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Even though a warning label has been added to its package, recent study results, published in the online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, show that Chantix (varenicline), the drug that helps people quit smoking, may not be as problematic in depressed patients as previously thought. The researchers interpreted the so-called COMPASS trial that compared different behavioral smokin
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.09 00:00
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An Australian study at the University of Melbourne, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that boosting T-cell immunity could possibly improve existing vaccines so that they may protect people during a bird flu pandemic. The researchers added a compound known to increase immunity to a flu vaccine, which stimulated the production of potent killer T-cell immunity an
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.09 00:00
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클라블라네이트·메로페넴 병용요법서 가능성 제시남아프리카·한국 임상시험 계획 [Science, 2009;323:1215-1218] = 결핵 치료의 가능성이 옛 약물의 재조명을 통해서 드러나 관심을 모으고 있다. 알버트아인슈타인의대(Albert Einstein School of Medicine) 블랜차드(John Blanchard) 교수는 베타-락타마제(β-lacta-mase) 억제제인 클라블라네이트(clavulanate)와 페니실린 계열 항생제인 메로페넴(meropenem) 병용요법을 결핵 치료의 가능성으로 제시했다. 클라블라네이트는 2002년 페렴 및 급성 박테리아성 부비강염 치료약물인 어그멘틴(Augmen-tin)의 주성분으로, 메로페넴은 박테리아성 감염 예방 및 치료제로 1996년 승인받았다는 점은 일
제약단신
임세형 기자
2009.03.09 00:00
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영국 MHRA, 효과 증거 없고 부작용 유발 소아감기약 문제가 이번엔 영국에서 제기됐다. 영국약품및건강상품규제국(MHRA)은 6세 미만 소아에게 일반의약품(OTC)으로 판매되고 있는 감기약을 복용시키지 않도록 권고문을 발표했다. MHRA가 에펜드린(ephedrine), 슈도에펜드린(pseudoephedrine), 폴코딘(pholcodine), 덱스트로메토판(dextromethorphan)제제 등 OTC 감기약들의 안전선을 검토한 결과 대다수가 효과가 있다는 것에 대한 명확한 증거는 없는 반면 수면장애, 알레르기 반응, 환각 등의 부작용을 야기할 수 있는 것으로 나타났다. MHRA 약물경계위험관리부 래인(June Raine) 교수는 "오랫동안 OTC로 판매돼 온 소아감기약들은 임상시험에서 소아를 대상으로 효과
제약단신
김수미 기자
2009.03.09 00:00
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지발성 운동장애 가능성 미국식품의약국(FDA)이 위장장애 치료약물인 메토클로프라미드(metoclopramide)의 라벨에 경고문을 추가해야 한다고 발표했다. 이번 경고는 메토클로프라미드의 장기간, 고용량 사용이 지발성 운동장애(tardive dyskinesia)를 일으킬 수 있다는 내용으로 복용을 중단한 후에도 지속되고 누적 양과 기간에 따라 발생할 수 있다고 밝혔다. FDA는 제조사가 위험도평가 및 완화전략(REMS)을 실행하고 약물사용에 전 이 부분에 대한 내용이 포함된 가이드라인이 환자에게 제공돼야 한다고 강조했다. 지발성 운동장애는 얼굴을 찌푸리는 것, 혀를 내미는 것, 혀로 입술의 차는 것, 눈을 빠르게 깜박이는 것 등 불수의적이고 반복적인 움직임으로 증상 호전은 드물고 아직 알려진 치료방법이
제약단신
김수미 기자
2009.03.09 00:00
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사전검사 82%·약물치료 45% 감소미 정형외과학회 학술대회 사전관리에 대한 중요성은 일반적으로 강조되지만 실질적인 효과를 알아보기는 쉽지 않다. 이런 상황에서 미국정형외과학회(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) 연례학술대회에서 발표된 사전관리를 통해 골다공증성 둔부골절 발생률을 줄였다는 연구는 예방 프로그램의 실효성을 뒷받침 해주고 있다. 캘리포니아대학(University of California) 정형외과 후나하시(Ted Funahashi) 교수는 골다공증 위험도가 높은 환자들에게 사전검사와 질병에 대한 치료를 시행한 결과 5년 이상의 기간 동안 전체 둔부골절 발생률을 감소시키고 이에 해당하는 비용이 절감된 것으로 나타났다. 후나하시 교수는 "골다공증의 사전검사와
제약단신
김수미 기자
2009.03.09 00:00
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Results of a study with lab animals at the Penn State College of Medicine, published in the March issue of Clinical Cancer Research, show that a drug based on extracts from vegetables may be a potent and safe treatment against melanoma, reducing tumor growth by 60%. The new drug, called isoselenocyanate, was created by combining the extracts from broccoli and cabbage with selenium, and succeeded i
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.09 00:00
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Northfield Laboratories announced March 5 that an experimental blood substitute reduced the spread of pancreatic cancer in lab animals. Researchers at the University of Colorado reported that the use of Northfield"s PolyHeme product instead of red blood cells may extend survival in patients with pancreatic cancer who require transfusions.
