Vivus asks U.S. experts to back its obesity drug
(Reuters) published on February 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - Proponents of a new obesity medication from Vivus Inc told U.S. reviewers on Wednesday that the drug's health benefits exceed heart and birth defect risks.
Judge to rule if pharmacies must sell "Plan B" pills
(Reuters) published on February 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - A federal judge was expected to rule on Wednesday on whether Washington state can compel pharmacy owners to carry and sell the emergency contraceptive known as Plan B despite their personal religious objections to the drug.
Supreme Court sends back California Medicaid cuts case
(Reuters) published on February 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - The Supreme Court sent back to a lower court a case on whether Medicaid recipients and medical providers can sue California for cutting reimbursement rates in the healthcare program for low-income Americans.
Pension, Medicaid changes sought in Illinois budget
(Reuters) published on February 21st, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn will call for cuts to escalating pension and Medicaid costs in his budget address on Wednesday to stop the two programs From devouring more of the cash-strapped state's general funds budget, top officials in his office said on Tuesday.
FDA acts to stem shortages of two cancer drugs
(Reuters) published on February 21st, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it will resolve a potentially life-threatening shortage of two leading cancer drugs by allowing one of them to be imported from abroad and rushing approval for a new manufacturer to make the second.
Study questions antidepressant-suicide link
(Reuters) published on February 17th, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - The Food and Drug Administration has a blanket warning on antidepressant medications stating they increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among kids and young adults, but a new review of clinical data finds no link between suicide and at least two of the medications.
Few RA clinical trials compare one drug to another
(Reuters) published on February 17th, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - To test whether a new drug is an improvement over existing treatments, the ideal clinical trial would compare the medications head to head, but few trials of rheumatoid arthritis treatments happen that way, according to a new study.
Few rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials compare drugs: study
(Reuters) published on February 17th, 2012 at 12:55 PM Reuters - To test whether a new drug is an improvement over existing treatments, the ideal clinical trial would compare the medications head to head, but few trials of rheumatoid arthritis treatments happen that way, according to a new study.
Why Prescription Drug Addiction Is Growing Among Teens
(LiveScience.com) published on February 17th, 2012 at 12:55 PM LiveScience.com - By the time Jessica McDonald was 13, she had already started drinking, smoking marijuana and using Adderall — a stimulant used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — to get high. Physically abused by her father and feeling aimless, the Corona, Calif., girl quickly became an addict, racking up five DUI convictions while high on Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug.
Recent counterfeit drug warnings in US
(AP) published on February 16th, 2012 at 12:55 PM AP - The Food and Drug Administration is investigating fake vials of the cancer drug Avastin that may have been sold to doctors in three states. In recent years the agency has warned the public about several pharmaceutical counterfeiting cases: