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U.N. Office on Drugs, Interpol better equipped than WHO to combat counterfeit drug trade

"The worldwide counterfeit drug market is huge and growing," Tim Mackey and Brian Liang of the Institute of Health Law Studies at the California Western School of Law and Thomas Kubic of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute write in a Foreign Policy opinion piece, noting such "drugs occupy a wide spectrum of medications, and their quality is suspect; they can be mislabeled, tainted, adulterated, ineffective, or, in the worst cases, all of the above."

16 May 2012

AAD reiterates safety and effectiveness of sunscreens against UV radiation

The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) today reiterated the safety and effectiveness of sunscreens to protect against the damaging effects from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

16 May 2012

Bristol-Myers Squibb receives FDA approval for Devens facility to produce ORENCIA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's biologics manufacturing facility in Devens, Massachusetts for commercial production of ORENCIA.

16 May 2012

Combination of vaccine and letrozole effectively improves survival from breast cancer

A vaccine that targets cancer cells in combination with the drug letrozole, a standard hormonal therapy against breast cancer, significantly increased survival when tested in mice, a team of UC Davis investigators has found.

16 May 2012

HyperBranch’s Adherus AutoSpray Dural Sealant receives CE Marking

HyperBranch Medical Technology, Inc. announced today that it has received CE Marking for Adherus AutoSpray Dural Sealant.

16 May 2012

Exendin-4 drug effectively suppresses craving for food

A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate.

16 May 2012

Link between dietary supplements and increased risk of cancer

Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid - taken up to three times their recommended daily allowance, these supplements are probably harmless. But taken at much higher levels as some supplement manufacturers suggest, these three supplements have now been proven to increase the risk of developing a host of cancers.

16 May 2012

Coromega introduces emulsified form of omega-3s

Premier supplements maker Coromega today announced a delicious new way to help Americans reach healthy omega-3 levels with the launch of Coromega Big Squeeze, an emulsified form of omega-3s delivered in an easy-to-use, family-size pouch with superior absorption to that of traditional fish oil capsules.

16 May 2012

Cyclophosphamide drug makes the bone marrow more tumor-friendly

Researchers found that administering a common chemotherapy drug before bone tumors took root actually fertilized the bone marrow, enabling cancer cells, once introduced, to seed and grow more easily.

15 May 2012

Ono, Scil Proteins partner to discover and develop new Affilin therapeutics

Scil Proteins GmbH, a private biotech company specializing in the research, development and production of recombinant proteins, today announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for the joint discovery and development of new Affilin therapeutics to treat various diseases.

15 May 2012

Viewpoints: Approving drugs quickly; Berwick: In health care, cheaper can mean better; Health costs 'persistent' concern

For about 20 years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has charged pharmaceutical companies "user fees" for reviewing drug-approval applications. The revenue allows the FDA to hire more evaluators, which allows useful drugs to reach patients faster. Now the Prescription Drug User Fee Act needs reauthorization, as it does every five years. Legislators should not dillydally.

15 May 2012

Five new capabilities added to Aetna Rx Check Program

Aetna today announced that it is adding five new capabilities to Aetna Rx Check, a collection of programs designed to promote safety and prevent the misuse of various prescription drugs such as pain medications and antibiotics.

15 May 2012

Biogen Idec announces availability of two new AVONEX dosing innovations for MS

Biogen Idec announced that two new dosing innovations designed to help patients receiving once-a-week AVONEX (interferon beta-1a) for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are now available in U.S. pharmacies.

15 May 2012

Menarini, Furiex enter license agreement to commercialize Priligy

Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Menarini Group today announced that they have entered into a license agreement by which Furiex will license to Menarini rights to commercialize Priligy in Europe, most of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

15 May 2012

Biovest plans to file BiovaxID MAA with EMA for treatment of follicular NHL

Biovest International, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that Biovest plans to file for marketing approval in the European Union (EU) for BiovaxID, its personalized cancer vaccine for the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an incurable cancer of the immune system.

14 May 2012

S1 Biopharma announces foray into male sexual health with S1P-205

S1 Biopharma, an early-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic solutions for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) and related sexual dysfunctions, today announced its foray into male sexual health with S1P-205, the first and only drug in development for male HSDD.

14 May 2012

Medication nonadherence linked to unnecessary cardiovascular hospitalizations in older patients

Older patients with high cholesterol or high blood pressure are at particular risk for unnecessary hospitalizations if they don't follow doctor's orders on taking their medications, according to new research from Express Scripts presented this week.

14 May 2012

Event addresses FDA's recent draft guidelines for development of biosimilar products

Dr. Richard Dolinar, chairman of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (Alliance) outlined five areas of concern that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should resolve before they allow biosimilar medications on the U.S. drug market in prepared testimony for the FDA's May 11th public hearing. The event addressed the FDA's recent draft guidelines for the development of biosimilar products.

14 May 2012

Beta blockers do not reduce risk of colorectal cancer

A new study has found that, contrary to current thinking, taking beta blockers that treat high blood pressure does not decrease a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed that even long-term use or subtypes of beta blockers showed no reduction of colorectal cancer risk.

14 May 2012

Researchers uncover new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors

Researchers at Rutgers University have uncovered a new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors, leading to efficient tumor cell clearance.

14 May 2012