From the National Post:
The worldwide supply of medical isotopes used to help diagnose a host of health problems, including cancer and cardiovascular disease, may be in short supply in the weeks and months ahead because of an extended shutdown at a Canadian nuclear reactor.
The reactor in Chalk River, Ont., about 180 kilometres northwest of Ottawa, provides the raw material from which MDS Nordion produces medical isotopes, which are injected into patients to help create images of the body for diagnostic purposes.
However, MDS Nordion announced Wednesday the planned shutdown at the Chalk River facility -- owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited -- had to be extended into the new year to conduct additional maintenance work. ...more
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
N.B. tops absenteeism list for Canadian health-care workers
From CBC News:
New Brunswick has the highest rate of absenteeism among health-care workers in Canada while those in Alberta missed the fewest days, according to a Canadian Institute for Health Information study.
Health-care workers in New Brunswick are absent an average of 16.1 days annually, compared to a national average of 12 days a year, according to the study, published Monday. In Alberta, the average was 7.2 days a year.
New Brunswick's health-care workers also far exceeded the national average for workers of all kinds in Canada, who missed an average of seven days of work in 2006. For 20 years, health-care workers have had the highest average of lost work days compared to the rest of the Canadian population, according to the study.
On a national level, the researchers found that nurses are far more likely to be away from work than other health-care professionals — averaging 14.1 days a year. Doctors average 2.8 missed days annually, while those working in therapy and medical assessments average 8.1 days and pharmacists average four. ...more
New Brunswick has the highest rate of absenteeism among health-care workers in Canada while those in Alberta missed the fewest days, according to a Canadian Institute for Health Information study.
Health-care workers in New Brunswick are absent an average of 16.1 days annually, compared to a national average of 12 days a year, according to the study, published Monday. In Alberta, the average was 7.2 days a year.
New Brunswick's health-care workers also far exceeded the national average for workers of all kinds in Canada, who missed an average of seven days of work in 2006. For 20 years, health-care workers have had the highest average of lost work days compared to the rest of the Canadian population, according to the study.
On a national level, the researchers found that nurses are far more likely to be away from work than other health-care professionals — averaging 14.1 days a year. Doctors average 2.8 missed days annually, while those working in therapy and medical assessments average 8.1 days and pharmacists average four. ...more
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Is Shoppers Drug Mart poaching pharmacists from South Africa?
From the Globe and Mail:
Michael and Berdine Fazakas liked what they heard: that in Canada, they could own a profitable business - really profitable. That there are fewer murders in most Canadian cities each year than there are in a week in Johannesburg, where they live now. Canada has good, free schools for their future kids and vast expanses of nature - "just lots of opportunity," Mr. Fazakas said.
That's what they took away from a meeting held here last week by Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. Canada's largest drugstore chain has a team in South Africa seeking pharmacists to hire and sponsor as immigrants to Canada. The company provides legal assistance and covers the costs associated with immigration for the pharmacists it hires here. There's another Shoppers' information session in Durban tonight and in Cape Town on Thursday.
This is the only developing country where Shoppers recruits, and it's one with a dire shortage of pharmacists: In KwaZulu-Natal province, for example, one in three adults has HIV but 75 per cent of jobs for public pharmacists are vacant.
So meetings like last week's dinner-drinks-and-information session (from which Shoppers' staff barred a Globe and Mail reporter) are controversial. ...more
Michael and Berdine Fazakas liked what they heard: that in Canada, they could own a profitable business - really profitable. That there are fewer murders in most Canadian cities each year than there are in a week in Johannesburg, where they live now. Canada has good, free schools for their future kids and vast expanses of nature - "just lots of opportunity," Mr. Fazakas said.
That's what they took away from a meeting held here last week by Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. Canada's largest drugstore chain has a team in South Africa seeking pharmacists to hire and sponsor as immigrants to Canada. The company provides legal assistance and covers the costs associated with immigration for the pharmacists it hires here. There's another Shoppers' information session in Durban tonight and in Cape Town on Thursday.
This is the only developing country where Shoppers recruits, and it's one with a dire shortage of pharmacists: In KwaZulu-Natal province, for example, one in three adults has HIV but 75 per cent of jobs for public pharmacists are vacant.
So meetings like last week's dinner-drinks-and-information session (from which Shoppers' staff barred a Globe and Mail reporter) are controversial. ...more
Life-saving meds wrapped in red tape
From the McGill (Que.) Daily:
Six months after Industry Canada finished its review of legislation that allows Canadian drug manufacturers to produce and export generic medicines, a report of the findings has yet to be completed.
The legislation, known as the Canada Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), was passed in 2004 to facilitate access to affordable essential medicines in developing countries. But the legislation is widely recognized as flawed – so far, not a single pill has left the country. ...more
Six months after Industry Canada finished its review of legislation that allows Canadian drug manufacturers to produce and export generic medicines, a report of the findings has yet to be completed.
The legislation, known as the Canada Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), was passed in 2004 to facilitate access to affordable essential medicines in developing countries. But the legislation is widely recognized as flawed – so far, not a single pill has left the country. ...more
Promising new HIV-AIDS drug, 1st in new class, approved for Canadian market
From Canada East:
Health Canada has granted licence approval for a new HIV-AIDS drug, the first in a promising new class of medications.
Drug maker Merck Frosst says it has been given permission to bring Isentress to the Canadian market for treatment of HIV-positive people whose viruses are resistant to multiple other HIV drugs. AIDS expert Dr. Mark Wainberg says there is tremendous optimism about the drug in the community of HIV patients, doctors and researchers.
The drug's generic name is raltegravir.
It is the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors to hit the global AIDS drug market; another drug, eltegravir, is in development by Gilead Sciences Inc. of Foster City, CA. ...more
Health Canada has granted licence approval for a new HIV-AIDS drug, the first in a promising new class of medications.
Drug maker Merck Frosst says it has been given permission to bring Isentress to the Canadian market for treatment of HIV-positive people whose viruses are resistant to multiple other HIV drugs. AIDS expert Dr. Mark Wainberg says there is tremendous optimism about the drug in the community of HIV patients, doctors and researchers.
The drug's generic name is raltegravir.
It is the first in a new class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors to hit the global AIDS drug market; another drug, eltegravir, is in development by Gilead Sciences Inc. of Foster City, CA. ...more
Prescription for shortage?
There's no sign that the pharmacist shortage will end anytime soon. Perhaps one of the highest demand locales for pharmacists in the world is Indiana, where three huge mail order pharmacies will soon open and need to hire hundreds of pharmacists.
From the Indianapolis Star:
Bre Taylor has two more years before she graduates from Butler University with a doctorate in pharmacy, but job recruiters around the country are already deluging her with pitches. Starting salaries range from $75,000 to $100,000, sweetened by signing bonuses and tuition reimbursements.
"There's all kinds of job expos, e-mails, drugstores offering us free gifts, companies offering internships," said Taylor, 22, of Vincennes, dressed in a crisp white coat as she mixed an ointment for an assignment in a Butler lab. "I can pretty much go anywhere in the country and have a job."
