Tranexamic acid can cut the need for blood transfusions after surgery A hospital reduced the need for red blood cell transfusions by 40% for patients undergoing a full knee or hip replacement when they routinely gave them tranexamic acid, according to new research.…
Antiretroviral drug Truvada proves its worth in preventing new HIV infections Treating men deemed at high risk of becoming HIV positive with daily antiretroviral medication is extremely effective at preventing new infections, according to new data.…
Survey finds 80% of customers would allow pharmacists to access their GP record Customers using a pharmacy vaccination service are happy for the pharmacist to be allowed access to their GP records, suggests a survey of over 7,000 patients.…
Transplant antifungal drug voriconazole associated with increased skin cancer risk Antifungal drug voriconazole increases the risk of developing skin cancer by 73% in lung transplant patients given the drug to prevent infection with Aspergillus, according to research published in the American Journal of Transplantation.…
Pfizer’s Lyrica GP reimbursement plan under scrutiny by industry self-regulator Pfizer’s plan to reimburse GPs for extra work they undertake to protect the second medical use patent of the company’s drug Lyrica (pregablin) is under consideration by the UK pharmaceutical industry’s self-regulator. …
FDA approves drug for genetic condition that affects 20 patients worldwide The US Food and Drug Administration has approved uridine triacetate (Xuriden) for the treatment of orotic aciduria – a rare genetic hereditary metabolic disorder that affects just 20 patients worldwide. …
Melanoma drug pembrolizumab gets NICE backing The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends in draft guidance that pembrolizumab (Keytruda) be made available on the NHS for the treatment of some patients with advanced melanoma. …
NHS England cuts treatments from Cancer Drugs Fund After a second assessment of the Cancer Drugs Fund, NHS England has further reduced the list by 17 drugs for 23 different indications.…
FDA approves rolapitant to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea The US Food and Drug Administration has approved rolapitant as part of a combination of drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by certain types of cancer chemotherapy.…
Widespread prescribing of antipsychotics for intellectually disabled people revealed As many as 71% of adults with a learning disability were prescribed an antipsychotic when they had no record of any mental illness, a study reported in The BMJ has found.…