Eliminating copayments improves medication adherence
When Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina eliminated generic medication copayments and reduced copayments for brand-name medications, adherence to medications for diabetes, hypertension,…
Web Exclusives
New lupus drug one step closer to approval
An advisory panel has recommended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve Benlysta; it would be the first new drug approved to treat Lupus…
Alcohol ranked as most harmful of 20 drugs
Members of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drug in the UK ranked alcohol as the most harmful of a list of 20 drugs, followed…
Some fentanyl transdermal patches recalled
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Actavis Inc. has recalled 18 lots of Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/hour C-II patches from wholesale…
New warning added for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers to add new labeling warnings for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, mostly used to treat men…
New safety information for Invirase
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that new safety information has been added to the label for the HIV antiviral drug Invirase (saquinavir).…
Abbott withdraws Meridia from market
On Oct. 8, Abbott Laboratories voluntarily withdrew its weight loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the market in response to a request from the U.S.…
Amgen, FDA announce voluntary recall of Epogen and Procrit
On Sept. 24, Amgen and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Amgen is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Epogen and Procrit (Epoetin…
High erythropoietin levels in people 85 or older associated with higher mortality risk
A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that among people aged 85 or older, elevated erythropoietin levels were associated with an increased…
Negative job situation puts nurses at risk for depression
The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research reports that nurses who experience job strain, role overload, and a lack of respect have an increased risk…
How to revive the FDA
The Oct. 6 New England Journal of Medicine includes a perspective on how to “revive” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it here.
AHRQ releases new guide for patients
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new guide to help hospitals better prepare patients to take care of themselves…
Eliminating copayments improves medication adherence
When Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina eliminated generic medication copayments and reduced copayments for brand-name medications, adherence to medications for…
New lupus drug one step closer to approval
An advisory panel has recommended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approve Benlysta; it would be the first new drug approved to…
Alcohol ranked as most harmful of 20 drugs
Members of the Independent Scientific Committee on Drug in the UK ranked alcohol as the most harmful of a list of 20…
Some fentanyl transdermal patches recalled
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Actavis Inc. has recalled 18 lots of Fentanyl Transdermal System 25 mcg/hour C-II patches…
New warning added for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked manufacturers to add new labeling warnings for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, mostly used to…
New safety information for Invirase
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that new safety information has been added to the label for the HIV antiviral drug…
Abbott withdraws Meridia from market
On Oct. 8, Abbott Laboratories voluntarily withdrew its weight loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) from the market in response to a request from…
Amgen, FDA announce voluntary recall of Epogen and Procrit
On Sept. 24, Amgen and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Amgen is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Epogen and…
High erythropoietin levels in people 85 or older associated with higher mortality risk
A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that among people aged 85 or older, elevated erythropoietin levels were associated with…
Negative job situation puts nurses at risk for depression
The Canadian Journal of Nursing Research reports that nurses who experience job strain, role overload, and a lack of respect have an…
How to revive the FDA
The Oct. 6 New England Journal of Medicine includes a perspective on how to “revive” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read…
AHRQ releases new guide for patients
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a new guide to help hospitals better prepare patients to take care…