The reason: A national shortage of pharmacists, fueled by a surge of retirements, a flurry of hospital and drugstore expansions, an aging population and an increased number of prescriptions written. ...more
Monday, December 03, 2007
Doc-rating U.S. website has Ontario MDs angry
This isn't really a pharmacy story, but I am somewhat fascinated by the website mentioned. I'm pretty sure that the ratings on this website shouldn't be your sole basis of choosing a new MD. However, I feel that it has some value. With the supply/demand curve so extremely weighted on the side of physicians, I think some of them have taken the constant oversupply of patients for granted, and treat their patients accordingly. Maybe this site helps in a small way to bring some accountability into the equation.
From the London (Ont.) Free Press:
Thousands of Londoners have turned to a controversial U.S.-based website to rate their doctors and dentists.
RateMDs.com lets patients anonymously rate their doctor's performance -- on punctuality, helpfulness and knowledge -- and post comments about their care.
Some doctors are accused on the website of being rude, misdiagnosing ailments -- even falling asleep during appointments.
The site has raised the ire of Ontario's medical community, with the latest issue of the Ontario Medical Association journal advising doctors how to take legal action for defamatory comments on the website. ...more
Common diabetes drug may increase chances of developing osteoporosis
From CBC News:
The popular diabetes drug marketed as Avandia may increase bone thinning, a discovery that could help explain why diabetics can have an increased risk of fractures.
New research raises the possibility that long-term treatment with rosiglitazone, as Avandia is also called, could lead to osteoporosis. The diabetes drug is used to improve response to insulin.
While bones seem solid, they constantly are being broken down and rebuilt by the body. Researchers found that in mice, the drug increased the activity of the cells that degrade bones, according to a report in this week's online issue of Nature Medicine. ...more
The popular diabetes drug marketed as Avandia may increase bone thinning, a discovery that could help explain why diabetics can have an increased risk of fractures.
New research raises the possibility that long-term treatment with rosiglitazone, as Avandia is also called, could lead to osteoporosis. The diabetes drug is used to improve response to insulin.
While bones seem solid, they constantly are being broken down and rebuilt by the body. Researchers found that in mice, the drug increased the activity of the cells that degrade bones, according to a report in this week's online issue of Nature Medicine. ...more
HIV infections rise in Canada, fall globally
From the London (Ont.) Free Press:
James Armstrong can't walk. He is blind in his left eye. He has survived cancer, kidney failure and numerous blood and lung infections, but he is happy to be alive.
The 45-year-old Toronto man has been on the verge of dying a dozen times since he began living with HIV in 1986.
In May, he agreed to be pulled off life support in the hospital while suffering from his third bout of pulmonary edema. Armstrong's doctor told him he would have 20 minutes left to live, yet he managed to survive.
"The doctor told my mom at my bedside before he left that it was an honour being my doctor for 12 years and to be sure to let him know when my funeral was -- but somehow I miraculously survived again," Armstrong, who lives at Casey House, said. ...more
James Armstrong can't walk. He is blind in his left eye. He has survived cancer, kidney failure and numerous blood and lung infections, but he is happy to be alive.
The 45-year-old Toronto man has been on the verge of dying a dozen times since he began living with HIV in 1986.
In May, he agreed to be pulled off life support in the hospital while suffering from his third bout of pulmonary edema. Armstrong's doctor told him he would have 20 minutes left to live, yet he managed to survive.
"The doctor told my mom at my bedside before he left that it was an honour being my doctor for 12 years and to be sure to let him know when my funeral was -- but somehow I miraculously survived again," Armstrong, who lives at Casey House, said. ...more
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Liberals play up health reforms
From the Fredericton (NB) Daily Gleaner:
The Liberal government will soon unveil its provincial health plan, which includes help for seniors to stay in their homes, allowing pharmacists to prescribe some medication and regulating midwifery.
There will also be a dial-a-dietician service and more restrictions on the display of tobacco products.
"A self-sufficient New Brunswick requires healthy people with access to high-quality and accessible health-care services," said Lt.-Gov Hermenegilde Chiasson, who read the throne speech Tuesday. ...more
The Liberal government will soon unveil its provincial health plan, which includes help for seniors to stay in their homes, allowing pharmacists to prescribe some medication and regulating midwifery.
There will also be a dial-a-dietician service and more restrictions on the display of tobacco products.
"A self-sufficient New Brunswick requires healthy people with access to high-quality and accessible health-care services," said Lt.-Gov Hermenegilde Chiasson, who read the throne speech Tuesday. ...more
Strange Prescription
From Monday Magazine (BC):
The nine members of the provincial government’s new pharmaceutical task force include the head of Canada’s largest drug lobby group, but nobody to represent the interests of patients or the public.
“It’s a good idea to do this, but the compostion of the board is highly debateable,” says Adrian Dix, the NDP health critic. “I think it’s extraordinary and bizarre the pharmaceutical representatives were put on the panel this way. It’s really unfortunate patients are so poorly represented here.”
The highest profile drug industry representative on the task force is Russell Williams, the president of Canada’s Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), a national lobby group with members from some 50 drug companies and whose directors include the presidents, CEOs and other top officials from 14 of the countries biggest drug manufacturers. ...more
The nine members of the provincial government’s new pharmaceutical task force include the head of Canada’s largest drug lobby group, but nobody to represent the interests of patients or the public.
“It’s a good idea to do this, but the compostion of the board is highly debateable,” says Adrian Dix, the NDP health critic. “I think it’s extraordinary and bizarre the pharmaceutical representatives were put on the panel this way. It’s really unfortunate patients are so poorly represented here.”
The highest profile drug industry representative on the task force is Russell Williams, the president of Canada’s Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), a national lobby group with members from some 50 drug companies and whose directors include the presidents, CEOs and other top officials from 14 of the countries biggest drug manufacturers. ...more
Journal accuses Shoppers Drug Mart of poaching South African pharmacists
I find the concept of recruiting health professionals from other geographic areas a fascinating ethical question. Who is to say that a foreign pharmacist doesn't deserve the opportunity to build a new life in another country? Also, what about luring health professionals from rural areas of Canada to larger urban centres? What if Shoppers recruits the only pharmacist in a small town in northern Manitoba and leaves that town without pharmacy services?
I'm not sure why a physicians group has decided to take Shoppers Drug Mart to task on this. I'd like to hear the Canadian Medical Association's views on urban health regions recruiting in smaller Canadian towns that are already short of physicians.
The last line in the article is very interesting...
Does this mean we will see a physician led boycott of Shoppers Drug Mart? Will physicians counsel their patients to not get their prescriptions there? Will they refuse to send new or refill prescription orders to Shoppers? As far as I'm aware, physicians are ethically obliged to not suggest one pharmacy over another to patients.
I'm not sure why a physicians group has decided to take Shoppers Drug Mart to task on this. I'd like to hear the Canadian Medical Association's views on urban health regions recruiting in smaller Canadian towns that are already short of physicians.
The last line in the article is very interesting...
"If Shoppers Drug Mart fails to act before World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, CMAJ also believes governments, hospitals and all Canadians should show solidarity for South Africa, and take their business elsewhere."
Does this mean we will see a physician led boycott of Shoppers Drug Mart? Will physicians counsel their patients to not get their prescriptions there? Will they refuse to send new or refill prescription orders to Shoppers? As far as I'm aware, physicians are ethically obliged to not suggest one pharmacy over another to patients.
From the Canadian Press:
Human rights activist and former UN ambassador Stephen Lewis joined one of Canada's pre-eminent medical journals Tuesday in denouncing an iconic drugstore chain for aggressively recruiting South African pharmacists and potentially fuelling a public health disaster.
