Analysis of:
How a Drug Maker Tries to Outwit Generics (online.wsj.com)
These strategies are running out of steam as insurers, and even the general public, are catching on. Most insurers will only pay for generic modafanil, and these new versions will not sell as much as they would have even 5 years ago. The abuse potential of the drug may help, as brand-name...
Analysis of:
Heart Stents No Better Than Drugs for Chest Pain Over Time (www.bloomberg.com)
Because equivalent results were shown, there will be no change in stent placement volumes.
Analysis of:
Patients Curb Prescription Spending (online.wsj.com)
The idea that people will always buy prescription and OTC drugs and will go to the physician and dentist, no matter what the economic conditions in the country, is, in my opinion, erroneous. People's first priorities are getting to work (requiring gas), food, and shelter. The most money...
Analysis of:
Drug Makers Say FDA Safety Focus Is Slowing New-Medicine Pipeline (online.wsj.com)
Drugs are released to the market without adequate study, then, after around 70 to 100 patient deaths due to the drug are reported, the drug is pulled from the market. Getting in front of this "problem" would improve the safety of our drug supply.
Analysis of:
Roche decision denies cancer drug to Britons (www.ft.com)
Drug company (Roche) retaliates against an agency that speaks the truth about their chemical - that it's cost is not worth the minimal benefit. This will become more common as time goes on, even here in the bastion of capitalism.
Analysis of:
Doctors Say Medication Is Overused in Dementia (www.nytimes.com)
Antipsychotic drugs have been shown to increase morbidity and mortality in demented patients. These agents are used to keep patients calm and easy to manipulate because there is not enough nursing home staff to adequately care for patients mental and physical needs. "Chemical straight-jackets",...
Analysis of:
New Study Probes Safety of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (www.medscape.com)
For the right patient, epoietin products can make a world of difference in quality of life. For the wrong patient, the drugs can cause clotting and can be fatal. (I was involved with a patient's care once who died from a PE due to epoietin. She had a hematocrit of 55% when she died.) ...
Analysis of:
Clinical study shows liraglutide provides statistically significantly better blood glucose control than exenatide (www.pipelinereview.com)
Another agent that lowers HBA1C by 0.02% is not a big deal. There are already too many of these products on the market, none of which do much of anything to improve diabetes care.
Analysis of:
Anti-inflammatory Drugs Do Not Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults (pharmalive.com)
The evidence for this idea was shaky to begin with. I'm not surprised that it was finally debunked.