Analysis of:
Pfizer To Launch Antiretroviral Maraviroc In July After FDA Tests Conclude, Official Says (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
Maraviroc will aid decrease HIV drug resistence. Because maraviroc's mechanism of action is different from the other antiretrovirals, its use can help those patients with HIV resistant mutations.
Analysis of:
U.S. urges strongest warning on 2 diabetes drugs (www.iht.com)
Avandia and Actos can contribute to heart failure. This is old news and should be known by all prescribers of these medications. Black Box warnings do not address the underlying cause of inappropriate prescriptions. Education and electronic auditing do.
Analysis of:
Pfizer Compound Shrinks Thyroid Tumors in Small Study (online.wsj.com)
Pfizer’s Axitinib phase 2 trial suggests a response on metastatic thyroid cancer. However, crucial variables such as pathology, site of metastasis and comparison to a placebo may not have been studied. Therefore, time will tell if this rarely dangerous tumor has a significant treatment.
Analysis of:
Insulins - Inhalable insulins unlikely to become blockbusters (www.pipelinereview.com)
The future of diabetes care is steering towards novel oral and injectable agents, islet transplants and artificial pancreases. Insulin use in Type 2 diabetic patients may wane, and for Type 1, newer technologies will supplant the need for injections or inhalations.
Analysis of:
Chairman Baucus and Ranking Member Grassley Comment on New England Journal of Medicine Report on Avandia (www.pharmalive.com)
The Government apparently likes to start wars. And their target now, is the makers of Avandia. Again, limited data is all the government needs for “just cause".
Analysis of:
Rosiglitazone Does Not Adversely Affect Cardiac Function in Type 2 Diabetics With Heart Failure (www.medscape.com)
Avandia is not toxic to the heart. However, in patients where fluid retention may be a problem, this class of medications ought to be avoided.
Analysis of:
Bariatric surgery - possible treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (www.news-medical.net)
Bariatric surgery is a viable option for in properly selected, well-motivated, desperate patients with diabetes.
Analysis of:
FDA Approves Lantus SoloStar(R) A New Prefilled Disposable Insulin Pen For Use With LANTUS(R) In People With Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
Pen delivery of insulin is the gold standard. SoloStar is as least as valuable a tool as the FlexPen. The SoloStar will impact, mainly the short-acting analogue market, but should become the primary choice for Lantus administration.
Analysis of:
Sebivo(R) (Telbivudine) Approved in European Union as a New Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients (www.pipelinereview.com)
Telbivudine is a new option of treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B.In the United States, approximately 1.2 million persons have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and are sources for HBV transmission to others. Two billion people infected worldwide, and 350 million suffering...