Drug Topics - March 10, 2008 - (Page 8) 8 DRUG TOPICS MARCH 10, 2008 www.drugtopics.com Latebreakers USA Today puts focus on med errors Pharmacists are talking about a series of articles on drug errors published in USA Today in February. With articles on chain pharmacies’ focus on speed, reliance on technicians, and out-of-court settlements of medication error lawsuits, the series has put pharmacy work conditions in a harsh spotlight, focusing on staffing issues and time to dispense as among the contributing factors for drug errors. The articles also included a debate over whether chain pharmacy corporate policies contribute to medication errors or prevent them. “These articles highlight the importance of the pharmacy team and point the way to doable solutions,” said Melissa Corrigan, R.Ph., CEO of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Steve Anderson, NACDS president & CEO, praised the chain pharmacies involved in the series and called it a “fair and accurate portrayal of pharmacy processes and operations.” TNF-blocker Humira gets OK for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis Adalimumab (Humira, Abbott) may now be marketed for yet another indication – to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), commonly referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This marks the sixth approved indication for the biologic therapy. The new JIA approval was based on the results of a 48-week Phase III study that included 171 children with the condition, a form of arthritis that affects five or more joints, usually on one side of the body. Results showed that fewer children treated with adalimumab experienced disease flare compared with placebo. According to Abbott, JIA patients weighing 30 kg or more should use the 40-mg prefilled syringe currently used by adult patients, while children weighing between 15 kg and 29 kg should receive the 20-mg prefilled syringe dose. Adalimumab is also indicated to treat certain patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, and chronic plaque psoriasis. The therapy works by blocking tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a key player in the inflammatory responses of some autoimmune diseases. Avastin gets nod for new breast cancer indication Anti-angiogenesis biologic bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) has received an accelerated approval for a new indication. The FDA has given the green light for its use in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of patients who have not received chemotherapy for metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer. A Phase III study (E2100) of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, given along with paclitaxel, showed a 52% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared with those patients treated with paclitaxel alone. In addition, progression-free survival was doubled in the group receiving bevacizumab. Bevacizumab was previously approved to treat metastatic colorectal cancer and advanced non-squamous, nonsmall cell lung cancer. Improved insulin pen for Humalog debuts Eli Lilly has announced the launch of a new insulin pen for its EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS Philip P. Burgess, R.Ph., M.B.A. Mary E. Inguanti, R.Ph., M.P.H. National Director, Pharmacy Affairs Walgreen Co. Deerfield, Ill. Perry Cohen, Pharm.D., FAMCP Vice President of Operations Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Hartford, Conn. James A. Jorgenson, R.Ph., M.S., FASHP The Pharmacy Group LLC Glastonbury, Conn. David J. Fong, Pharm.D. Senior Vice President Pharmacy & Family Care Safeway Inc. Pleasanton, Calif. Director of Pharmacy Services University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics Associate Dean for Clinical Education University of Utah College of Pharmacy Salt Lake City, Utah Dennis Burton, B.S.Pharm., MBA Jack Rosenberg, Pharm.D., Ph.D. Professor and Director of InterVice President national Specialty Pharmacy Services Drug Information Center Specialty Scripts Pharmacy Arnold & Marie Schwartz Fall River, Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Frederick S. Mayer, R.Ph., M.P.H. Sciences President Long Island University Pharmacists Planning Service Inc. Brooklyn, N.Y. San Rafael, Calif. Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, Gene Memoli Jr., R.Ph., FASCP Director of Customer Development Pharm.D., Ph.D. Omnicare Cheshire, Conn. Director, PRIME Institute College of Pharmacy University of Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. http://www.drugtopics.com
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