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GLG News by this Author
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.
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January 22, 2007
The Road to Wellness Is Starting at the Office | online.wsj.com
When healthcare payors will address preventative care as a primary goal, it is clear that the overall health of the employee will improve and health care costs will decrease. We need to work more at preventing illness and not just "curing" it. Those nations that have taken this to heart have better heath than we do.
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January 22, 2007
Eli Lilly played down risks of top drug: report | today.reuters.com
Side effects of the atypicals have been reported for quite a while now. It is hard to believe that drug companies have not learned to state right at the onset what is good and bad about their product. Doctors will be able to use the drug in the most appropriate way with the information forthcoming. Litigation should not be the learning process.
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January 9, 2007
Retail Medical Clinics Draw Patients & Payers | www.managedcaremag.com
Despite what the managed care companies may say, cheaper is better for them. Using allied health professionals to give care in retail areas clearly decreases their costs. Whether care is better, will depend on what is being treated. Also the question of back up arises. Will a sick patient be referred to his or her MD or to an ER?
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January 8, 2007
The addition of zetia to any statin will increase efficacy for LDL lowering by an average of 18%. This clearly is advantageous where one wants the LDL to be below 100, or even below 70.
In view of the relative efficacy of the individual components, the result comes as no surprise. However, with generic Simvastatin, will we be able to use Vytorin without restriction? -
MRSA pneumonia- A different beast
January 8, 2007
Aggressive Vancomycin Dosing Unlikely to Boost Survival in MRSA Pneumonia | www.medscape.com
Many local factors affect an antibiotic's activity in given tissues.
Only if you get adequate levels in the right part of the lung will you get the appropriate activity.
This study shows that Vanco may not be the best for this type of infection. -
January 2, 2007
1.5 million Americans a year affected by medication errors | seattletimes.nwsource.com
Many other authors write that EMR or E-prescribing will bring about the answer. We have all this in our institution and errors still occur. The human and time factors need to be addressed as well. More educated bodies that are not rushed will greatly add to declining errors. But who will pay for this?
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December 29, 2006
Exforge Receives US Regulatory Approval as a New and Highly Effective Treatment Option for Patients with High Blood Pressure | pharmalive.com
Novartis already has Lotrel- a combo of amlodopine and an ACE inhibitor. The addition of a combo of amlodopine and an ARB will clearly be a useful addition. Most hypertensives require several medication to bring the BP to reccommended levels. Those intolerant of the ACE will now have an alternative and only a single co-pay!
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Perhaps the start of something BIG
December 28, 2006
Oral VTE drug shows similar efficacy to enoxaparin in phase 3 study | www.orthosupersite.com
The evidence that oral thrombin inhibitors work as effectively for knee replacement prophylaxis hopefully will lead to studies for the therapy of same. As more agents become available that are effective and safe, we will clearly have a much easier and cost effective way for treating VTE in the outpatient setting. This without the need to teach patients how to inject LMWH either in the ER or after some hospitalization.
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December 19, 2006
U.S. Taps Sleeping Giant in Asia’s Life Sciences Realm | www.sdbj.com
When a drug is approved in Europe it takes a long time to get approval in the USA. We have to wait and redo our own tests in "our" population. Will this be a change in proceedure? Will we be able to use data and results from other populations when we have not in the past?
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December 19, 2006
Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result in Death and Life-Threatening Changes in Breathing and Heart Beat | www.fda.gov
Methadone is clearly a good med to rx opoid addiction and for pain. It, however, has significant side effects. The article points out that one must be well versed in its use or you can get into trouble. This is a good reminder.
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December 13, 2006
Inspire Initiates Phase 2 14-Day Clinical Trial of Epinastine for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis | home.businesswire.com
We primarily treat allergic rhinitis with oral antihistamines. The issue of sedation is a major factor in their use. Astelin is still not a major player compared to oral agents or nasal steriods. What will this agent offer that is new?
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December 13, 2006
FDA approves Zostavax, Merck's new vaccine for preventing shingles in adults 60 and older | www.therapeuticsdaily.com
Though the data are excellent for the vaccine, the issue of coverage and of doctors recommending the vaccine will be the primary movers in how it will be used. Even "routine" vaccinations are not given to a majority of patients who would benefit from them.
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December 11, 2006
Misuse of Home Nebulizers High Among Inner-City Children With Asthma | www.medscape.com
Access to health care is not good for inner-city youth. Asthma is a major problem. Patients and family are not taught about the need to use anti-inflammatory agents. Quick relief is what is sought. Care may only come through ER visits where the parent learns the use of nebulization without further education re: asthma control.
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December 8, 2006
The additive effect of theophylline on a combination of formoterol and tiotropium in stable COPD: A pilot study | www.resmedjournal.com
Though we may not see improvement in spirometric parameters in many COPD patients, subjective decrease in dyspnea is quite important. COPD is defined by fixed obstruction and other parameters of QOL are as important.
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December 5, 2006
End of Drug Trial Is a Big Loss for Pfizer and Heart Patients | www.nytimes.com
Effects of the drug on BP have been known for some time now. Though it seemed that the drug was destined to come to market, we have seen similar problems that were minimized by other drug manufacturers and were quite detrimental to patients and the drug company. Better now than after post marketing problems arise.
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Non inferiority is not the answer
December 4, 2006
Arpida reveals positive results... | www.nasdaq.com
The results of this study do not show us a better drug. We could use a cidal drug that has an oral equivalent
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December 4, 2006
Study May Boost Use of Cheaper Antipsychotic Drug | online.wsj.com
Medicaid is probably the largest payor for antipsychotic drugs as most of these patients do not hold down regular jobs.
There have been several studies showing that the efficacy of the newer agents and side effect profile are not better than the older agents. Cost is therefore very important and should be the determining factor.
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November 21, 2006
AHA: Arcoxia (etoricoxib) May Not Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Events | www.medpagetoday.com
Are any cox-2 agents that safe? We had issues with Vioxx and the use of Celebrex has declined. These agents are not better than a good NSAID and a PPI. We need a safe Cox-2 agent and not one that is not inferior.
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November 16, 2006
Chocoholics rejoice! More benefits found in heart study | www.cnn.com
Though a little may be good. Like everything else we are a society living in excess. Too much of a good thing is usually not good. What about the weight gain and risk for Diabetes for true chocoholics?
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Not without potential side effects
November 13, 2006
High-Dose Fluticasone/Salmeterol Therapy May "Revolutionize" COPD Treatment | www.medscape.com
In light of the recent warnings regarding the safety of long acting Beta-2 agonists in asthma, what will happen in the more vulnerable elderly? Will we see more side effects and possible deaths? Also what will be the recommendations regarding bone and eye health with the use of high dose inhaled steroids in this already compromised population?
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This author consults with leading institutions through GLG
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