Drug Formulary Review Archives – September 1, 2004
September 1, 2004
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NCEP update promotes more aggressive statin therapy for some patients
The National Cholesterol Education Programs (NCEP) clinical practice guidelines on cholesterol management have been updated to set even lower treatment goals for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for patients at high and moderately high risk for a heart attack. The guidelines, for example, offer a new therapeutic option for very high-risk patients to achieve levels of less than 70 mg/dL. -
FDA approves ezetimibe/ simvastatin combination
Health care providers now have another choice of cholesterol-lowering treatments. The FDA recently approved the combination of two cholesterol drugs, ezetimibe (Zetia) and simvastatin (Zocor), into a single pill. The product is being marketed under the name Vytorin. It is administered as a once-daily tablet and should be taken in the evening with or without food. -
Drug contraindicated for HIV pleural tuberculosis
Prednisolone, a glucocorticoid that is sometimes added to antituberculosis drug regimens, should not be used to treat patients with pleural tuberculosis and HIV infection, nor can it be recommended for those with pleural tuberculosis who are not coinfected with HIV, according to a study in the Aug. 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases. -
Treatment shows efficacy in patients with HIV, HCV
Two studies published in the July 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine have found high efficacy rates among patients coinfected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV who were treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. -
News Briefs
JCAHO posts 2005 National Patient Safety Goals; ISDA appeals to lawmakers for antibiotic development; HHS gives details of Medicare reform proposal; FDA establishes new cancer office, program. -
New FDA Approvals
New indication for imiquimod (Aldara) topical cream by 3M Pharmaceuticals; NeutroSpec (formerly LeuTech) by Mallinckrodt and Palatin Technologies; Fixed-dose combination treatment of abacavir/lamivudine (Epzicom) and tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine (Truvada) by GlaxoSmithKline and Gilead Sciences, respectively. -
In the Pipeline
Titan Pharmaceuticals has announced that the FDA has granted fast track designation for Spheramine for the treatment of advanced Parkinsons disease. Spheramine consists of normal, human retinal pigment epithelial cells adhered to spherical microscopic carriers. -
Drug Criteria & Outcomes: Telithromycin (Ketek) Formulary Evaluation
Clinical Studies; Acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB); Acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS); Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP); Adverse events; Drug interactions; Recommendations.