E-DRUG: Independent Drug and Healthcare Newsletter for April 2020
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Newsletter, April 2020
Independent Drug & Healthcare Newsletter from the non-profit journal
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In Prescrire's Spotlight this month
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FEATURED REVIEW Covid-19 and drug trials: what to make of the initial results?
As of 23 March 2020, there are no relevant clinical trial results demonstrating the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, either alone or in combination with azithromycin. And no efficicacy has been proven for the lopinavir + ritonavir combination in severe covid-19, according to the results of a randomised controlled trial. Until more is known, the hypothetical efficacy of the proposed treatment must be weighed against its known or predictable adverse effects, to avoid making things even worse.
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FREE DOWNLOAD Lithium during pregnancy: malformations, fetotoxicity and uncertain long-term effects
Outside the context of pregnancy, lithium is the standard "mood stabiliser" for the treatment of bipolar disorder. What are the main known short-term and long-term consequences of in utero exposure to lithium?
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In the April issue of Prescrire International: Denosumab (Prolia°) and steroid-induced osteoporosis
Denosumab (Prolia°) has an unfavourable harm-benefit balance in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures. It has also been authorised in the prevention of osteoporosis induced by prolonged corticosteroid therapy. How do Prescrire's editors rate denosumab in this situation? Full text available for free download.
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Drugs in 2019: a brief review
Eleven of the 108 new drugs, combinations, dose strengths, pharmaceutical forms or indications analysed and rated in our French edition in 2019 constituted a notable therapeutic advance, improving patient care in a variety of fields: haemophilia, various cancers, HIV infection, hepatitis C and rare diseases.
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Drugs in 2019: therapeutic advances, compared with the previous 9 years
From Prescrire's recap "Drugs in 2019: a brief review", graphics comparing the therapeutic advances during 2019 with the advances made in prior years, along with a table summarising Prescrire's ratings of new products and indications over the past 10 years.
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France's Mediator° disaster: creating awareness around conflicts of interest
Media coverage of the Mediator° disaster in 2010-2011 opened the public's eyes to the conflicts of interest of many experts working for the French drug regulatory agency. Have health care professionals realised that these conflicts damage credibility, patient confidence and quality of care?
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Zolgensma°: the drug of extremes
For some years now, the escalating cost of new drugs has increasingly threatened access to health care. In 2019, Zolgensma° (onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi) reached the absurd price of about 2 million euros for the single injection that is required to treat each patient.
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COMING SOON Enjoy these features, and more, in our upcoming issues
Methadone and cancer pain * Injectable zanamivir in influenza : judgement reserved * Pregabalin or gabapentin during pregnancy * MMR vaccine: no link with autism * Dulaglutide and type 2 diabetes * Exposure of healthcare professionals to cytotoxic drugs...
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