Generic For Breast Cancer Drug in America (USA)

FDA has approved generic versions of Arimidex. Given Arimidex was about to go patent free many pharmaceutical companies had applied to FDA approval for their respective generic drugs. Total eleven drugs have been approved.

Arimidex is post brest cancer surgery drug. Arimidex inhibits the action of an enzyme (Aromatase) that is believed to cause cancer. By inhibiting or decreasing activities of Aromatase,
Arimidex prevents recurrance of breast cancer.
List of the Approved Companies is....

• Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd,


• Accord Healthcare Inc,


• Natco Pharma Ltd,


• Roxane Laboratories Inc,


• Stason Pharmaceuticals Inc,


• Sandoz Inc,


• Synthon Pharmaceuticals Inc,


• Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals LLC,


• TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA,


• Watson Laboratories Inc,


• Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

Aromatase inhibitors are used in the treatment of hormone-receptive breast cancer after surgery to reduce the risk for recurrence. They are usually prescribed for a period of 5 years.
By these approval now Americans can significantly reduce cost of the treatment which is likely to last for more than five years.
Approximate cost of using Arimidex was $2500 for a year. The same treatment now may cost $1000 per year.
Because the generics have been approved recently, it may take couple of months find them at your near by pharmacy store. Patient can take alternative cancer drugs such as Tamoxifen.
Use of generic version cost almost half the cost of branded drug. Patients are always advised to take generic version of branded drug.

Caldolor is Effectively Reduces Malarial Fever

Caldolor drug (injectable) has proven effects to significantly reduce fever. Caldolor is ibuprofen. Iboprofen is a widely prescribed pain killer medicine. However, recent study result, discussed at American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, shows that injectable form of Coldolor helped reduce temperature greater than the dummy drug.

First thing Doctors do to treat malaria is control the body temperature (known as fever). Of the types of malaria, falciparum is the most dangerous one. The need of injectable medicine was felt when patient was not able to hold down eaten substances (Medicines or Food). Caldolor came in scene and become first and only approved treatment to treat fever.

Current clinical trial now proves that the use of Caldolor is not just for treating fever but fever caused by malaria.

Malaria

More than 850,000 people across the world dies of malaria each year. Not only in developing nations but developed nations, such as Briton (4-5 deaths a year), also has death toll caused by Malaria. Fever is the most common symptom seen in malarial patients. Death by Malaria can be avoided if the fever is controlled rapidly and effectively.

Overweight Children Can Develop GERD (HeartBurn)

Link between obesity and GERD (heartburn) is established in new study. Needless to say obesity (being overweight) leads to many dangerous diseases in both adult and children. Overweight children are also very much prone to develop high cholesterol level which may lead to various heart diseases. New facts added one more disease in the list caused by obesity.

Adolescents (age between 2 and 19) are likely to develop GERD (Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease) by 30%-40% if BMI (Body Mass Index) is equal to or greater than 85. Further more, Overweight children of age 6-19 are at greater risk than those of age 2-6. Of total 690,000 enrolled participants, 10350 boys and 12420 girls were diagnosed with GRED.

GERD

GERD at so toung age is matter of grave concerns as GERD is known to cause serious damage to esophagus and increases risk to develop cancer.

GERD is characterized by bouncing back of stomach acid in esophagus tube. Body system produces acid to digest eaten foods. When a protective layer (called mucosa) in eophagus gets damaged symptoms such as heartburn, irritation and burning sensation are felt/seen when acid comes in contact with inner layer.

Drugs that were for adult-use only are being made children oriented. Lately Pfizer has also got approval for cholesterol lowering drug for children only.

Celebrex Causes Less Ulcer and Bleeding as Side Effects

There is general perception that traditional pain killer medications cause ulcer and heartburn as side effects. Celebrex, a pain killer drug for Arthritis patients, cause less ulcer and heartburn as compare to other pain relief drugs.

Celebrex found to be 4 times lesser to cause ulcer, bleeding and heartburn than other arthritis pain relief medications such as Diclofenac. Celebrex is drug by Pfizer, approved by FDA to treat pain in patients suffering from arthritis.

Gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcer and heartburn are most common side effects reported while using Diclofenac. Doctors usually prescribe Prilosec (A drug to treat heartburn) along with Diclofenac to avoid development of ulcer.

Arthiritis is kind of disease which requires to take medicine for long time.

Patients who need to be treated with pain killer drugs in arthritis are now recommended to either take combination treatment (Diclofenac + Prilosec) or Celebrex alone.

"Now that there is proof of lower chances for developing bleeding and ulcer, physicians would prefer to prescribe Celebrex more than the combined therapy." Said Dr Francis KL Chan, a scientist at Hong Kong based Department of Medicine at Prince of Wales.

Lipitor For Children Available In Europe

European Commission has given nod to chewable version of cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor, Pfizer said. This new version has been developed exclusively for kids of age above 10.

New kid-lipitor is result of ongoing effort by European Commission to encourage pharmaceutical companies to understand and invest in medicines intended to be used for children. PIP (Pediatric Investigation Plan) was submitted by Pfizer in late 2009 to European Medicines Agency. Pediatric regulations in Europe require pharmaceutical firms to start such plans in order for better understanding of how drug works in kids. Many drugs are just for the use in adult.