In an article to be published in its January edition, the Canadian Medical Association Journal takes Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest drugstore chain, to task, accusing it of going after the very pharmacists South Africa desperately needs to dispense drugs to its own population.
For the last three years, Shoppers has dispatched recruiters to the southern African country with aim of luring pharmacists with the promise of a guaranteed $100,000 salary, the journal says.
"This behaviour is not just gauche; it is unethical," the article states. ...more
Number of pharmacists up 33% over 10 years
From CTV News:
he number of pharmacists in Canada grew by more than 7,200 over a 10-year period, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
This represents an increase of 33 per cent in a decade, compared to a 10 per cent increase in the population.
Prince Edward Island showed the greatest percentage increase, at 42.9 per cent. The Northwest Territories saw a 40.5 per cent drop, with the number of pharmacists in the territory falling from 42 in 1995 to 25 in 2005. Ontario is currently home to almost one-third of the country's 29,471 pharmacists. ...more
he number of pharmacists in Canada grew by more than 7,200 over a 10-year period, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
This represents an increase of 33 per cent in a decade, compared to a 10 per cent increase in the population.
Prince Edward Island showed the greatest percentage increase, at 42.9 per cent. The Northwest Territories saw a 40.5 per cent drop, with the number of pharmacists in the territory falling from 42 in 1995 to 25 in 2005. Ontario is currently home to almost one-third of the country's 29,471 pharmacists. ...more
Pharmacists on call for medicine questions
From the Edmonton Journal:
People with questions about medication now have access to pharmacists throughout the night to answer them.
Capital Health has launched a new pharmacist telephone line through Capital Health Link. Nurses at Capital Health Link can't answer detailed questions about drug side effects or wrong dosages, but now will be able to transfer those patients to one of 60 pharmacists on call in 10 stores across the city.
The system has been in quiet operation since Oct. 16 and has fielded more than 300 calls, including one from a woman with a rash who wondered what medication wouldn't interfere with her breastfeeding. A man on blood clot medication wondered if he could also take pain medication for a shoulder injury. Another person wondered how to keep pain medication working steadily throughout the night. ...more
People with questions about medication now have access to pharmacists throughout the night to answer them.
Capital Health has launched a new pharmacist telephone line through Capital Health Link. Nurses at Capital Health Link can't answer detailed questions about drug side effects or wrong dosages, but now will be able to transfer those patients to one of 60 pharmacists on call in 10 stores across the city.
The system has been in quiet operation since Oct. 16 and has fielded more than 300 calls, including one from a woman with a rash who wondered what medication wouldn't interfere with her breastfeeding. A man on blood clot medication wondered if he could also take pain medication for a shoulder injury. Another person wondered how to keep pain medication working steadily throughout the night. ...more
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thalidomide resurfaces as treatment for multiple myeloma
From CBC News:
A derivative of thalidomide may prolong life in people with a type of bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma — if taken with a steroid — a new study finds.
Called lenalidomide, the drug, in combination with the steroid dexamethasone, can slow the progress of the incurable bone marrow cancer and extend the lives of patients with the condition by an average of 10 months, the research suggests.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow. It is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to Myeloma Canada, with approximately 14,000 newly diagnosed cases in the United States annually. ...more
A derivative of thalidomide may prolong life in people with a type of bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma — if taken with a steroid — a new study finds.
Called lenalidomide, the drug, in combination with the steroid dexamethasone, can slow the progress of the incurable bone marrow cancer and extend the lives of patients with the condition by an average of 10 months, the research suggests.
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow. It is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to Myeloma Canada, with approximately 14,000 newly diagnosed cases in the United States annually. ...more
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Entre Nous with Mark Wainberg
This is not exactly a pharmacy article, but I had to include it as it's related to HIV/AIDS and it features Mark Wainberg. His group's research in the 80's led to the discovery of 3TC, one of the most important antivirals on the market. Very few people seem to be aware that Canadians discovered this medication.
I've had the opportunity to hear him speak and meet with him. If you ever get the chance to do the same, I'd highly recommend it.
I've had the opportunity to hear him speak and meet with him. If you ever get the chance to do the same, I'd highly recommend it.
From the McGill (QC) Reporter:
Fresh off the red-eye from L.A. where he was visiting his grandchildren, Mark Wainberg poked fun at our photographer when it was suggested that he change his shirt for the photo shoot. "The New York Times never asked me to change my shirt," laughed the Director of the McGill AIDS Centre, over his shoulder as he hustled to his car to get a change of wardrobe. A leading HIV/AIDS researcher and activist, Wainberg is tireless; meeting with scientists, world leaders, industrialists and Hollywood celebrities in his ongoing quest to raise awareness and shape policies geared toward slowing the spread and, ultimately, eradicating the dreaded disease. Having donned a fresh shirt, Wainberg sat down with the Reporter to talk about where the world stands on the eve of World AIDS Day. ...more
Teens turning to prescription painkillers, survey finds
From Canada.com:
While alcohol still remains the substance of choice among Canadian teens, a new study in Ontario released Tuesday shows use of prescription painkillers is a growing cause for concern.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, 21 per cent of students surveyed about their drug use revealed they had tried a prescription pain medication for non-medical purposes at least once in the past year.
More than 75 per cent of teens reported getting the pills from home.
Doug Beirness, manager of research and policy for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse said Ontario's youth opioid statistics are the first of their kind in Canada but should serve as a wake-up call across the country. An opioid is a chemical substance that has a morphine-like action in the body and is used for pain relief. ...more
While alcohol still remains the substance of choice among Canadian teens, a new study in Ontario released Tuesday shows use of prescription painkillers is a growing cause for concern.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, 21 per cent of students surveyed about their drug use revealed they had tried a prescription pain medication for non-medical purposes at least once in the past year.
More than 75 per cent of teens reported getting the pills from home.
Doug Beirness, manager of research and policy for the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse said Ontario's youth opioid statistics are the first of their kind in Canada but should serve as a wake-up call across the country. An opioid is a chemical substance that has a morphine-like action in the body and is used for pain relief. ...more
Drug firm help queried
From the London (Ont.) Free Press:
Medical training sponsored by drug companies is often skewed in favour of the company's own products, says a University of Western Ontario study reported on yesterday by the prestigious journal Nature.
Drug companies in Canada and the U.S. pour hundreds of millions into required courses for doctors, footing the bill for more than 60 per cent of continuing medical education training.
The courses are supposed to be objective, but a study by the head of Continuing Medical Education at the Schulich School of Medicine at UWO found that isn't always the case. ...more
Medical training sponsored by drug companies is often skewed in favour of the company's own products, says a University of Western Ontario study reported on yesterday by the prestigious journal Nature.
Drug companies in Canada and the U.S. pour hundreds of millions into required courses for doctors, footing the bill for more than 60 per cent of continuing medical education training.
The courses are supposed to be objective, but a study by the head of Continuing Medical Education at the Schulich School of Medicine at UWO found that isn't always the case. ...more
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Canadian drug-benefits provider sues WISH-TV
From the Indianapolis Star:
Canadian pharmacy benefit manager CanaRx Services, which is trying to expand its business in Indiana, sued the parent company of WISH-TV (Channel 8) on Monday, alleging defamation over a broadcast linking CanaRx to sales of counterfeit drugs.
