Articles tagged with Drug Safety
A new USC study reveals that sudden price hikes for some generic drugs are becoming more common, reflecting emerging strategies by generic manufacturers to target therapeutic areas with limited competition. The study found that prices for most generic drugs declined over time, but the fraction of drugs with prices that at least doubled...
Psilocybin researchers propose moving the substance from a Schedule I classification to Schedule IV due to low potential for abuse and harm. This move would facilitate clinical trials and minimize logistical hurdles.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have found that amodiaquine suppresses blood vessel formation through both the apelin and VEGF pathways, reversing vascular eye damage in animal models. The compound blocks the receptor's function by binding to a unique area, inhibiting apelin's ability to drive blood ve...
The authors explore clopidogrel's use in stable ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. They evaluate the data behind its use in patients on oral anticoagulation, aiming to better understand its role in cardiovascular disease.
A new influenza drug, baloxavir marboxil, has been shown to significantly shorten the duration of flu symptoms in teens and adults, clearing virus more quickly than placebo. The drug's antiviral potency was found to be similar to that of a five-day course of oseltamivir, but with greater effectiveness and no significant side effects.
The PROFORMA project aims to strengthen national infrastructures for drugs safety monitoring in four East African countries. The five-year project, funded by EUR 6 million, includes training at Master's and postgraduate level and exchange of knowledge between researchers and experts.
Cynthia Connolly's book 'Children and Drug Safety: Balancing Risk and Protection in Twentieth Century America' received the APHA award for outstanding historical research and original contribution to science policy. The book explores the politics of pediatric drug safety and its impact on public health.
The authors propose increasing incentives and modifying regulations to improve competition, redirecting overinvestment in new drug development to the generic market, and pivoting from short-term survival mode to long-term organized responses. These solutions aim to enhance competition, provide patients with reliable access to vital dru...
Extended-release naltrexone helps HIV-positive individuals reduce their number of heavy drinking days and improve antiretroviral therapy adherence. The study found significant decreases in heavy drinking days among participants receiving naltrexone, but no effect on antiretroviral adherence.
US testosterone prescriptions dropped significantly following reports linking use to cardiovascular events. Between 2013-2016, new users saw a 62% decrease, while established users saw a 48% drop, according to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston study.
A recent meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy. Labetalol, hydralazine, and nifedipine were found to have similar efficacy with negligible differences in their safety profile.
A large study of over 10,000 pregnant women found no increased risk of stillbirth associated with fluconazole use. The results contradict earlier animal data suggesting a potential link between the drug and fetal death.
A recent study suggests that metformin is safe for most adults with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The research, conducted by Johns Hopkins Medicine, found no association between metformin use and acidosis in patients with mild to moderate CKD. However, the risk of acidosis increased significantly among patients with severe...
A recent study found that one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics does not meet expected success rates, while another is as effective as newer drugs. The study suggests re-evaluating old antibiotics against modern standards to ensure patient well-being and restrict newer antibiotic use.
A new study found that administering edonerpic maleate, a small molecule targeting CRMP2, significantly improved the ability of mice and monkeys to regain motor function after a stroke. Early clinical trial results suggest the drug is safe in humans, offering a potential breakthrough for stroke recovery.
Anti-tumor necrosis factor medications like certolizumab pegol show a low rate of major congenital malformations and similar live birth rates to the general population. These findings support continued treatment with anti-TNFs for women with chronic inflammatory diseases during pregnancy
A new University of Bath project seeks to reduce injection errors, aiming for a 35% decrease in mistakes. The research, led by Dr Matthew Jones, will test modified guidance on nurses to improve patient safety and potentially save NHS time and money.
A 3D tissue model of the developing heart has been created using human induced pluripotent stem cells, allowing for more accurate and reliable drug safety testing for pregnant women. This model mimics early stage human heart development, providing a valuable tool for assessing embryo toxicity and fetal development.
A study published in Anesthesiology found that intravenous amisulpride significantly reduced post-operative nausea and vomiting in high-risk patients when used in combination with an anti-nausea treatment. Amisulpride showed a statistically significant reduction in PONV occurrence, without increasing the frequency of adverse events.
A recent study by researchers from UMass Amherst and Newcastle University found serious deficiencies in the evidence base for widely used diabetes drugs in India. The investigation calls for action to ensure these medications are safe and effective.