The findings of study provided ground for recommendation by Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to approve kid version of lipitor for treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in adolescents.

Cigarette Smoking, Obesity and Hypertension are some the major leading factors not just in adults but also in children (age between 10-17) causing cardiovascular diseases. This has increased use of prescription drugs in adolescent (for example quit smoking drug such as Weullbutrin and Zyban and Anti depression Medications)

Obesity, for example, results in high cholesterol level and blood pressure. Obesity rate in children was 6%-7% which has doubled in 2008 (see study).

Lipitor was first approved by FDA in 1996 for treatment of hyperlipidemia (Higher level of cholesterol). Lipitor, until now, was not for use of children. New chewable version was approved in America by US FDA in 2002.

Switching from Brand to Generic Drugs can Save $100 Millions

A study indicates that state running Medicaid programs can save $100 millions annually. This saving is possible only when all the state medicaid programs start using generic version of brand drug when it is available. Branded drugs manufacturer lose exclusive patent right protection after 20 years from the day patent was issued. No one can produce similar drug during this period. Generic version of the respective brand drug can legally be produced after the protection period expires.

This point out different policies being implemented in different states across America. Policies in some states do not allow physician to prescribe generic version without permission by patients. Other sates, such as Massachusetts, allow physicians to prescribe generic version as soon as patent expires.

Experts tracked and compare prescription of generic drug between two groups of states, say, with or without permission states. Almost 96%-98% prescriptions were filled with generic substitute of Zocor, a cholesterol medications whose patent expired in 2006, in states that do not require seeking patient permission. On the other hand only 1/3 prescriptions were with generic version in states that require permission.

The timing of study is important when patent of blockbuster top selling prescription drugs (Lipitor and Plavix) are due to expire in next couple of years. "If policy that does not require patient consent is executed across the USA, it would save $100 Millions annually." Dr. Troyen Brennan added.
Link to publication

Adapalene Cream For Acne Vulgaris

New generic version of Differin cream has been approved by FDA for the treatment of Acne. Adapalene 0.1% is generic version of Differin manufactured by Galderma Pharmaceuticals.

The new acne cream is drug by Fougera. It is child company of Nycomed US Inc. Fougera has lately received four generic drug approval from FDA.

It is indicated for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Adapalene cream should only be prescribed to patients of age 12 or more. Common side effects of Adapalene were redness, itching, stinging, dryness, burning, and scaling. Both, sever to moderate, side effects occur in early phase of treatment. However, most of them are reported to decrease as the treatment continues.

Adapalene 0.1% Precautions

The cream is prescription medication. Patient with acne should consult physician or pharmacist before start using. Person who is using this cream should avoid to go in sunlight. Although other skin care products should be avoided, sunscreen lotion or wrapping affected skin portion with cloth is recommended.

Patient should let the physician know if other acne medication (such as Antibiotic drugs, Accutane, Benzoil peroxide cream) is being used.

Statin Drugs Help Reduce Prostate Cancer after Surgery

There was news lately about retinopathy prevention with statin and fibrate drugs. Experts find use of statin, a cholesterol lowering drugs (lipitor), helpful in other diseases as well. Researchers at Duke university found link between cholesterol lowring drugs and prostate cancer.

Experts at private research university have discovered that statin drugs, such as lipitor, also helped to minimize chances of prostate cancer coming back once performed prostate surgery.

Dr Stephen Freedland, a urologic surgeon, included around 1,300 patients, who had prostate cancer surgery, into study. Dr stephen studied chances of prostate cancer coming back in patients who were taking statin drug and in patients who were not.

Patients on statin drug were at 30% lower risk of cancer recurrence. Rfurther decreases if higher dose of statin drug is administered.

“The risk of cancer was reduced by 40% to 50% if the patient was on an intermediate to high dose of statin cholesterol lowering drugs.” Freedland said.

Although healthcare professionals indicate the result is not suffice to prescribe statin drug to treat cancer, it is compelling fact to pursue non-medicinal ways (e.g. diet and exercise) to lower cholesterol level.

Avandia Not Related To Heart Diseases

Studies and counter studies are being made public regarding long term use of Avandia for treatment of diabetes. Two highly reputed organizations, namely American Diabetes Association (ADA) and American Heart Association (AHA) have issued public statement regarding not to get panic over the use of avandia. Given huge success of drug in treating diabetes, these two organizations have declared such data are 'insufficient' to cement choice of Actos over Avandia.

Dr. Steven Nissen claims, with the help of studying 35,531 diabetes patients, that diabetes medications avandia may increase risk of heart failure, heart attack and stroke in those who are taking avandia for longer. Another meta-analysis study, published at New England Journal, also supports that claim.

Furthermore, AHA and the ADA emphasized on the need 'just to inform' patients about the new evidence rather than making them panic.

In response to the controversial report, Dr.Richard G. Bach, a Washington University researcher, refutes the claim with the help of fresh research of careful examination of diabetes patients with coronary heart disease.
Dr Richard de-links relation of cardiovascular disease and use of avandia. Dr Richard categorically states that Avandia usage was not related to increase risk of events such as strokes, heart attack and heart failure.
Health care professionals and patients are waiting for what FDA panel would say on this issue as FDA is reviewing data. FDA is likley to come up with its view or guidelines after meeting of advisory committee which is due to take place mid-july.