The Windsor-based company sent its president, chief pharmacist and two attorneys to Indianapolis to announce the lawsuit and demand a retraction of statements made in the Nov. 2 broadcast.
The eight-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, charges that reports in the broadcast were "false, defamatory and constituted commercial disparagement of CanaRx and its business." ...more
Canadian pharmacy benefit manager CanaRx Services, which is trying to expand its business in Indiana, sued the parent company of WISH-TV (Channel 8) on Monday, alleging defamation over a broadcast linking CanaRx to sales of counterfeit drugs.
The Windsor-based company sent its president, chief pharmacist and two attorneys to Indianapolis to announce the lawsuit and demand a retraction of statements made in the Nov. 2 broadcast.
The eight-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, charges that reports in the broadcast were "false, defamatory and constituted commercial disparagement of CanaRx and its business." ...more
Methadone alternative to hit Canadian market
From CBC News:
A new heroin-addiction treatment that many doctors say is safer than methadone can be prescribed in Canada starting this week.
The drug, sold under the names Subutex and Suboxone, contains buprenorphine, an opiate. Manufactured by Schering-Plough Corp., it was approved by Health Canada in 2005.
Dr. Mark Dubé, a private practitioner in Sudbury, Ont., has been prescribing methadone for years. He started prescribing Subutex and Suboxone in August to one of his methadone patients under a special access permit granted by Health Canada. ...more
A new heroin-addiction treatment that many doctors say is safer than methadone can be prescribed in Canada starting this week.
The drug, sold under the names Subutex and Suboxone, contains buprenorphine, an opiate. Manufactured by Schering-Plough Corp., it was approved by Health Canada in 2005.
Dr. Mark Dubé, a private practitioner in Sudbury, Ont., has been prescribing methadone for years. He started prescribing Subutex and Suboxone in August to one of his methadone patients under a special access permit granted by Health Canada. ...more
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Solutions to oxycodone addiction
From Canoe.ca:
A Wallaceburg man gets hooked on OxyContin and helps launch a $175-million lawsuit against Purdue Pharma Canada, the maker of the drug.
City hall calls for a $3.7-million, five-year strategy on substance abuse.
Pain specialists suggest more training for family doctors.
Pharmacists ask for tools to track patients.
Addiction experts ask all of us to stop blaming the addicts.
There seem to be dozens of possible solutions to halting widespread and growing abuse of oxycodone-based painkiller drugs in London. ...more
A Wallaceburg man gets hooked on OxyContin and helps launch a $175-million lawsuit against Purdue Pharma Canada, the maker of the drug.
City hall calls for a $3.7-million, five-year strategy on substance abuse.
Pain specialists suggest more training for family doctors.
Pharmacists ask for tools to track patients.
Addiction experts ask all of us to stop blaming the addicts.
There seem to be dozens of possible solutions to halting widespread and growing abuse of oxycodone-based painkiller drugs in London. ...more
Medicine man wanted Munday officials work to lure pharmacist
Here's an older article that I wanted to post because I don't think I've ever heard of a town be so aggressive in the pursuit of an independent pharmacist.
From the Wichita Falls (Tex.) Times Record:
It was more than a drug store.
It was the center of life in Munday.
For decades, locals drifted into Smith Drug on Main Street for a cup of coffee, a gift for a friend's birthday and - almost as an afterthought - their prescriptions.
But in March 2006, the out-of-town owners of the store closed the business, creating a huge void that city leaders are working hard to fill, said Munday City Manager Dwayne Bearden.
"People need a pharmacy," he said. "We have one 12 miles away (in Knox City), but it's not as good as having one here. Somebody would be a hero if they could get one here."
The city, along with the Development Corporation of Munday, have been actively trying to lure a pharmacist to town by offering incentives for anyone willing to relocate and reopen the business. ...more
Lack of sympathy greets drug advertising debate
From the Toronto Star:
To say that prescription drugs are not like other products – and so should not be marketed like they are – is just plain patronizing, a public debate on whether to loosen Canada's advertising restrictions on medication heard yesterday.
"No one makes better decisions about what's best for you than you," said Ruth Corbin, who runs a research company specializing in intellectual property, such as drugs.
Speaking to a largely unsympathetic crowd at Ryerson University, Corbin said patients need advertising to help them discuss treatment options with their doctors. ...more
To say that prescription drugs are not like other products – and so should not be marketed like they are – is just plain patronizing, a public debate on whether to loosen Canada's advertising restrictions on medication heard yesterday.
"No one makes better decisions about what's best for you than you," said Ruth Corbin, who runs a research company specializing in intellectual property, such as drugs.
Speaking to a largely unsympathetic crowd at Ryerson University, Corbin said patients need advertising to help them discuss treatment options with their doctors. ...more
A popular placebo
From the Ottawa Citizen:
They've been a mainstay on drug store shelves for decades. They come in many flavours -- cherry, grape, bubblegum -- all tailored to a child's sugar-loving palate. And when your little one had an up-all-night cough or a nose runnier than a soft-boiled egg, you probably bought one of these over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough or cold medicines. Because they work. Right?
Dani Donders, an Ottawa mother of two, thought so. She's given her sons Tylenol Infant Cold, and while the results weren't spectacular, she believed it must do something; otherwise, drug stores wouldn't sell it.
Andrea Tomkins, who lives with her husband and two daughters in Westboro, also thought children's cold medicines worked. At least a little. If one of her daughters had a nasty cough, Tomkins reached for an off-the-shelf remedy. Who wouldn't? ...more
They've been a mainstay on drug store shelves for decades. They come in many flavours -- cherry, grape, bubblegum -- all tailored to a child's sugar-loving palate. And when your little one had an up-all-night cough or a nose runnier than a soft-boiled egg, you probably bought one of these over-the-counter (OTC) infant cough or cold medicines. Because they work. Right?
Dani Donders, an Ottawa mother of two, thought so. She's given her sons Tylenol Infant Cold, and while the results weren't spectacular, she believed it must do something; otherwise, drug stores wouldn't sell it.
Andrea Tomkins, who lives with her husband and two daughters in Westboro, also thought children's cold medicines worked. At least a little. If one of her daughters had a nasty cough, Tomkins reached for an off-the-shelf remedy. Who wouldn't? ...more
Living longer with HIV
From the Toronto Star:
"You can't live your life with a gun to your head," says 52-year-old Gary, who tested positive for HIV in 1985. "At some point, you have to look away and get on with things."
While Gary is rigorous about his drug routines and follows his doctor's orders, he no longer wastes time speculating about when he'll die.
"I stopped asking my doctors how long I had to live 20 years ago," says the Toronto house painter. (Gary asked us not to use his last name.) "And I stopped paying attention to survival time statistics because, especially in the beginning, it was a pretty safe assumption that I wasn't going to live very long."
A lot has changed since then. Not only are people living longer with HIV, in the final analysis most of them will not die of AIDS at all. ...more
"You can't live your life with a gun to your head," says 52-year-old Gary, who tested positive for HIV in 1985. "At some point, you have to look away and get on with things."
While Gary is rigorous about his drug routines and follows his doctor's orders, he no longer wastes time speculating about when he'll die.
