EMA opens public consultation on standard paediatric investigation plans for two types of cancer in children
Source: EMA Area: News The European Medicines Agency has opened a public consultation on two standard paediatric investigation plans (PIPs) for two specific types of cancer with unmet medical needs in children, acute myeloid leukaemia and rhabdomyosarcoma.   A PIP sets out a programme for the development of a medicine to ultimately authorise its use in children. The goal of these standard PIPs is to support pharmaceutical companies to propose a plan that is scientifically adapted to the medicine.   Compared to the progress made in other acute leukaemias, the outlook for children with myeloid leukaemia i...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

RCT: nevirapine vs. efavirenz for patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis
Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases Area: News Nevirapine and efavirenz are widely used as antiretroviral therapy in countries with high incidence of HIV and tuberculosis co-infection but both drugs interact with antituberculosis drugs. The authors of a study, published online in Lancet Infectious Diseases, compared the efficacy and safety of a nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (started at full dose) with an efavirenz-based regimen in co-infected patients receiving antituberculosis medication.   The study was a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority trial conducted at three health centres in Mozambique. Pa...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Horizon Scanning: weekly taspoglutide vs. twice daily exenatide for type 2 diabetes
This study, published in Diabetes Care, compared the efficacy and safety of once-weekly taspoglutide with twice-daily exenatide.   Overweight adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes on metformin ± a thiazolidinedione were randomised to subcutaneous taspoglutide 10 mg weekly (n = 399), taspoglutide 20 mg weekly (n = 398), or exenatide 10 micrograms twice daily (n = 392) in an open-label, multicentre trial. The primary end point was change in HbA1c after 24 weeks.   The authors reported the following results: . Both doses of taspoglutide reduced HbA1c significantly more than exenatide (...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

DEET insect repellent may be losing efficacy?
Source: PLoS One Area: News According to a study, published in the journal PLOS One, authors examined host-seeking behaviour and electrophysiological responses of the mosquito species A. aegypti after pre-exposure to DEET. The authors found that three hours after pre-exposure the mosquitoes showed behavioural insensitivity, and electroantennography revealed this correlated with the olfactory receptor neurons responding less to DEET. The authors concluded that the change in behaviour as a result of pre-exposure to DEET has implications for the use of repellents and the ability of mosquitoes to overcome them. (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

NHS Choices 'Behind the Headlines' assessment: Worry over antipsychotic drugs in care homes
Source: NHS Choices Area: News The 'Behind the Headlines' service from NHS choices has featured a quality assessment of a study reported in both the Guardian and BBC News website. The stories were based on a population based study, conducted in Northern Ireland and published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, which found that more than 20% of elderly people in care homes were given antipsychotic drugs, compared with just over 1% of those living in the community. The study also reported that the prescription of antipsychotic drugs increased from just over 8% before entering a care home to 18.6% afterwards (risk...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Horizon Scanning: pregabalin capsules as effective as levetiracetam for refractory partial onset seizures
Source: BioSpace Area: News Pfizer has reported top-line results for a Phase 3 study that showed Lyrica® (pregabalin) Capsules were as effective as levetiracetam as an adjunctive therapy in adult epilepsy patients experiencing refractory partial onset seizures.   The study was a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter, comparative, flexible-dose study to compare pregabalin (300, 450, 600 mg/day) to levetiracetam (1,000, 2,000, 3,000 mg/day) in reducing partial onset seizure frequency in subjects with epilepsy. The primary efficacy endpoint was the responder rate, defined as the proportion of subje...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs calls for tighter controls on tramadol
Source: BBC Health News Area: News Tighter controls should be put on the painkiller tramadol according to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the UK's official drugs advisers. The ACMD said it was concerned about an increase in the number of deaths related to misusing the psychoactive drug.   In a letter to the Home Secretary and Health Secretary, the ACMD has called for tramadol to be made a Class C drug, with penalties of up to two years in prison for possession and 14 years for supply. The ACMD stated that the number of deaths related to the drug was 154 in 2011-up from 87 in 2009 and 83 in 20...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

NICE issues Appraisal Consultation Document on pemetrexed for the maintenance treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer
Source: NICE Area: News NICE has issued new draft guidance not recommending pemetrexed (Alimta) for the maintenance treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following induction therapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin. NICE has already recommended pemetrexed as a first line treatment option for NSCLC and as a maintenance treatment option following platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with gemcitabine, paclitaxel or docetaxel. This appraisal is concerned with the extension to the marketing authorisation for pemetrexed as a maintenance treatment following pemetrexed and cisplatin.   The committee noted th...
Source: NeLM - News - February 22, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Updated national IV monograph on Bumetanide
Source: Medusa Area: News An updated IV monograph on Bumetanide is now available from the NHS injectable medicines guide website (Medusa). Please see the link below for access (registration required). (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Updated national IV monograph on Promethazine
Source: Medusa Area: News An updated IV monograph on Promethazine is now available from the NHS injectable medicines guide website (Medusa). Please see the link below for access (registration required). (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

NICE GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE - PGDs - STAKEHOLDER REGISTRATION AND UPDATE
Source: NICE Area: Communities > NeLM > Patient Group Directions (PGDs) > News The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is developing good practice guidance on patient group directions (PGDs).   The guidance development is following the NICE interim process statement for the production of good practice guidance. The process includes a four week period of consultation starting in March. The final version will be published in June.   To submit comments during the consultation, an organisation must register as a stakeholder for this guidance.   See link below fo...
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Concerns about pressure from charity influencing content of article by NHS Choices on effectiveness of homeopathy
Source: BMJ Area: News According to a news report in the BMJ, "an article on homeopathy on the public information website NHS Choices was stripped of all evidence questioning its effectiveness as a result of intervention by a charity."   Evidence obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by David Colquhoun, emeritus professor of pharmacology at University College London indicates that even before the article on homeopathy was written, the Department of Health (DH) invited the writer to a meeting with the Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council to...
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

NICE contract with Eduserv gives access to OpenAthens for 1.5 million NHS users
Source: E-Health Insider Area: News NICE has contracted with Eduserv in a two-year deal to enable more than 1.5 million NHS users to access all centrally procured online information, such as bibliographic databases, e-journals and e-books. Eduserv will deliver the Identity & Access Management services contract through its OpenAthens solution. (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet - England, 2013
Source: NHS Information Centre Area: News This statistical report presents a range of information on obesity, physical activity and diet, drawn together from a variety of sources. The topics covered include:   . Overweight and obesity prevalence among adults and children . Physical activity levels among adults and children . Trends in purchases and consumption of food and drink and energy intake . Health outcomes of being overweight or obese. (Source: NeLM - News)
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

New review to examine how healthcare and care assistants will be better trained and supported
Source: Department of Health (DH) Area: News The Health Secretary has announced that a new independent review will look at how the training and support of healthcare and care assistants can be strengthened so they give better care to patients. The review will be led by Times journalist Camilla Cavendish who will report back to Government at the end of May. It will look at how healthcare assistants can have the training and support they need to provide essential services to the highest standards. It will also look at how recruitment can be strengthened to place the right people, with the right values and behaviours, in the...
Source: NeLM - News - February 21, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news