Alarm over lax oversight of weight loss drug ads that could harm patients

UK organisations responsible for protecting the public from prescription-only drug adverts are putting patients at risk from the harms of weight loss drugs by not enforcing the law, reveals an investigation published by The BMJ today. Legal responsibility for regulating adverts for medicines in the UK rests with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on behalf of health ministers. But […]

Diabetes drugs appear to lower colorectal cancer risk

Glucagon-like receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), a class of type 2 diabetes drug treatments, appear to also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) researchers reported on Dec. 7, 2023 in JAMA Oncology. “Our results clearly demonstrate that GLP-1 RAs are significantly more effective than popular anti-diabetic drugs, such as Metformin or insulin, at preventing the development of CRC,” said co-lead […]

Shreyas Talpade’s Heart Attack shows Importance of Heart Screenings

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Shreyas Talpade’s Heart Attack shows Importance of Heart Screenings Shreyas Talpade suffered a heart attack, reportedly whilst filming in Mumbai. The actor was rushed to hospital on December 14, 2023, and underwent an angioplasty at Mumbai’s Bellevue Hospital. A hospital spokesperson said: “He was admitted late in the evening and the procedure happened at around 10 pm. “He […]

Tirzepatide enhances weight loss with sustained treatment but discontinuation leads to weight regain

The current class of anti-obesity drugs is proving remarkably effective at removing excess pounds. However, a phase 3 randomized clinical trial led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian found that people who stopped taking the medication regained much of that weight within a year. At the same time, the study shows that remaining on the drug not only […]

Made-to-order diagnostic tests may be on the horizon

McGill University researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a ‘lab on a chip’ that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible. As part of a recent study, the results of which were published in the journal Advanced Materials, the McGill team developed capillaric chips that act as miniature […]

Under-the-skin implant could treat Type I diabetes

A collaboration between researchers from Cornell and University of Alberta, Edmonton, has created a new technique to treat Type 1 diabetes: implanting a device inside a pocket under the skin that can secrete insulin while avoiding the immunosuppression that typically stymies management of the disease. The approach would offer an easier, long-term and less invasive alternative to insulin injections or […]

Aston University research finds peer support vital for those taking medication for severe mental illness

Researchers at Aston Pharmacy School have found that people with severe mental illness could benefit from peer support to help them manage their medication and improve their health and quality of life. The study, which was set up to review the complexities of medication in severe mental illness and identify possible solutions, found that without additional support, the risk is […]

Medicare is overpaying for generic drugs

Medicare is the single largest provider of health insurance in the United States, serving 63.8 million senior citizens as of 2022. Three-quarters of these recipients are enrolled in optional Medicare Part D plans, which provide outpatient prescription drug coverage to seniors through private insurance companies. In 2022, Medicare paid more than $160 Billion for prescription drugs, making it the single […]

Pharmacy forecast identifies growing societal challenges expected to impact care

Societal issues — including the growth in ultra-high-cost treatments, the epidemic of mental health and substance use disorders, climate change, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)— could alter how health systems serve their communities within five years, according to the latest annual ASHP/ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Forecast Report. The 2024 Pharmacy Forecast, released today at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, drew […]

Positive results from DREAMM-7 head-to-head phase III trial for Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma – GSK

GSK plc announced positive headline results from a planned interim efficacy analysis of the DREAMM-7 head-to-head phase III trial evaluating belantamab mafodotin as a second-line treatment for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma The trial met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) and showed that belantamab mafodotin when combined with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BorDex) significantly extended the time to disease […]