"I stopped asking my doctors how long I had to live 20 years ago," says the Toronto house painter. (Gary asked us not to use his last name.) "And I stopped paying attention to survival time statistics because, especially in the beginning, it was a pretty safe assumption that I wasn't going to live very long."
A lot has changed since then. Not only are people living longer with HIV, in the final analysis most of them will not die of AIDS at all. ...more
Merck agrees to US$4.85B settlement over Vioxx
From CTV News:
Merck & Co. has offered to pay US$4.85 billion to end litigation with thousands of U.S. plaintiffs over its painkiller Vioxx.
The agreement applies only to U.S. legal residents and those who allege that a heart attack or stroke they experienced while taking Vioxx occurred in the United States.
In Canada, negotiations continue in a number of class-action cases against the makers of Vioxx.
Mike Peerless, of Siskinds LLP, a law firm that represents hundreds of Canadian plaintiffs in Vioxx class actions, tells CTV that the settlement in the U.S. is a good sign and suggests that the company will want to quickly settle its Vioxx cases in Canada. ...more
Merck & Co. has offered to pay US$4.85 billion to end litigation with thousands of U.S. plaintiffs over its painkiller Vioxx.
The agreement applies only to U.S. legal residents and those who allege that a heart attack or stroke they experienced while taking Vioxx occurred in the United States.
In Canada, negotiations continue in a number of class-action cases against the makers of Vioxx.
Mike Peerless, of Siskinds LLP, a law firm that represents hundreds of Canadian plaintiffs in Vioxx class actions, tells CTV that the settlement in the U.S. is a good sign and suggests that the company will want to quickly settle its Vioxx cases in Canada. ...more
Pharmacist shortage dangerous: association
From the Montreal Gazette:
Quebec's hospitals are suffering from a severe shortage of pharmacists - a situation that could lead to medication errors, the president of a pharmacists' association is warning.
There are 1,250 pharmacists working in Quebec hospitals and other health-care establishments. But hospitals need another 200 pharmacists to properly serve patients, said Francine Lussier-Labelle, president of the Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec. ...more
Quebec's hospitals are suffering from a severe shortage of pharmacists - a situation that could lead to medication errors, the president of a pharmacists' association is warning.
There are 1,250 pharmacists working in Quebec hospitals and other health-care establishments. But hospitals need another 200 pharmacists to properly serve patients, said Francine Lussier-Labelle, president of the Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec. ...more
FDA Hears Pros, Cons of Pharmacist-to-Patient Drug Sales
From Forbes:
During a day-long public hearing Wednesday on whether to allow certain drugs to be sold by pharmacists without a prescription, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials listened to arguments for and against the proposal by representatives of various medical and public interest groups.
But at the day's end, the FDA officials said they weren't ready to make a decision on whether to create a new class of drugs that pharmacists could sell "behind-the-counter." And, they wouldn't speculate on a timetable for such a decision. ...more
During a day-long public hearing Wednesday on whether to allow certain drugs to be sold by pharmacists without a prescription, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials listened to arguments for and against the proposal by representatives of various medical and public interest groups.
But at the day's end, the FDA officials said they weren't ready to make a decision on whether to create a new class of drugs that pharmacists could sell "behind-the-counter." And, they wouldn't speculate on a timetable for such a decision. ...more
Anti-obesity drugs provide only modest weight loss
From CTV News:
Anti-obesity medications can only help obese patients lose a "modest" amount of weight, report Canadian researchers in a review of a group of studies on the long-term effectiveness of the drugs.
The researchers from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary reviewed 30 placebo-controlled studies in which adults took anti-obesity drugs for a year or longer. ...more
Anti-obesity medications can only help obese patients lose a "modest" amount of weight, report Canadian researchers in a review of a group of studies on the long-term effectiveness of the drugs.
The researchers from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary reviewed 30 placebo-controlled studies in which adults took anti-obesity drugs for a year or longer. ...more
Federal drug approvals plunge
The American and Canadian drug approval systems often share information and make similar decisions. I suspect the decrease in approvals of new products in the States has likely resulted in some of these products not being approved in Canada. Quite often, these drugs have received approval in other Western countries. Examples would include rimonabant and Arcoxia.
The pendulum has swung regarding North American drug approvals. In the wake of the Vioxx scandal, I suppose it was inevitable. But I wonder how many benficial new medications won't be approved because of the now exceedingly cautious regulatory bodies?
The pendulum has swung regarding North American drug approvals. In the wake of the Vioxx scandal, I suppose it was inevitable. But I wonder how many benficial new medications won't be approved because of the now exceedingly cautious regulatory bodies?
From CNN Money:
Federal drug approvals have plummeted by nearly a third in 2007, according to a report issued Thursday that is likely to fuel complaints that regulators are stymieing efforts to get new treatments on the market.
The Food and Drug Administration approved 59 new drugs through October, down 29 percent from the same period last year, according to a report from James Kumpel, an industry analyst at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group.
Significantly, the report says that the problem is not in the industry pipeline.
Kumpel said that the ratio of applications to approvals in 2007 is shaping up to hit a 13-year low. The FDA is on track to approve 60 percent of applications for new drugs this year, compared to 76 percent in 2006.
"While some pundits have argued that the pipeline [of applications] submitted to the FDA by the pharmaceutical industry has been weak in recent years, the facts dispute such claims," said Kumpel, in his report, released on Thursday.
Kumpel found an 18 percent decline in approvals of a key category of drugs - those that are in a brand-new molecular class. The FDA approved only 14 of these new drugs, which represent the most significant medical advances because they do not piggyback onto existing treatments. ...more
Friday, November 16, 2007
Personalized medicine slowly taking shape
I find the concept of basing drug therapy on genetics to be fascinating. I've actually seen it in my practice already, and I expect in a few years we'll see a lot more of it.
From Canada.com:
Personalized medicine -- tailoring treatments to an individual's genetic profile -- has been one of the main dreams of the gene revolution, but putting it into practice is proving tough.
While advances are being made in a few areas, so-called pharmacogenetics will not change the commercial landscape for the bulk of pharmaceuticals for several years, drugmakers told the Reuters Health Summit in New York this week.
"Pharmacogenetics is not going to transform this market any time soon," said Jean-Pierre Garnier, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
"Let's be clear -- it's going to take 20 years plus. Does that mean you are going to have zero happening? No. It's already happening. But it is going to be very specific examples." ...more
The demise of the corner drugstore
From the Globe and Mail:
For years, John Girgis ran a profitable drugstore in Mississauga, and felt he was doing something good for the community. But today, Mr. Girgis's store is losing so much money he's thinking about selling it to one of the big chains or closing down.
Mr. Girgis blames changes to Ontario's drug pricing regime that prohibited an estimated $500-million in annual rebates that flowed to him and other pharmacists from generic drug companies. Since the new law came into effect this year, Mr. Girgis was cut off from thousands of dollars a year, a crucial stream of revenue for his pharmacy.
"We've been here 11 years and we're part of the community - just to pack up and leave would be devastating to a lot of people," he says. While his business has slid into the red, a Shoppers Drug Mart down the street seems to be thriving.
Mr. Girgis isn't the only independent pharmacist to feel the heat. A study on generic drug pricing issued last week by the federal Competition Bureau will give druggists across Canada more reason to fret. ...more
For years, John Girgis ran a profitable drugstore in Mississauga, and felt he was doing something good for the community. But today, Mr. Girgis's store is losing so much money he's thinking about selling it to one of the big chains or closing down.
