Systematic review suggests mortality benefits of new cholesterol lowering biologics Monoclonal antibodies designed to lower cholesterol by inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are effective and associated with few major side effects.…
Hepatitis C drugs hit by incompatibility warnings Gilead’s hepatitis C drugs Harvoni and Sovaldi and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Daklinza have been hit by warnings from drug regulators regarding their incompatibility with amiodarone.…
EMA recommends edoxaban for prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillationThe European Medicines Agency is recommending that edoxaban be made available for the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation and the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism.…
Managing the risk of bleeding with new oral anticoagulants Safeguarding patients against the risk of bleeding is a vital role for pharmacists when dealing with patients taking new oral anticoagulants.…
FDA fast tracks ivabradine’s heart failure licence, years after EuropeThe US Food and Drug Administration has granted a licence for the heart failure medication ivabradine, ten years after the drug was first approved in Europe.…
PCSK9 inhibitors: the next cholesterol-lowering blockbusters? Statins have been a mainstay of heart attack and stroke prevention for the past 20 years, but the race is on to bring a new drug to market that targets an enzyme called PCSK9.…
Patients can stop taking statins in terminal care, research suggests Discontinuing statin use in patients with late-stage terminal illnesses is safe and may even be beneficial, according to research in JAMA Internal Medicine.…
The possible benefits of coconut oilAlthough coconut oil is high in saturated fats, there is research to indicate that some types may be beneficial for health and weight loss.…
Icelandic genome sequencing project reveals insights into disease susceptibilityA human genome sequencing project conducted among the population of Iceland has revealed important new insights into human evolution and susceptibility to disease.…
Analysts predict surge in ‘blockbuster drugs’ entering the market in 2015Over the next twelve months there will be 11 “blockbuster” drugs entering the market, according to business intelligence company Thomson Reuters.…