FDA approves first generic Lexapro to treat depression, anxiety disorder
March 14th 2012Teva/IVAX Pharmaceuticals gained FDA approval for the first generic version of Lexapro (Forest) to treat both depression and generalized anxiety disorder in adults. The company will have 180 days to exclusively sell the product.
FDA approves first cell-based product to treat oral mucogingival conditions in adults
March 9th 2012FDA approved the first cell-based product made from allogeneic human cells and bovine collagen (Gintuit, Organogenesis) for the treatment of oral mucogingival conditions in adults, the agency announced Friday.
Better antibiotic stewardship needed as C. difficile-associated diarrhea surges
March 8th 2012The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling for more appropriate use of antibiotics to combat historically high levels of mortality associated with Clostridium difficile infections in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Bevacizumab an effective treat-and-extend regimen for AMD
March 8th 2012A treat-and-extend regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) produced ?significant visual improvements? for eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to an article published in the March issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology.
Some antipsychotics more dangerous for elderly dementia patients
March 8th 2012Antipsychotic medication should be used on elderly dementia patients only as a last resort, authors of a recent study said, but they found that some antipsychotics are more dangerous than others after examining data from thousands of nursing-home residents aged 65 or older.
FDA panel recommends approval of aclidinium bromide for COPD
March 8th 2012An FDA advisory panel voted 12-2 to recommend approval of aclidinium bromide (Forest Laboratories and Almirall SA) 400 µg twice daily for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
First synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant for prevention of RDS approved
March 8th 2012FDA has approved lucinactant (Surfaxin, Discovery Labs) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants at high risk for RDS. Surfaxin is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant approved for use in neonatal medicine.
CVS mix-up of tamoxifen, fluoride tablets affects 13 prescriptions
March 7th 2012Between Dec. 20, 2011, and January and Feb. 20, 2012, a CVS pharmacy in Chatham, N.J., dispensed tamoxifen tablets instead of 0.5 mg chewable fluoride pills. The mix-up could have affected as many as 50 children, but only 13 prescriptions were found to definitely be affected, according to a CVS statement.
Suit by pharmacists calls impact of closed Part D networks ‘tragic’
March 6th 2012Closed pharmacy networks are back and pharmacies are fighting them. That's the gist of a suit filed by four independent pharmacies against the federal government in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina last week.