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.09 00:00
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The FDA warned on March 5 of the risk of skin burns in patients wearing transdermal drug patches who are undergoing MRI scans. Transdermal patches are applied to the skin delivering pain medications, hormones, or nicotine and are sometimes made of aluminum or other metal which can overheat during an MRI scan, causing skin burns in the immediate area of the patch. The transdermal patch alert is the
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.09 00:00
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Schering-Plough Corporation announced on March 5 that the FDA approved the intravenous (IV) formulation of temozolomide as an alternative to the already approved oral form of the drug, after the EU regulatory commission did likewise last month. Temozolomide is a chemotherapy agent for treatment of adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) combined with radiotherapy and then as a ma
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.06 00:00
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Bristol-Myers Squibb, Nissan Chemical, and Teijin Pharma announced on March 4 their agreement to co-develop and sell an experimental drug for atrial fibrillation. Under the contract, Bristol-Myers receives exclusive rights to both the drug and some backup compounds worldwide, except in Japan. The 2 Japanese companies will get $40 million at once, another $170 million after certain milestones are r
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.06 00:00
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GlaxoSmithKline Plc"s Tykerb (lapatinib) costs too much to be recommended for routine use in women with advanced breast cancer, even after the company offered to cover the expense of the first 12 weeks of treatment. The UK"s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) decided that Tykerb isn"t a cost-effective use of National Health Service funds since it costs about 25,000 pou
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.06 00:00
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A study at the University of Minnesota, to be published in the journal Nature, tried glycerol monolaurate (GML) a common food additive, in lab animals for the prevention of AIDS. Ten lab monkeys were exposed to 2 large doses SIV (simian immunodeficiency virus, the equivalent of HIV in monkeys), half of them were given a vaginal application with GML and the other 5 served as a control group. After
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.06 00:00
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Pfizer Inc. announced that it signed a 5 year contract with Bausch & Lomb to co-promote prescription eye-care drugs in the US. The partnership includes Pfizer"s eye-care solution Xalatan (latanoprost ophthalmic) and Bausch & Lomb"s Alrex (loteprednol ophthalmic), among other products. In addition Pfizer said it will continue to maintain 3 developing eye-care products separate from the partnershi
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.05 00:00
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., the maker of the hepatitis C drug candidate telaprevir, announced March 3 to have bought 2 additional hepatitis C drug candidates from ViroChem Pharma Inc. According to Vertex, a combination of telaprevir and the other 2 drugs might be more effective against hepatitis C than telaprevir alone. The company said it plans to start a clinical study combining telaprevir wit
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.05 00:00
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Sanofi-Aventis announced on Feb. 26 to have received FDA approval for its prefilled disposable pen containing insulin glulisine (Apidra SoloSTAR). The pen is indicated to improve glycemic control in adults and children older than 4 years who have type1 diabetes or in adults who have type2 diabetes. The drug has been shown to help reduce HbA1C levels when used in combination with exercise, insulin,
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.05 00:00
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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced on March 3 to have received FDA approval for Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) as a preventative treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). Copaxone is already approved to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, when new symptoms occur suddenly or older symptoms become worse. The expanded approval allows for the drug"s use in patients who have experienc
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.05 00:00
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According to a study from the University of Naples in Italy, published in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, hydrogen sulfide may become the target of new drugs for erectile dysfunction. For the study the researchers examined penile tissue samples obtained from humans and found that the same enzymes that produce hydrogen sulfide in animals were present and f
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.04 00:00
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Pfizer announced on March 3 to have entered multiple agreements with Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, a generic drug company based in India, to produce and sell drugs that have lost patent protection in the US and Europe. Under the contract, Pfizer has acquired the right to sell 39 pills that will be sold in the US, of which 20 also in Europe, and 12 injectable medicines such as antibiotics. Pfizer will be r
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메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.04 00:00
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According to the journal Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin, Intrinsa, a new testosterone patch, designed to improve a woman"s sex drive, may be ineffective. The journal noted that the clinical trials on testosterone patches included highly selective groups of women. In addition, significant numbers of women not treated with the patch reported improved sex drive, which suggests that low testosterone
제약단신
메디칼라이터팀
2009.03.04 00:00