Mr. Girgis blames changes to Ontario's drug pricing regime that prohibited an estimated $500-million in annual rebates that flowed to him and other pharmacists from generic drug companies. Since the new law came into effect this year, Mr. Girgis was cut off from thousands of dollars a year, a crucial stream of revenue for his pharmacy.
"We've been here 11 years and we're part of the community - just to pack up and leave would be devastating to a lot of people," he says. While his business has slid into the red, a Shoppers Drug Mart down the street seems to be thriving.
Mr. Girgis isn't the only independent pharmacist to feel the heat. A study on generic drug pricing issued last week by the federal Competition Bureau will give druggists across Canada more reason to fret. ...more
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Feds 'paranoid' about pain drug, doctors say
From the Ottawa Sun:
Canadian pain doctors are calling for Health Canada to avoid "paranoid scheduling" of tramadol, a popular prescription drug that could end up being put on a list of controlled substances.
Dr. Roman Jovey said the Canadian Pain Society's aggressive opposition to Health Canada's proposal is "unique," but the association believes the feds are making a grave mistake by grouping tramadol with already restricted narcotics, such as morphine and codeine.
"The question is, where do you draw the line?" asked Jovey, past-president of the pain society.
However, Health Canada spokesman Paul Duchesne said the agency believes tramadol "may be abused" like other painkillers listed in the controlled substances list. ...more
Canadian pain doctors are calling for Health Canada to avoid "paranoid scheduling" of tramadol, a popular prescription drug that could end up being put on a list of controlled substances.
Dr. Roman Jovey said the Canadian Pain Society's aggressive opposition to Health Canada's proposal is "unique," but the association believes the feds are making a grave mistake by grouping tramadol with already restricted narcotics, such as morphine and codeine.
"The question is, where do you draw the line?" asked Jovey, past-president of the pain society.
However, Health Canada spokesman Paul Duchesne said the agency believes tramadol "may be abused" like other painkillers listed in the controlled substances list. ...more
FDA Weighs Behind-the-Counter Drugs
I've already posted a few articles regarding the "behind the counter" issue in the States. I thought I'd add this one as well as it has some information I haven't seen elsewhere.
From WebMD:
For at least the fourth time, federal regulators are considering whether pharmacists should be allowed to regularly dispense medications without a doctor's prescription.
Three times since the 1970s, the FDA has rejected the idea of adding a new "behind the counter" class of drugs to existing prescription-only and over-the-counter medication, which can be bought with no professional supervision.
But the new class is once again on the FDA's docket, spurred in part by big drug companies looking for a new way to sell prescription products that the agency has rejected for nonprescription sales. ...more
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
MDs uncover another weapon to wield in the cancer fight
From the Ottawa Citizen:
A Canadian-led international study of patients with advanced colorectal cancer has added "one more tool" for them: a drug that extends their lives by an average of six weeks, and which may also help to cure patients if it's used early in the disease.
So far, Cetuximab has only been tested in patients for whom all other treatments have failed. Their cancer has spread, and chemotherapy no longer helps.
The patients in the study lived an average of six months on the drug Cetuximab as opposed to an average of four and a half months without it. However, while it helped 31 per cent of them significantly, it didn't help the rest at all. A mutation in one gene appears to make the difference. ...more
A Canadian-led international study of patients with advanced colorectal cancer has added "one more tool" for them: a drug that extends their lives by an average of six weeks, and which may also help to cure patients if it's used early in the disease.
So far, Cetuximab has only been tested in patients for whom all other treatments have failed. Their cancer has spread, and chemotherapy no longer helps.
The patients in the study lived an average of six months on the drug Cetuximab as opposed to an average of four and a half months without it. However, while it helped 31 per cent of them significantly, it didn't help the rest at all. A mutation in one gene appears to make the difference. ...more
A hard act to follow
This article is a great recap of the battle between the big pharmacy chains in Canada. I also liked the analysis as to why Walgreens or CVS are probably not looking north in the near future.
From the Globe and Mail:
The mundane name aside, Store No. 1206 is not your typical pharmacy.
In fact, at first, second and third blush, the new Burlington, Ont., outlet of Shoppers Drug Mart looks like anything but a suburban drug mart. Right at the door there's the beauty section, lined with glass shelves of facial creams, makeup and a blue-glass jar of Guerlain cream at $435. Just beyond that is the sweet scent of Chanel No. 5 perfume ($126) and the smile of a cosmetician eager to assess your beauty challenges.
Then there's the more predictable line of Christmas decorations and a display of the chain's private label Le Chocolat, a premium line of imported Belgian chocolates selling this week for $16.99 a box. All that before one reaches the store's namesake - the almost forgotten drug counter at the back - and a route to the cash that passes today's most pressing consumer needs, from $3.99 milk to a $229 MP3 player.
For Shoppers Drug Mart Corp., this is all by design. The big drugstore chains have reinvented themselves - again - in order to dominate the middle ground between high-margin convenience stores and high-volume department stores. They have transformed into retail players, and are barely recognizable as the local pharmacies where your grandparents bought medicine and cod liver oil. Today, the big chains focus on cosmetics and private labels, whose gross profit margins are thought to be two or three times that of many prescription medications.
For François Jean Coutu, chief executive officer of Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc., it comes down to one word: destination. ...more
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
FDA Mulls Direct Pharmacist-to-Patient Drug Sales
From the Washington Post:
Experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are meeting Wednesday to hear arguments on whether or not pharmacists might someday bypass doctors and directly provide consumers with certain drugs that now require a prescription.
If this plan were to go ahead, it would create a new class of drugs that could be sold by pharmacists "behind-the-counter." Such drugs might include birth control pills, cholesterol drugs and migraine medicine, experts said. Their sales would require that patients discuss these purchases with the pharmacist first.
"We believe having certain drugs behind the counter, but available only after a consultation with a pharmacist, could significantly increase patient access," Ilisa Bernstein, the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs, told theLos Angeles Times.
Wednesday's hearing marks another chapter in the behind-the-counter saga. In 2005, the agency rejected a proposal to allow the cholesterol-lowering drug Mevacor to be sold without a prescription. At the time, however, some of the FDA's scientific advisers said it might be possible for pharmacists to sell the drug if they could help select which customers bought the pills. ...more
Experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are meeting Wednesday to hear arguments on whether or not pharmacists might someday bypass doctors and directly provide consumers with certain drugs that now require a prescription.
If this plan were to go ahead, it would create a new class of drugs that could be sold by pharmacists "behind-the-counter." Such drugs might include birth control pills, cholesterol drugs and migraine medicine, experts said. Their sales would require that patients discuss these purchases with the pharmacist first.
"We believe having certain drugs behind the counter, but available only after a consultation with a pharmacist, could significantly increase patient access," Ilisa Bernstein, the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs, told theLos Angeles Times.
Wednesday's hearing marks another chapter in the behind-the-counter saga. In 2005, the agency rejected a proposal to allow the cholesterol-lowering drug Mevacor to be sold without a prescription. At the time, however, some of the FDA's scientific advisers said it might be possible for pharmacists to sell the drug if they could help select which customers bought the pills. ...more
Drug Cap
I thought I'd start my return to posting this week with a Barbados news story. If I see any global pharmacy story that's interesting and/or has potential parallels to Canada, I'll post it. I'd still expect 90+% of stories to be Canadian.
