Drug Topics - March 10, 2008 - (Page 10) 10 DRUG TOPICS MARCH 10, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Latebreakers Humalog brand of insulins that is smaller, lightweight, and easy to use. Kwikpen is the third new insulin pen the company has debuted in the past 12 months and is available prefilled with either Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25 (75% insulin lispro protamine suspension, 25% insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]), or Humalog 50/50 (50% insulin lispro protamine suspension, 50% insulin lispro injection [rDNA origin]). According to the company, the original Humalog brand prefilled pens will still be available. KwikPen is suitable for use with Becton Dickinson’s insulin pen needles, which are sold separately. Earlier this year, Lilly launched both the HumaPen Memoir and HumaPen Luxura HD. Dual anti-cholesterol niacin/statin combo granted approval In the first combination of its kind, Abbott Laboratories has received FDA approval for its fixed-dose product Simcor. The new therapy contains both NiaSpan, the company’s extended-release niacin, and statin drug simvastatin. The duo should be used along with diet to lower levels of elevated total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides, and to raise HDL in patients with complex lipid disease when treatment with either simvastatin or NiaSpan as monotherapy is not adequate, and when diet or other non-drug measures alone have not been successful. The approval was based on data from over 640 patients with mixed dyslipidemia and type II hy- perlipidemia. During the SEACOAST trial, patients receiving Simcor 1000mg/20mg (niacin/simvastatin) had additional LDL reductions of 12% and additional 21% increases in HDL levels beyond the simvastatin- (20 mg) treated baseline. Patients treated with simvastatin alone experienced a 7% decrease in LDL and an 8% increase in HDL. In addition, Simcor reduced triglycerides by an additional 27% compared with 15% with simvastatin alone. Six percent of patients discontinued therapy http://www.drugtopics.com http://www.fougera.com
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