News Micafungin well tolerated by leukaemia patients Micafungin is as effective at preventing fungal infections in leukaemia patients but better tolerated than older formulations of posaconazole, interim results from a study suggested.…Published: 15 September 2014
News US antibiotic stewardship reduces drug resistance and cost A comprehensive antibiotic stewardship programme at a New York city hospital saved money, reduced drug-resistant infections and led to an increase in the reporting of adverse events.…Published: 15 September 2014
News Improved glycaemic control with fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutideA new trial shows that patients who took IDegLira (Xultophy) for 26 weeks experienced a significantly greater mean reduction in HbA1c than patients taking either insulin degludec or liraglutide.…Published: 15 September 2014
News Experimental antifungal drug causes fewer side effects than voriconazole A new experimental anti-fungal treatment is no less effective than its predecessor, but exposes patients to fewer side effects, a study has found.…Published: 11 September 2014
News Counterfeits designed to deceive pharmacists, RPS conference hears Counterfeit medicines are being designed specifically to deceive pharmacists, the annual Royal Pharmaceutical Society conference heard.…Published: 10 September 2014
News Earl Howe acknowledges delays for dispensing error and education reforms The UK government minister addressed the delay in two key documents for pharmacy in his speech to the annual Royal Pharmaceutical Society conference.…Published: 10 September 2014
News Two thirds of pharmacists miss at least one of five dispensing errors hidden in test prescriptions, study finds Only one third of community pharmacists spotted all dispensing errors hidden in 50 test prescriptions, researchers revealed at the RPS Annual Conference.…Published: 8 September 2014
News Role for smartphones and social media in medicine safety An app will be developed to make it easy for healthcare professionals and the public to report suspected adverse drug reactions.…Published: 8 September 2014
News Mixed results for heavy metal emissions from e-cigarettes Emission of two toxic heavy metals – chromium and nickel – is significantly higher with e-cigarettes than with normal cigarettes, research shows.…Published: 5 September 2014
News Ten-year study by Takeda calls into question pioglitazone’s link with bladder cancer Use of the diabetes drug pioglitazone is not associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, the drug’s manufacturer Takeda has claimed.…Published: 5 September 2014
