL, which may have been purchased and utilized by medical practices in the United States. Chemical analyses of the imitation vials have confirmed the product lacks the active ingredient of Avastin, bevacizumab, which may have resulted in patients not receiving needed therapy.
Packages or vials may be counterfeit if:
Read More ›A newly patented computerized system effectively chooses the right patient for the right clinical trial. The program quickly matches a registered patient’s molecular profile to a disease-targeting drug’s molecular design. According to the Moffit Cancer Center, the system will accelerate clinical trials and help reduce the time required for critical new drugs to reach the market.
Read More ›Targeted drugs, such as gefitinib, might be more effective against non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when combined with agents that block certain microRNAs, according to new research published in Nature Medicine.
Read More ›Since 1999, the out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs have declined for many Americans. However, prescription costs continue to be a challenge for lower income families and those individuals with public insurance, according to a recent RAND Corporation study published in the February edition of the journal Health Affairs.
Read More ›For the first time, the effect of exemestane on women’s bone health has been studied, and researchers found that, on 3 major outcome measures, age-related bone loss in postmenopausal women taking exemestane for 2 years worsened.
“The study is important because of the potential for wide-spread use of this medication by women at increased risk of developing breast cancer,” said Dr Lianne Tile, Medical Director of the Osteoporosis Clinic and Staff General Internist at University Health Network, and one of the authors of the study.
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