What if a provincial drug plan decided that it wouldn't allow new pharmacies to bill their plans for seniors/social services/etc? Well, it's happening right now in Barbados, all in the name of containing costs. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me or the owners of the new pharmacies.
What if a provincial drug plan decided that it wouldn't allow new pharmacies to bill their plans for seniors/social services/etc? Well, it's happening right now in Barbados, all in the name of containing costs. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me or the owners of the new pharmacies.
From the (Bridgetown, Barbados) Nation News:
The Barbados Drug Service has placed a cap on the number of private pharmacies contracted to dispense drugs under its drug service scheme.
But while director Maryam Hinds says the action is part of the service's restructuring efforts, some affected pharmacists are calling it unfair and detrimental to the people needing the drugs.
Daily Nation investigations reveal that about nine pharmacies which started up within the past two years were turned down when they applied for the contracts.
Under the Drug Service programme, pharmacists dispense certain drugs free or at reduced prices to the elderly, children and persons suffering from diseases like diabetes. They are then reimbursed by Government. It is understood some pharmacists get over 50 per cent of their business from the scheme.
Two of the pharmacists, who did not want to be identified, reported that they were informed by an official of the Drug Service that no new contracts would be issued because the service's bill was too high. ...more
Friday, November 09, 2007
Pharmacists happy NDP drug plan dead
From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix:
A day after the provincial election, the Pharmacists Association of Saskatchewan is relieved it won't have the headache of dealing with the NDP's proposed universal drug plan.
"We're much relieved that the planned $15 co-pay that Lorne Calvert came out with will not be going forward," said Brett Filson, executive director of PAS. "(Saskatchewan Party Leader) Brad Wall made that clear early on in the election campaign."
Any major changes to the drug plan cause problems for pharmacists, he said.
"Pharmacists have to explain the changes to every patient every time, month after month," Filson said. "We try and instil that reminder to the government every opportunity we get: 'Do anything you want, but remember who has to explain it.' " ...more
A day after the provincial election, the Pharmacists Association of Saskatchewan is relieved it won't have the headache of dealing with the NDP's proposed universal drug plan.
"We're much relieved that the planned $15 co-pay that Lorne Calvert came out with will not be going forward," said Brett Filson, executive director of PAS. "(Saskatchewan Party Leader) Brad Wall made that clear early on in the election campaign."
Any major changes to the drug plan cause problems for pharmacists, he said.
"Pharmacists have to explain the changes to every patient every time, month after month," Filson said. "We try and instil that reminder to the government every opportunity we get: 'Do anything you want, but remember who has to explain it.' " ...more
NSAIDs Protect Against Parkinson's Disease
From US News and World Report:
Taking over-the-counter pain medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study by researchers at the UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles.
The study included 579 men and women (half with Parkinson's disease) who were asked if they'd taken aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) once a week or more for at least a month at any time in their lives.
Those who took two or more pills (either aspirin or a non-aspirin NSAID) a week for at least a month were classified as regular users, while those who took fewer pills were non-regular users. ...more
Taking over-the-counter pain medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study by researchers at the UCLA School of Public Health in Los Angeles.
The study included 579 men and women (half with Parkinson's disease) who were asked if they'd taken aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) once a week or more for at least a month at any time in their lives.
Those who took two or more pills (either aspirin or a non-aspirin NSAID) a week for at least a month were classified as regular users, while those who took fewer pills were non-regular users. ...more
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Succession Remedy
From Time:
Patrick Rurka's business should be struggling. He owns and manages an independent Value Drug Mart store in rural Rimbey, Alta. (pop. 2,100). He competes with a big regional chain store that offers conveniences like Sunday hours. Rurka stays closed on Sundays--unless a customer calls him with a medication emergency and meets him at the back door for a prescription refill.
But Rurka, a 32-year-old pharmacist, is thriving. Sales have grown 10% each year since he bought the store in 2004. He draws a comfortable salary to support his wife and children. And he's on track to pay off his debt on the business, including a comprehensive renovation, by 2014. "I'm getting exactly what I want out of life," Rurka says. He hopes to buy another Value Drug Mart store in a few years.
Rurka is not alone. Four other rural Value Drug Mart stores have been sold to young Albertan entrepreneurs since 2004. In each case, despite minuscule collateral and a cautious lending environment, pharmacists with big dreams have secured financing in excess of $1 million. In the process, they're building what could be a promising model for helping Canada sustain legions of potentially vulnerable mom-and-pop businesses. ...more
Patrick Rurka's business should be struggling. He owns and manages an independent Value Drug Mart store in rural Rimbey, Alta. (pop. 2,100). He competes with a big regional chain store that offers conveniences like Sunday hours. Rurka stays closed on Sundays--unless a customer calls him with a medication emergency and meets him at the back door for a prescription refill.
But Rurka, a 32-year-old pharmacist, is thriving. Sales have grown 10% each year since he bought the store in 2004. He draws a comfortable salary to support his wife and children. And he's on track to pay off his debt on the business, including a comprehensive renovation, by 2014. "I'm getting exactly what I want out of life," Rurka says. He hopes to buy another Value Drug Mart store in a few years.
Rurka is not alone. Four other rural Value Drug Mart stores have been sold to young Albertan entrepreneurs since 2004. In each case, despite minuscule collateral and a cautious lending environment, pharmacists with big dreams have secured financing in excess of $1 million. In the process, they're building what could be a promising model for helping Canada sustain legions of potentially vulnerable mom-and-pop businesses. ...more
Leftover medicine? Pilot project in U.S. advises mixing it with cat litter
This is a new concept. Frankly, I like how our pharmacies accept medications back for disposal better.
From CBC News:
It's time to pooper-scoop your leftover medicine.
Mixing cough syrup, Vicodin or Lipitor with cat litter is the new advice in the United States on getting rid of unused medications. Preferably used cat litter.
It's a compromise, better for the environment than flushing - and one that renders dangerous medicines too yucky to try if children, pets or drug abusers stumble through the trash.
In Canada, the advice might differ as Health Canada tells people not to throw medications into the garbage or toilet, and individual municipalities have their own rules about what can and can't go into landfill sites. Usually, people are urged to take unused medicines back to pharmacies for proper disposal. ...more
Bayer plans largest-ever study for blood-clot drug
From Reuters:
Bayer is planning a late-stage study for its promising blood-clot drug rivaroxaban for hospitalised patients with internal diseases, the German drugs and chemicals group said on Tuesday.
"It is planned for a total of about 50,000 patients to take part in these studies, making it the largest clinical study programme Bayer has ever undertaken," Chief Executive Werner Wenning told reporters. Wenning said rivaroxaban, which the company wants to market under the trade name Xarelto, is the most promising product in its pipeline.
Rivaroxaban's current indications are prevention of venous thromboembolism, treatment of deep-vein thrombosis, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome. ...more
Bayer is planning a late-stage study for its promising blood-clot drug rivaroxaban for hospitalised patients with internal diseases, the German drugs and chemicals group said on Tuesday.
