PHARMWORKS, LLC
Notice: Due to a recent computer crash we have been rebuilding our mailing list files. If you have not received an e-mail notification to check for the PPP then please send us an e-mail at spepin@PHARMWORKS.com and we will put you back in. If you have received the e-mail notification but had previously asked to be removed from the list then we apologize. Send an e-mail (same address) and we will take you off again.
Search this site
Pepin's
Pharmaceutical Prattle for 06-08-2009Quote of the day: When you have nothing to say... say nothing!
Good Morning!
Too busy catching and cleaning my limit of Northern Pike and Black Crappies to write this week.
(The Black Crappies were up to 13 and 1/2 inches long!)
Have a GREAT week!
Steve
===================================================
ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!"
pps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that
you should capture or print anything that you may wish to keep.
------------
1) The invisible man has nothing on the FDA
FDA is forming a transparency task force. We will have to see if anything substantial emerges. I am available for service but I doubt that the FDA will see its way to appoint anyone who is as critical/skeptical as I.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm163899.htm
2) FDA on the prowl for incriminating data
These compounds are on the FDA’s watch list as drugs with POTENTIAL safety risks. Many of the drugs would face label changes that would include new warnings. Instead of issuing a real warning of potential harm they will wait until real harm occurs. (Makes governmental sense because they don’t want to malign any drugs prematurely)
3) FDA warns of liver failure with antithyroid med
Methimazole remains the drug of choice against Grave’s disease (hyperthyroidism) since recent studies show propylthiouracil, a mainstay of antithyroid treatment, has been show to cause liver damage. Methimazole can cause birth defects so propylthiouracil will remainavailable as a second-line drug.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm164207.htm
Click picture to learn about
Hook or Crook
Upscale, one-of-a-kind handbags accessories
4) Pfizer and Pfido
Palladia (toceranib phosphate) is the first anti-cancer drug approved specifically for dogs. Other drugs have been tested on dogs but approved for people. Many are later allowed to be used in canines. I doubt that this drug will go the other way and ever be approved for human use.
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm164118.htm
5) Trickle economics
General Motors was the single largest purchaser of ED drugs in the world. Will affect the bottom line of the three drug companies making ED drugs. After the bankruptcy filing last Week the company will no longer pay for ED drugs for it retirees and save more that $17 million per year. The Chinese reportedly just bought Hummer from GM. I wonder if they will reimburse their employees for ginseng purchases.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31004325/site/14081545?__source=yahoo%7cheadline%7cquote%7ctext%7c&par=yahoo
6) Who wants a drink from the firehose?
Economist is suggesting that the volume of patients seeking care has a bigger impact on total health care costs that the actual Price of the drugs/procedures themselves. Special attention is paid to oncology… not the high cost of the anti-cancer drugs but the huge number of people being treated. If the Fed is going to take over health care like they have banking and the auto industry then the first step is to encourage rationing of health care. Expect the Fed to do what it can to reduce the fire-hose to a garden-hose. Let's hope that we aren't all hosed!
http://invivoblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/saving-money-on-volume-obama-advisor.html
7) “Just say no” as good as CPP-109
Experimental drug against cocaine abuse did not fare any better than will power (placebo). Company says that it has enough cash to keep trying through 2010. Back in the 80’s we had success at a small psychiatric hospital with Parlodel (bromocriptine) against cocaine craving. Bromocriptine suppressed the prolactin surge seen when cravings were the worst.
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINBNG48742720090529?rpc=44
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week.
Steve
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS,LLC all rights reserved.
Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved