Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 - (Page 14)

14 DRUG TOPICS OCTOBER 15, 2007 www.drugtopics.com The Week at a Glance uation time. The manufacturer has agreed to perform additional studies to verify the efficacy of the vaccine following immunization as part of the approval. The new vaccine will be available in both a single-dose, preservative-free, prefilled syringe and a multidose vial with thimerosal as a preservative. hen, R.Ph., president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. “Facilities need to assume that this error will eventually happen in their institution and consider taking the necessary steps while storing and administering the medications to reduce the risk of error and patient harm.” Taxotere OK’d as induction therapy for new indication Sanofi-Aventis’ docetaxel (Taxotere) may now be used as induction therapy of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The drug recently received approval for the new indication from the FDA and should be used in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil before patients undergo chemoradiotherapy and surgery. The approval was based on results of the phase III TAX324 trial, which showed a relative risk of death that is 30% less after treatment with docetaxelbased regimen compared with patients receiving cisplatin and 5-FU alone (70.6 months vs. 30.1 months). Warfarin sensitivity test approved The Verigene Warfarin Metabolism Nucleic Acid Test, from Nanosphere, that detects variants in CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genes, has been approved by the FDA. The test helps clinicians determine which patients may not metabolize warfarin normally due to a gene variation. In August, the FDA updated the prescribing information to include an explanation on how the variants can affect metabolism of the drug. Survey results highlight need for addiction education According to a survey of state medical board members, prosecutions of physicians who overprescribe pain medications are on the rise. The survey was performed in 2004 by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the Wisconsin Pain and Policy Studies Group and the results were subsequently published in the Journal of Pain. The survey was sent to 693 state board members and received a 40% response rate (n=258). Researchers then compared the 2004 results with those of earlier studies from 1991 and 1997.Thirty-five percent of those surveyed believed that law enforcement is becoming more involved in the investigation and prosecution of physicians for their opioid-prescribing practices. In addition, although respondents did show a better understanding of addiction from earlier surveys, results showed 69% of respondents believe drug addiction to be both a behavioral and physiological condition. One in five of those surveyed said they consider addiction only in physiological terms. According to the authors, the findings show a need for continued education of healthcare professionals and regulators on what constitutes addiction because misconceptions can adversely influence disciplinary determinations for physicians suspected of overprescribing. Pediatric Lamisil granules get FDA nod Terbinafine (Lamisil, Novartis) oral granules have been approved for the treatment of tinea capitis in children aged four years and older. Novartis developed the new formulation in response to a written request from the FDA for the product. The granules can be sprinkled on food and are approved to be administered once daily for six weeks. Packaging, sound-alike names contribute to medication errors Medication errors comprise nearly a quarter of all reports submitted to a patient safety reporting system in Pennsylvania, an advocacy group contends. Medication errors accounted for 23% of the reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System, claims the state’s Patient Safety Authority. Unclear and confusing labeling and packaging as well as look-alike or sound-alike drug names significantly contribute to medication errors, according to data received by the authority. Factors that lead to confusion of medicinal labels or packaging include problems with readability of labels, confusion about a drug’s strength or concentration, identifying a medication by color, and a lack of contrast or visibility for important label statements. “The risk exists in almost every healthcare facility in Pennsylvania,” said Michael Co- Tuesday 10/2/07 Calif. board ups fines for failure to consult Fines for California pharmacists who fail to consult patients will increase significantly, to as much as $5,000, as the state pharmacy board looks to crack down on http://www.drugtopics.com

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Drug Topics - October 15, 2007 Contents Drugs in the Pipeline for Diabetes Vanquishing Med Errors from Abbreviations What Pharmacy Schools Never Taught You The Week at a Glance What Kinds of Mistakes Do Pharmacists Make?

Drug Topics - October 15, 2007

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