Current News Headlines

Glaxo beefs up biotech, good news on diet drug - October 23, 2008

LONDON (AP) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC won a recommendation from European regulators Thursday that it be allowed to sell its weight loss drug Alli over the counter in Europe.  Read More

Sanofi-Aventis suspends Acomplia sales in Europe - October 23, 2008

PARIS (AP) - French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis temporarily suspended sales of anti-obesity drug Acomplia in Europe, the company said Thursday, after health authorities said the drug's risks outweigh its benefits.  Read More

Bristol-Myers triples 3Q profit on business sale - October 23, 2008

By LINDA A. JOHNSON AP Business Writer
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said Thursday its third-quarter profit tripled, mainly because of a big gain from selling its high-tech wound care business. Read More

Scientists find 26 genes promoting lung cancer - October 22, 2008

By MALCOLM RITTER AP Science Writer
47NEW YORK (AP) - In the largest effort of its kind, scientists have identified 26 genes that, when damaged, appear to promote lung cancer.  Read More

Safety a problem for new generation drugs, too - October 21, 2008

By LINDSEY TANNER AP Medical Writer
CHICAGO (AP) - Nearly a fourth of widely used new-generation biological drugs that treat several common diseases produce serious side effects that lead to safety warnings soon after they go on the market, the first major study of its kind found.  Read More

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPH) AND PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (PAH) - October 6, 2008

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension, also known now as Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries of the lungs increases to above normal levels. Normally, the average blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is about 14mmHg when a person is resting. In a patient with (PAH), the pressures in the pulmonary arteries is greater than 25mmHg.   Read More

FDA: Tiny bit of melamine in food usually OK - October 3, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators say eating a tiny bit of melamine is not harmful, except in baby formula. Read More

Urgent Ventavis Recall - May 16, 2008

Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc. has issued a recall of several lots of Ventavis (iloprost), which is an inhalation solution used to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), also known as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH). The recalled Ventavis (iloprost) comes in glass ampules. Several lots were recalled after Actelion received reports that many of the glass ampules were empty or contained less medication than they should have contained. This manufacturing defect can result in patients with PAH or PPH receiving too little Ventavis medication, which can be potentially fatal.  Read More

Urgent Digitek Digoxin Recall - April 28, 2008

class I recall is being issued on Digitek (digoxin) tablets, which may contain twice the approved level of digoxin. The existence of double-strength pills pose a risk of digitalis toxicity, which can result in nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and even death.  Read More