Consumers making assumptions about similarly named over-the-counter drugs with very different active ingredients have led the the FDA to issue a warning: Make sure you’re grabbing the right Maalox. Continue reading Maalox Mix-up: FDA Warns of Dangers From Picking Wrong Variety Maalox Mix-up: FDA Warns of Dangers From Picking Wrong Variety originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:12:00. Filed Under: Company News , Healthcare , Novartis Permalink | Tweet this! | Comments

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Filed under: Healthcare , Pfizer , Merck , GlaxoSmithKline “There have been long-standing concerns regarding the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight of postmarket drug safety.” So begins a Government Accountability Office (GOA) report released on Wednesday that examines the steps the FDA has taken since making its own 2006 recommendations on the matter. In the eyes of many, the GAO’s finding may be an understatement. The GAO’s main recommendation was that the FDA separate responsibilities between the Office of New Drugs and the Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology — the first would approve new drugs, and the second would follow up on postmarket drug safety issues. When those approving the drugs in the first place are also responsible for tracking them postmarket, potential conflicts could arise, the GAO found. Those who approved the drug — obviously finding it safe enough — may find themselves in an awkward position if the drug is later found to be lacking. Continue reading Missing in action: An FDA plan for postmarket drug safety Missing in action: An FDA plan for postmarket drug safety originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Filed under: Company News , Technology , Healthcare On Tuesday, CVS ( CVS ) drugstores agreed to pay the State of New York $875,000 to settle a case alleging that it sold expired food, over-the-counter drugs, and infant formula. This settlement follows a $1.3 million settlement between New York State and Rite Aid ( RAD ), suggesting that this crop of expired-product sales may be just the tip of the iceberg. This isn’t the first time CVS has been cited by New York’s attorney general for selling expired items. In 2003, the chain handled the problem by signing an ” Assurance of Discontinuance ,” stating that it would “refrain from selling expired OTC drugs” and would institute “procedures to ensure that OTC drugs were identified and removed from CVS stores and directing and training employees involved in stocking of OTC drugs in these procedures.” Continue reading CVS, Rite Aid: Are sales of expired food and drugs a crisis or a stupid mistake? CVS, Rite Aid: Are sales of expired food and drugs a crisis or a stupid mistake? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Filed under: Company News , Healthcare , Pfizer Pfizer Inc. ( PFE ) sure is no stranger to finding itself in court. The pharmaceutical giant is constantly defending its practices and drugs, often ending up paying millions if not billions in damages — even admitting to felony criminal charges . Pfizer has also inherited lawsuits with some of the companies it has purchased. It’s recent $68 billion mega acquisition of Wyeth is no different. On Monday, a Philadelphia jury, which had earlier found a link between a woman’s breast cancer and the hormone-replacement drug she was taking, also found that Wyeth hid and ignored evidence of the drug’s potential cancer risk. The jury awarded Connie Barton an undisclosed amount of punitive-damages . Continue reading Pfizer in court again, this time for Wyeth’s menopause treatment Prempro Pfizer in court again, this time for Wyeth’s menopause treatment Prempro originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Filed under: Healthcare Stories about clinical drug trials pop up regularly in the news. Sometimes, that news is good because a novel drug proves itself to be a promising improvement over existing treatments, or even better when it represents a breakthrough against a previously untreatable disease. Of course, drug trials also make news when their results are disappointing, or worse, when the drug turns out to be harmful or potentially harmful to patients. The latter happened again most recently on Oct. 9, when Pfizer Inc. (PFE) said it halted patient enrollments in a late-stage lung- cancer trial for safety reasons, as the accompanying news story recounts . But what exactly are clinical trials, and how do they work? Bascially, they’re studies in which people volunteer to have new drugs or procedures tested on them. Researchers then closely monitor the trials to learn whether a new treatment works and is safe for people. Sounds scary? It shouldn’t be. There are definite risks, but the benefits to society are immeasurable. Continue reading Volunteers for clinical trials are essential — when they enroll for the right reasons Volunteers for clinical trials are essential — when they enroll for the right reasons originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Filed under: Company News , Investing , Healthcare , Pfizer , Bristol-Myers Squibb , Sanofi Aventis The global pharmaceutical market is set to grow 4 percent to 6 percent next year , exceeding $825 billion, market intelligence and research company IMS Health ( RX ) said on Oct 7. This is higher than previous IMS estimates by one percentage point. Through 2013, the researcher predicts worldwide pharmaceutical sales will grow at a 4 percent to 7 percent compound annual growth rate and reach a market value of more than $975 billion in that year. Is this prediction too optimistic? After all, industry observers are buzzing about the “patent cliff” in 2012-2013, when so many blockbuster drugs are due to lose patent protection and face increased competition from generic drugs. Worse, Big Pharma’s new-drug pipeline has been less than stellar, with very few promising blockbuster drugs on the way to replace the lost big sellers. Continue reading A slightly healthier forecast for global pharmaceutical sales in 2010 A slightly healthier forecast for global pharmaceutical sales in 2010 originally appeared on DailyFinance on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Filed under: Healthcare This week, a study reported that heartburn medications can exacerbate existing conditions instead of alleviating them. The study, which said that Prilosec and similar drugs can cause more — and more painful — heartburn, reminded me of a realization made at a marketing focus group. The goal of the session was to review taglines for a local teaching hospital and medical center, but our disparate group was unable to come to even the most minor consensus. The group’s designers had done their job too well and we represented both ends of every conceivable opinion spectrum. We were, however, united in one thing: our universal, even hostile, mistrust of pharmaceutical companies. And the way this study was designed is destined to reinforce that mistrust. Copenhagen University scientists recruited 120 healthy adults with no stomach problems and put half of them on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug, and half on a placebo. The study participants took the pills daily for three months. At the end of the period, the researchers stopped the treatment and measured heartburn, acid reflux and indigestion. Of the group with the PPIs, 44 percent had developed symptoms of some stomach problem, compared to nine percent of the placebo group; a very significant outcome. Continue reading Heartburn drug illuminates growing mistrust of pharmaceuticals Heartburn drug illuminates growing mistrust of pharmaceuticals originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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