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Forest Laboratories' Colobreathe dry powder inhaler receives EMA approval

Forest Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer, today announced that it has been granted European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval to market Colobreathe dry powder colistimethate sodium for inhalation for treating cystic fibrosis patients aged 6 years and older with chronic lung infection caused by P. aeruginosa.

24 Feb 2012

Washington state law requiring pharmacies stock emergency contraception is struck down

A federal judged ruled Wednesday that Washington can't require pharmacists to carry and give patients emergency contraception. Other cases included a whether a lesbian couple can share health benefits and challenge to a Mass. law on abortion buffer zones.

24 Feb 2012

Bath salts mimic effects of two powerful narcotics

The street drug commonly referred to as "bath salts" is one of a growing list of synthetic and unevenly regulated narcotics that are found across the United States and on the Internet. New research on this potent drug paints an alarming picture, revealing that bath salts pack a powerful double punch, producing combined effects similar to both methamphetamine (METH) and cocaine.

24 Feb 2012

EMA accepts MAA filing of Genzyme's teriflunomide for MS

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, announced today the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the filing of the marketing authorization application (MAA) for once-daily oral teriflunomide for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

24 Feb 2012

Can-Fite receives FDA Orphan Drug Status for CF102 to treat hepatocellular carcinoma

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a biotechnology company developing small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory, and liver diseases, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Status for its drug candidate, CF102, for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

23 Feb 2012

Impax announces FDA acceptance of NDA filing for IPX066

Impax Pharmaceuticals, the branded products division of Impax Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for IPX066 for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) submitted to the Agency on December 21, 2011.

23 Feb 2012

NHS approves new rheumatoid arthritis drug RoActemra

RoActemra, which is the first innovation in the field for ten years, is being recommended for patients who have failed on standard treatments. It is the first time RoActemra has been approved for NHS patients in England and Wales with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who are at an early stage in the disease. The drug has been available for early use in Scotland for two years.

23 Feb 2012

Pfizer responds to CDC’S ACIP discussion related to use of Prevnar 13 in adults over 50

Pfizer Inc. issued the following statement in response to today's discussion by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding the use of Prevnar 13 (Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine)in adults 50 years of age and older.

23 Feb 2012

FDA, pharmaceutical companies announce solution to cancer drug shortage

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and several pharmaceutical companies said Tuesday they have reached agreements to alleviate shortages for the drugs methotrexate and Doxil. Methotrexate is used to treat children with a form of leukemia and others with tumors of the breast and lungs. Doxil is used to treat ovarian cancer and multiple myeloma.

23 Feb 2012

Intravenous ibuprofen: A key addition to perioperative pain management

Hendersonville Medical Center today announced that anesthesiologist Peter B. Kroll, M.D., has published an article in the January issue of peer-reviewed medical journal Pain Management.

23 Feb 2012

Scientists design compounds that act against myotonic dystrophy type 1 RNA

While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.

23 Feb 2012

Burma unable to expand HIV, TB treatment programs without more donor support, MSF report says

Approximately 85,000 HIV-positive people in Burma, also known as Myanmar, are in need of antiretroviral treatment (ART) and cannot access it "due to a lack of funding, despite renewed international engagement with the government amid a wave of political reform, according to a report released Wednesday" by the medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Associated Press/CBS News reports.

23 Feb 2012

Actelion, Auxilium partner to develop and commercialize XIAFLEX

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced today that they have entered into a long-term partnership for the development, supply and commercialization of XIAFLEX (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), a novel, first-in-class biologic for the potential treatment of Dupuytren's contracture and Peyronie's disease.

23 Feb 2012

FDA approves Boston Scientific's ION and TAXUS Liberte paclitaxel-eluting stents

Boston Scientific Corporation's ION Paclitaxel-Eluting Platinum Chromium Coronary Stent System and TAXUS Liberte Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in patients experiencing an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack.

23 Feb 2012

Novartis delivers 100 million child-friendly antimalarial treatments to 39 countries

One hundred million treatments of Coartem- Dispersible (artemether-lumefantrine), an antimalarial developed especially for children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria, have been delivered by Novartis to 39 malaria-endemic countries, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announced today.

23 Feb 2012

FDA EMDAC recommends approval of VIVUS' Qnexa for obesity

VIVUS, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended Qnexa be granted marketing approval by the FDA for the treatment of obesity in adults.

23 Feb 2012

Health Canada accepts Paladin's Silenor NDS for review

Paladin Labs Inc. and Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Paladin has filed a New Drug Submission (NDS) that has been accepted for review by Health Canada for Silenor (doxepin) for the treatment and symptomatic relief of insomnia.

23 Feb 2012

Depomed, Santarus reach agreement to resolve GLUMETZA patent litigation with Lupin

Santarus, Inc. and Depomed, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a settlement agreement with Lupin Ltd. and its subsidiary, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to resolve pending patent litigation involving GLUMETZA 1000 mg and 500 mg.

23 Feb 2012

Statins can reduce risk of depression

Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University of California San Francisco have studied the link between medication taken for cardiovascular disease and the development of depression. In their studies, scientists have determined that a particular class of medication, i.e. statins, can reduce the risk of developing depression.

22 Feb 2012

Making a medicinewise choice between brands

Following reports the first generic version of atorvastatin will be hitting pharmacy shelves this week, NPS is urging consumers to be medicinewise when making a choice between medicine brands.

22 Feb 2012