Drug Formulary Review Archives – July 1, 2005
July 1, 2005
View Archives Issues
-
Some computerized physician order entry systems are limited, study shows
Researchers examining adverse drug events (ADEs) at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital in Salt Lake City found surprising results. The computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system had reduced ADEs in some areas, but the rates were higher than expected in decision support. -
Joint Commission revises medication safety goals
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, has announced its 2006 National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements. Several of the revisions to last years goals involve medication safety. -
Research News: AE analysis raises safety questions about Crestor
A review of adverse events reported to the FDA raises concern about the relative safety of rosuvastatin (Crestor) at its commonly used doses, researchers say. Some health professionals downplayed the study, however, saying the results still highlight the safety of statins for their indicated uses. -
News from ASCO
Lenalidomide (Revlimid) can help some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) avoid the need for blood transfusions, and even reduce or eliminate the genetic abnormality that characterizes the disease in this subset of patients, according to a new study. -
News Briefs
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta has announced that the supply of inactivated influenza vaccine projected for the 2005-06 season should be adequate to meet the historical demand from persons in the priority groups established by Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) during the 2004-05 season. -
New FDA Approvals
Metformin hydrochloride (HCl) (Glumetza) by Biovail Corp. and Depomed. The FDA has approved metformin HCl (Glumetza), a once-daily, extended-release formulation for the treatment of Type II diabetes. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: Ziconotide (Prialt) Formulary Evaluation
Ziconotide (Prialt) is a synthetic equivalent of a naturally occurring conopeptide found in the piscivorous marine snail used intrathecally for severe chronic pain relief, and administered only in the Medtronic SynchroMed EL, SynchroMed II Infusion System, and Simms Deltec Cadd Micro External Microinfusion Device and Catheter.