Roche ordered to pay $13M to users of acne drug

From the Associated Press:
A jury has ordered drugmaker Roche to pay nearly $13 million to three patients who claim they developed a chronic bowel disorder because of the company's acne drug Accutane.

Roche's U.S. subsidiary Hoffman-La Roche said it would appeal the verdict.

The money, handed down in New Jersey State Superior Court on Thursday, will be split among the three Florida residents, their attorneys said in a statement. All three began using Accutane a decade ago to treat teenage acne. One of the group is expected to soon have his colon surgically removed while the others will require long-term drug therapy, the attorneys said.

The award is the latest stemming from a wave of lawsuits that accuse Roche of downplaying a link between Accutane and inflammatory bowel disease, which afflicts about 1.4 million people in the U.S. and Canada.

Accutane's warning label notes that the drug is "associated with" chronic bowel problems, but the company has argued that there is no direct connection between its drug and the disease. ...more

Peppermint oil, older drugs help treat IBS: review

From CBC News:
Older treatments for irritable bowel syndrome like peppermint oil safely help ease symptoms and should be used, a review suggests.

IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by changes in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation or a combination of both, typically over months or years.

It is estimated to affect 13 to 20 per cent of Canadians, according to the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.

In Canada and most western nations, IBS occurs more often in women. It can occur at any age, but often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. ...more

Voluntary suspension of sales of Zelnorm due to cardiovascular ischemic events

From Health Canada:
At Health Canada’s request, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. is suspending marketing and sales of Zelnorm* (tegaserod hydrogen maleate) tablets in Canada to permit further evaluation of important safety information.
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