Scientists from ITMO University have developed a new treatment for internal bleeding using magnetically-driven nanoparticles containing thrombin. The treatment reduces overall blood loss by 15 times and accelerates local clot formation.
A new drug has shown encouraging safety and efficacy in treating Still's disease, a serious orphan condition. The treatment, which blocks the action of an inflammation factor, has been tested on 23 patients with refractory forms of the disease, resulting in positive responses and significant symptom reduction.
Researchers found that adding cetirizine to standard therapy significantly reduced annualized relapse rates in patients with neuromyelitis optica, a rare disease causing inflammation and demyelination. The study suggests that cetirizine may be beneficial in preventing relapses by modulating eosinophil activity.
Researchers at Newcastle University found that only two out of six essential medicines were easily available in private pharmacies, with many more listed in Indian databases but unaffordable. The study calls for a review of available brands and the setting up of a centralized database to address inadequate access to essential medicines.
A recent study found that none of the 89 approved pediatric drug products include dosing information for obese kids. Obesity affects how the body takes up medicine, where it retains it and how quickly it is excreted. More efforts are needed to provide safe dosing guidelines for children with obesity.
A new authentication method using direct ionization mass spectrometry has been developed by PolyU to quickly identify genuine and counterfeit species of Lingzhi and Tianma. The method can differentiate between wild and cultivated types, as well as geographical origins.
Researchers at Cardiff University developed a new method to predict the likelihood of pharmaceutical drugs undergoing racemisation, a process that can lead to harmful versions. The tool could help identify at-risk drug candidates early on in production, reducing financial risk and improving safe medication development.
A new study found that an infliximab biosimilar is safe and effective for treating inflammatory bowel disease, with comparable drug levels to the original medication. However, a high rate of discontinuation was observed due to subjective disease worsening or elective withdrawal after switching to the biosimilar.
A study published in Addiction found that low- and high-volume prescribers both play a significant role in opioid prescriptions, challenging the focus on 'pill mill' doctors. The study also identified other high-risk patient groups, such as concomitant users and chronic high-dose users, who pose a greater public health threat.
Researchers investigated the effects of synthetic cannabinoid JWH-018, finding initial impairments in neurocognitive function and subjective feelings of high. The results suggest that common use scenarios may not be fully represented by the low drug concentrations used in the trial.
Involving patients in their care is critical for improving medication safety, according to Regenstrief Institute researcher Joy L. Lee. A more patient-centered approach to medication safety involves understanding a patient's nuances of how they understand medical instructions and preferences.
Researchers found RNs better equipped to identify medication discrepancies, prioritizing accuracy and safety over time constraints. LPNs often rely on rules, assuming knowledge of residents' complex conditions.
Doctors in the north east of England are facing legal action from pharmaceutical companies for offering patients a safer and effective but cheaper alternative to a licensed drug. The cheaper option, bevacizumab, could save the NHS up to £13.5m a year within the next five years.
Researchers have developed a new medicine, tarloxitinib, that brings high doses of anti-EGFR drugs to tumors while keeping toxic levels in healthy tissues. The prodrug-based approach has shown promising results in tests against lung cancer cells with EGFR exon 20 insertions.
A Swedish registry study found that dementia patients with stroke can receive thrombolysis treatment without increased risk of brain haemorrhage or death. However, those over 80 may experience worse functional outcomes and be more likely to be discharged to nursing homes.
Compounded bioidentical hormone therapies are not FDA-approved, lack quality control, and have the same risks as FDA-approved hormone therapy products. Women often unknowingly choose these over FDA-approved options due to misconceptions about safety and efficacy.
A new analysis highlights the importance of considering pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects in establishing drug doses. The study found that more trials used pharmacology endpoints in 2015 compared to 2007, but some still escalated without documented assessment.
Long-term prescription opioid use increased significantly from 1.8% to 5.4% between 1999-2000 and 2013-2014, associated with poorer physical health and concurrent benzodiazepine use.
Many pregnant women rely on the internet for medication safety information due to limited guidance from healthcare providers. Online searches reveal that health service sites are the most common source of information, with e-pharmacies being less frequently used.
Researchers found that licorice extracts from three species can inhibit certain liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism, potentially causing interactions with medications. The team plans to develop a safe and effective licorice therapy using a specific species, G. glabra, for women experiencing menopausal symptoms.
