Drug Research and Technology update :

Here are some updates on drug research and technology from my reading-

Folate-blocking drugs can increase birth defects if taken in first trimester-

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology researchers report that, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev studied 84,832 babies born at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva and analyzed all the data, including therapeutic abortions, and concluded that use of the folate-blocking drugs more than doubled the risk of congenital malformations of the fetus, including neural tube, cardiovascular and urinary tract defects. The drugs also increased the risk of spina bifida and malformations of the brain more than sixfold.

Harvard researchers call for five years of market exclusivity for brand-name biologics-

An online publication from Harvard Medical school reported, "Congress should limit the proposed period of market exclusivity for brand-name biologics to five years, rather than the 12 years pending legislation," They said that the "change would increase competition, promote access to approved biosimilars, and encourage subsequent innovation." Still, supporters of the 12-year exclusivity period in Congress "say it would take" that long "to conduct the research needed to prove both safety and efficacy," and "because of the high development costs for biologics."

FDA cracking down on flu treatment scams-

The US FDA published that it is cracking down on hundreds of products being peddled as swine flu treatments. In a season of high anxiety, the Food and Drug Administration says online scam artists are doing big business in counterfeit flu drugs. FDA They further cautioned that some people were selling pills that had no Tamiflu in it as Tamiflu and, in fact, if people are relying on that instead of going to the doctor they could wind up in trouble. The concerns are not limited to medications. Hundreds of online products claim to prevent or cure the swine flu, like these the FDA says are not approved."

E-prescribing impacts compliance ? an investigational study-

According to Healthcare IT digital new publication, "CVS Caremark and researchers from Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital are launching a study to investigate patient adherence to prescription drug therapies," and one of "the four key components of the study will look at how electronic prescribing impacts compliance." The researchers "will look at e-prescribing to determine how it impacts costs, compliance and safety," which they say "is especially important as Medicare has launched an initiative to drive electronic prescriptions. Physicians shall be pain around 3500 USD in annual financial incentives for e-prescribing and will impose penalties on those who do not e-prescribe by 2012."

Disclaimer : The above information has been cited from literature in public domain. This is for research purpose/ dissemination of knowledge only and should not be construed as medical advise.