Research and evaluation

Combining a GLP-1 receptor agonist plus insulin proves more effective than other diabetes therapies

An alternative to insulin achieved robust glucose control for diabetes with no increased risk of hypoglycaemia or weight gain, conclude the authors of a systematic review of therapies.…

First UK volunteer receives experimental Ebola vaccine

An experimental Ebola vaccine has been tested in the first healthy UK volunteer, as part of a phase I clinical trial being conducted at the University of Oxford. …

Northwest Biotherapeutics’s brain tumour therapy considered for early access in the UK

An experimental cell therapy for brain tumours is the first medicine to be selected for fast-track designation under a new early access scheme in the UK, the Department of Health (DH) announced on 16 September 2014.…

Statin users have lower risk of developing diabetic complications, study suggests

A new study suggests that patients taking lipid-lowering drugs may be protected against diabetic microvascular complications.…

Off-label macular degeneration therapy has similar safety to costly licensed drug, study finds

Bevacizumab is similarly safe to use for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as the more expensive ranibizumab, but has a risk of causing gastrointestinal disorders, a Cochrane review has found.…

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.…

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.…

Improved glycaemic control with fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide

A 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.…

Benzodiazepine use is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

Older adults who are prescribed benzodiazepines for longer than three months are up to 50% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, new research indicates.…

Paradoxical bronchoconstriction occurs in 5% of COPD patients treated with beta-2-agonists

African–American patients with COPD are more likely to be affected by therapy-induced bronchoconstriction, study suggests.…