A new technique uses a fluorescent sensor to detect stress on cells at earlier stages than conventional methods. The method can be adapted to detect protein aggregates caused by other toxins and diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
Researchers found a 1% increase in undocumented immigration is associated with 22 fewer drug arrests and 42 fewer drunken driving arrests. The frequency of drunken driving fatalities was unaffected by unauthorized immigration rates.
Experts argue that stopping antibiotics sooner is a safe and effective way to reduce antibiotic overuse, contradicting the long-held 'complete the course' message.
Researchers developed a novel, tough, and triggerable hydrogel material that addresses safety concerns of traditional swallowable drug delivery systems. The new material can withstand gastrointestinal forces and release medication in a controlled manner.
Researchers created a system that uses continuous flow technology to produce pharmaceutical compounds, improving safety and yield. The new approach yielded 24 kilograms of chemotherapy agent prexasertib over three days, demonstrating its effectiveness.
A new research design from Perelman School of Medicine scientists provides a more effective way to assess the safety of newly approved drugs and those with rapidly increasing or declining use. This trend-in-trend method can identify rare side effects and provide accurate results, even in the absence of comparable control groups.
A new cost-benefit analysis suggests that a supervised facility in Baltimore could generate $7.8 million in annual savings by reducing overdose deaths, HIV and hepatitis C infections, hospitalizations and bringing people into treatment. The study found that such a space would save thousands of lives and prevent numerous overdoses.
A new nanofluidic device enables rapid testing of protein drugs produced by living cells, offering continuous monitoring and automated quality control. The system can analyze small protein samples in 30-40 minutes, with potential future miniaturization for real-time point-of-care checks.
Researchers found no evidence of increased risk of heart attack, depression, or self-harm in patients with COPD using varenicline. The medication is considered highly effective in helping smokers quit, addressing long-standing concerns among doctors.
Between 2001 and 2010, nearly a third of FDA-approved pharmaceuticals and biologics experienced postmarket safety events. These events, including withdrawals and boxed warnings, affect patient care and decision-making. Postmarket risks are often only apparent in larger patient populations and longer durations.
A Yale University study found that 32% of new drugs were flagged for a safety issue after approval, with biologic therapies and accelerated approvals being more likely to be associated with concerns. The findings highlight the need for ongoing surveillance of new drugs in the post-market period.
A study found that nearly 1 in 3 FDA-approved drugs had postmarket safety events, with biologics and psychiatric disease treatments being most affected. The study highlights the need for ongoing safety monitoring of approved medications.
Research suggests that pharmaceutical promotion can lead to overprescription of brand-name medications. The study found that top-selling and top-prescribed drugs were more likely to be effective, safe, affordable, novel, and represent a genuine advance in treating a disease. However, heavily promoted drugs often fell short in these areas.
A review of psychoactive substance use among healthy individuals highlights potential cognitive enhancements, but also safety concerns and ethical issues. The study suggests that more research is needed to understand the long-term effects and develop harm reduction strategies.
Researchers are developing new CT and MRI scan techniques to identify early signs of drug-induced liver and lung disease, potentially saving time and money. The TRISTAN project will use imaging biomarkers to develop predictive models for safer drug development.
Research links common painkillers diclofenac and ibuprofen to increased risk of cardiac arrest, with diclofenac being the most hazardous. The study advises limiting ibuprofen to 1200mg per day and avoiding diclofenac in patients with cardiovascular disease or high-risk factors.
Three experts from the University of Sydney argue that deregulating the FDA's regulatory system will subject patients to potentially toxic drugs. They highlight examples of successful drugs that were identified through well-controlled studies, and contrast these with unregulated markets that struggle to sift out ineffective treatments.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a molecule that works to restore balance to pathways responsible for chronic and acute heart failure. The new drug, developed through genetic mapping technology, has shown safety and efficacy in phase II clinical trials.
Physicians should be informed about herbal medications used by heart disease patients, as their efficacy and safety are rarely proven. Discussing the pros and cons of herbal medications is crucial for effective patient counseling.
The updated guidelines include two new medications approved by the FDA as safe and effective treatments for heart failure in women. WomenHeart sees these guidelines as an important addition to treatment efforts to achieve positive outcomes for women with the disease.