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Topamax medication during pregnancy can lead to increased risk of oral birth defects in babies

New data suggest that the drug Topamax and its generic versions increase the risk for the birth defects cleft lip and cleft palate in babies born to women who use the medication during pregnancy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said today.

5 Mar 2011

New research into drugs to prevent brain tumours in children wins vital funding

New research into drugs which could prevent the return of persistent brain tumours in children has won vital funding from two major brain tumour charities.

5 Mar 2011

Study: Resveratrol can reduce body fat

For her thesis entitled Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Resveratrol: the effect of these functional ingredients on the metabolism of triglycerides and adiposity, Nutrition and Obesity research team member at the University of the Basque Country, Ms Arrate Lasa, studied the fat-reducing effect of CLA and resveratrol.

4 Mar 2011

Alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamines are common abuse substances

A new study shows that the most commonly abused substances among those 18 and older referred to substance abuse treatment from parole or probation was alcohol, followed by marijuana and methamphetamines.

4 Mar 2011

Study: Vaccinated children and adolescents are less prone to infectious diseases

May vaccinations put too much strain on or weaken children's immune systems and are therefore harmful? Roma Schmitz and her colleagues from the Robert Koch Institute investigate exactly this research question in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.

4 Mar 2011

New discovery holds promise for TB treatment

New findings on how tuberculosis bacteria develop multi-drug tolerance point to ways TB infections might be cured more quickly.

4 Mar 2011

European Commission approves BMY's ONGLYZA to treat type 2 diabetes

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca today announced that the European Commission has approved a label update for ONGLYZA in the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes who have moderate or severe renal impairment. The approved dosage for the patient group is a new once-daily 2.5 mg dose.

4 Mar 2011

Few primary care physicians pay adequate attention to patients taking prescription opioid drugs

Few primary care physicians pay adequate attention to patients taking prescription opioid drugs — despite the potential for abuse, addiction and overdose, according to a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

4 Mar 2011

Protesters call on Indian government to reject free trade agreement with EU

Thousands of HIV-positive people from India and across Asia marched in New Delhi on Wednesday to protest the proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and India, "which has provisions that would restrict access to affordable medicines," the Times of India reports.

4 Mar 2011

Shire receives European Commission approval for self-administration of FIRAZYR for HAE

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the European Commission has approved FIRAZYR for self-administration after training in subcutaneous injection technique by a healthcare professional. FIRAZYR is the first and only treatment for acute Type I and Type II hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks licensed for self-administration in Europe.

4 Mar 2011

Exercise can reduce cannabis use in persons who don't want to stop

Vanderbilt researchers are studying heavy users of marijuana to help understand what exercise does for the brain, contributing to a field of research that uses exercise as a modality for prevention and treatment.

4 Mar 2011

Endo's FORTESTA Gel for treatment of 'Low T' in males is now available in pharmacies

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced that FORTESTA Gel – recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of low testosterone, or 'Low T' in adult males – is now available by prescription in pharmacies across the country.

3 Mar 2011

Eisai receives FDA approval for BANZEL Oral Suspension to treat seizures linked with LGS

Eisai Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved BANZEL Oral Suspension, 40 mg/mL, for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in children 4 years and older and adults.

3 Mar 2011

FDA approves Amneal's Indomethacin ER capsules

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC is pleased to announce that it received U.S. FDA approval for Indomethacin Extended Release capsules, USP in the 75 mg strength effective December 1, 2010.

3 Mar 2011

EU's Avastin policy: A stark contrast to the FDA's recent decision

The committee's decision stands in stark contrast to the recent verdict by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is wary of Avastin's benefits for breast-cancer patients.

3 Mar 2011

EC grants marketing authorization for InterMune's Esbriet to treat IPF

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Esbriet. Esbriet is indicated in adults for the treatment of mild to moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and fatal lung disease.

3 Mar 2011

Roche, OraSure receive FDA 510(k) clearance for Oral Fluid Drug Testing System

OraSure Technologies, Inc. and Roche announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the Companies 510(k) clearance on four homogeneous fully automated oral fluid drugs of abuse assays developed to be used exclusively as part of OraSure's Intercept Oral Fluid Drug Testing System.

3 Mar 2011

Real-life scientists search for new medicinal plants in remote areas

Real-life scientists, whose work has overtones of Indiana Jones as they search for plants in remote areas of the world that could become the source of life-saving new medicines, are currently trying to figure out how a new international agreement on biodiversity will affect their work.

3 Mar 2011

Lancet Infectious Diseases examines how resource gaps are creating barriers to reduce child mortality

The Lancet Infectious Diseases' Newsdesk examines how resource gaps in immunizations, health workers and financing are creating barriers to efforts to achieve the U.N. Millennium Development Goal target to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, as highlighted in a recent Save the Children report.

3 Mar 2011

New Sanitized MedX 200s active ingredient series to reduce risk of HAI

The new Sanitized MedX 200s active ingredient series, which has been used with success in the plastics of medical equipment, makes a contribution to reducing the risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections, HAI.

3 Mar 2011