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New edition of RADAR includes review of glycopyrronium for COPD treatment

NPS MedicineWise has published a new edition of RADAR, including a review of glycopyrronium (Seebri Breezhaler), a new medicine for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

10 Apr 2014

Report describes cardiopulmonary arrest in infant following cyclopentolate eyedrops

Eyedrops administered to infants as part of routine outpatient retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening can have life-threatening consequences. A case report published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) describes cardiopulmonary arrest in a 27-week-old infant following administration of three sets of cyclopentolate 0.2%/phenylephrine 1% (Cyclomydril) eyedrops.

3 Apr 2014

Forest Laboratories third quarter net sales increase 24.9% to $846.8 million

Forest Laboratories, Inc., a leading, fully integrated, specialty pharmaceutical company largely focused on the United States market, announced that reported diluted earnings per share equaled $0.07 in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to a reported loss per share of ($0.58) in the third quarter of fiscal 2013. The third quarter of fiscal 2014 included a $45 million charge ($28.2 million net of tax) related to Project Rejuvenate.

21 Jan 2014

COPD investigational treatments: an interview with Dr. Tunde Otulana, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Olodaterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) bronchodilator delivered via the Respimat® inhaler. It is being investigated as a once daily maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

21 Oct 2013

European Commission and Japan approve once-daily dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (QVA149) nearly simultaneously, for COPD patients

Novartis announced today that the European Commission approved once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (indacaterol 85 mcg / glycopyrronium 43 mcg) as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approved once-daily Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules (glycopyrronium 50 mcg / indacaterol 110 mcg), delivered through the Breezhaler® device, for relief of various symptoms due to airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ultibro® Breezhaler® / Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules were developed under the name QVA149.

23 Sep 2013

Once-daily COPD portfolio data from Novartis presented at European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress

Novartis announced new analyses of data for once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (investigational QVA149 - indacaterol 85 mcg/glycopyrronium 43 mcg delivered dose, equivalent to 110 mcg/50 mcg metered dose per capsule), which showed significant improvements in lung function, shortness of breath and health-related quality of life for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients versus all comparators1,2. These data were part of 39 respiratory abstracts presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

9 Sep 2013

New needle-free treatment may dramatically reduce global snakebite fatalities

A team of researchers led by Dr. Matt Lewin of the California Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesia at the University of California, San Francisco, has pioneered a novel approach to treating venomous snakebites-administering antiparalytics topically via a nasal spray.

31 Jul 2013

Exposure to excessive heat can lead to heatstroke

The Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is issuing a heat advisory to alert the nation to the increased risk of heat-related illnesses for individuals with mental and substance use disorders. Children and older adults with these conditions are particularly vulnerable to elevated temperatures.

23 Jul 2013

Safinamide improves responder rates in fluctuating Parkinson's patients in Phase III study

Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. ("Newron"), a research and development company focused on novel CNS and pain therapies, and its partner Zambon S.p.A., a pharmaceutical company strongly committed to the respiratory, primary care and CNS therapeutic areas, presented results from SETTLE Phase III study with safinamide at the 17th International Congress of Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders, taking place from June 16 to 20, 2013, at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia.

19 Jun 2013

Researchers find that over 40% of patients treated for COPD did not actually have the disease

More than 40 percent of patients being treated for COPD at a federally funded clinic did not have the disease, researchers found after evaluating the patients with spirometry, the diagnostic "gold standard" for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

23 May 2013

Taking strong anticholinergic doubles risk of developing cognitive impairment in older adults

Research from the Regenstrief Institute, the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and Wishard-Eskenazi Health on medications commonly taken by older adults has found that drugs with strong anticholinergic effects cause cognitive impairment when taken continuously for as few as 60 days.

8 May 2013

Aclidinium and formoterol combination demonstrates significant lung function improvement in the second pivotal efficacy trial

Almirall, S.A. (ALM:MC) and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:FRX) today announced positive topline results from AUGMENT/COPD, the second six-month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide (LAMA) and formoterol fumarate (LABA) for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), delivered in the Pressair™ inhaler (Genuair® outside the USA).

2 May 2013

COPD phase III study by Almirall and Forest Laboratories announces positive results

Almirall, S.A. (ALM:MC) and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:FRX) today announced positive topline results from a six month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide (LAMA) and formoterol fumarate (LABA) delivered by Almirall’s inhaler Genuair® (Pressair™ in the USA).

16 Apr 2013

FDA approves Allergan’s BOTOX to treat overactive bladder

Allergan, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency in adults who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of an anticholinergic medication.

19 Jan 2013

Tiotropium benefits patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In order to widen the narrowed airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), tiotropium bromide (tiotropium in brief) is one of the drugs available that can be prescribed for inhalation. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has examined whether tiotropium offers a perceptible advantage to patients compared to a dummy medication (placebo) and to other COPD drugs.

12 Dec 2012

Almirall, Forest Laboratories' Tudorza Pressair now available in the U.S. pharmacies

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. announced today that Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide inhalation powder) 400mcg is now available in pharmacies throughout the United States.

11 Dec 2012

Oral medication as effective as Botox injections for treating incontinence in women

Oral medication for treating a type of incontinence in women is roughly as effective as Botox injections to the bladder, reported researchers who conducted a National Institutes of Health clinical trials network study, with each form of treatment having benefits and limitations.

6 Oct 2012

Botox injections effectively treat urinary urgency incontinence in women

Botox- (onabotulinum toxin-A) injections to the bladder are as effective as medication for treating urinary urgency incontinence in women, but the injection is twice as likely to completely resolve symptoms. These findings were published in the latest issue of The New England Journal of Medicine by a National Institutes of Health clinical trials network including Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM).

5 Oct 2012

Multicomponent strategies needed to prevent in-hospital delirium

Delirium in hospitalized adult patients indicates poor long-term outcomes and should be identified promptly and dealt with using evidence-based multicomponent strategies, suggest the authors of a systematic review.

1 Oct 2012

Combining tiotropium with olodaterol significantly improves lung function in COPD patients

New phase II data presented for the first time today at the 2012 European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress show that combining tiotropium with olodaterol significantly improved lung function (FEV1) over 24 hours in COPD patients compared to olodaterol alone.

3 Sep 2012