"It is planned for a total of about 50,000 patients to take part in these studies, making it the largest clinical study programme Bayer has ever undertaken," Chief Executive Werner Wenning told reporters. Wenning said rivaroxaban, which the company wants to market under the trade name Xarelto, is the most promising product in its pipeline.
Rivaroxaban's current indications are prevention of venous thromboembolism, treatment of deep-vein thrombosis, stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndrome. ...more
How Safe Is Your Prescription?
This is an American article, but I thought I'd include it because I like the part which tells patients what they should do to help pharmacist avoid errors.
From Consumer Affairs:
As an expectant mom, Kendra of Brooklyn, New York wanted the best for herself and her baby. Part of that care was a prenatal vitamin.
“My doctor gave me a prescription for the prenatal vitamin, Primacare One,” wrote Kendra. “I dropped off my prescription at the CVS pharmacy and when I returned to pick up the prescription, I was instead given Prednisone.”
The problem Kendra encountered is one of the most common prescription errors -- the kind that occurs when a pharmacist can’t read the prescription properly. Instead of contacting the authorizing physician to confirm the prescription, the pharmacist plays Russian roulette with someone else’s life. ...more
Manufacturer restricts use of diabetes drug Avandia
From CBC News:
The manufacturer of a drug for treating Type 2 diabetes has placed new restrictions on use of the medication based on a Health Canada review of clinical data pointing to an increased risk of heart-related problems in some patients.
GlaxoSmithKline Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, is updating prescribing information on products made from or containing the drug rosiglitazone: Avandia, Avandamet and AvandarylTM.
Once touted as the gold standard for preventing Type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients, rosiglitazone lost its glitter after a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May showed Avandia significantly raised the risk of heart attack and possible death. ...more
The manufacturer of a drug for treating Type 2 diabetes has placed new restrictions on use of the medication based on a Health Canada review of clinical data pointing to an increased risk of heart-related problems in some patients.
GlaxoSmithKline Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, is updating prescribing information on products made from or containing the drug rosiglitazone: Avandia, Avandamet and AvandarylTM.
Once touted as the gold standard for preventing Type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients, rosiglitazone lost its glitter after a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May showed Avandia significantly raised the risk of heart attack and possible death. ...more
Private labels key to Shoppers
From the Globe and Mail:
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. will add more than 200 private label organic foods to its shelves early next year, as well as more premium cosmetics, as the chain bolsters its position as a neighbourhood mini-department store.
The company is expanding into higher margin non-prescription categories in its bid to take on large competitors such as discounter Wal-Mart Canada Corp. and grocer Loblaw Cos. Ltd., which have moved more aggressively into the territory of pharmacies.
Jurgen Schreiber, chief executive officer at Shoppers, said yesterday that private labels, such as Life, now make up about 15 per cent of its overall sales and "next year we will definitely increase that again." He has set a long-term goal of more than doubling that level. ...more
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. will add more than 200 private label organic foods to its shelves early next year, as well as more premium cosmetics, as the chain bolsters its position as a neighbourhood mini-department store.
The company is expanding into higher margin non-prescription categories in its bid to take on large competitors such as discounter Wal-Mart Canada Corp. and grocer Loblaw Cos. Ltd., which have moved more aggressively into the territory of pharmacies.
Jurgen Schreiber, chief executive officer at Shoppers, said yesterday that private labels, such as Life, now make up about 15 per cent of its overall sales and "next year we will definitely increase that again." He has set a long-term goal of more than doubling that level. ...more
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Sex & drugs case hurts pain care: MDs
From the National Review of Medicine:
Whether St John's, NL, family physician Dr Sean Buckingham gave drug addicts opioid prescriptions in exchange for sex is for the jury in his ongoing trial to decide. But pain care physicians from across Newfoundland and Canada fear his alleged crimes have already done their damage by making MDs too afraid to prescribe strong pain meds.
Dr Buckingham was first arrested in May 2005 after a long-running investigation by police that involved wire-tapping, raids and 24-hour surveillance, called Operation Remedy. He is currently facing 23 charges, ranging from drug trafficking to sexual assault. During the last week of October, the jury heard shocking testimony from three women who allege they had sex with Dr Buckingham in exchange for prescriptions for opioids painkillers. ...more
Whether St John's, NL, family physician Dr Sean Buckingham gave drug addicts opioid prescriptions in exchange for sex is for the jury in his ongoing trial to decide. But pain care physicians from across Newfoundland and Canada fear his alleged crimes have already done their damage by making MDs too afraid to prescribe strong pain meds.
Dr Buckingham was first arrested in May 2005 after a long-running investigation by police that involved wire-tapping, raids and 24-hour surveillance, called Operation Remedy. He is currently facing 23 charges, ranging from drug trafficking to sexual assault. During the last week of October, the jury heard shocking testimony from three women who allege they had sex with Dr Buckingham in exchange for prescriptions for opioids painkillers. ...more
Prescription power from the pharmacist
Look for a lot more news regarding "behind the counter" status in the United States next week as the FDA starts hearings on November 14. I noticed that the same concerns that physicians have voiced re: pharmacist prescribing in Canada are mentioned in this American debate.
From the Wilmington (DE) News Journal:
Someday soon, you may be able to walk into your local pharmacy and walk out with prescription-strength drugs without ever having seen a doctor.
The Food and Drug Administration is considering creating a new category of drugs that would no longer require a doctor's prescription. The category -- midway between prescription and non-prescription drugs -- would be accessible only after consulting with a pharmacist.
It's far from clear how the FDA's proposed "behind-the-counter" classification would work, but even the idea is stirring up controversy in the health care field. While no drugs have been identified as candidates, experts think drugs such as birth-control pills and migraine pain relievers -- those that patients already take with little physician supervision -- could be among the first to be considered.
Some consumer groups and pharmacists say not having to go through a physician would make it more convenient for patients to get needed drugs. Physicians' groups, on the other hand, have raised patient safety concerns in lining up against the proposal. ...more
New restrictions on the use of rosiglitazone products due to cardiac safety concerns (Avandia, Avandamet, Avandaryl)
From Health Canada:
GlaxoSmithKline Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, would like to inform you of important new restrictions on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the rosiglitazone-containing products: AVANDIA® (rosiglitazone), AVANDAMET® (rosiglitazone and metformin), and AVANDARYLTM (rosiglitazone and glimepiride).
Further to a Health Canada assessment of adverse event reports, published articles* and other available information on congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and related events, the Canadian Product Monographs for rosiglitazone-containing products are being updated and will include the following new usage restrictions: ...more
GlaxoSmithKline Inc., in consultation with Health Canada, would like to inform you of important new restrictions on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the rosiglitazone-containing products: AVANDIA® (rosiglitazone), AVANDAMET® (rosiglitazone and metformin), and AVANDARYLTM (rosiglitazone and glimepiride).
Further to a Health Canada assessment of adverse event reports, published articles* and other available information on congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and related events, the Canadian Product Monographs for rosiglitazone-containing products are being updated and will include the following new usage restrictions: ...more
Shoppers Drug Mart's profits jump
From the Toronto Star:
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. (TSX: SC), the country's largest drug store operator, said Tuesday that further forays into organic foods, beauty brands and a stepped up focus on private label brands are on the horizon next year after a strong third quarter.
"We had a very good Q3 and will look forward to a very strong Q4, too, and we look forward to a very strong Q1 next year," Shoppers president and CEO Jurgen Schreiber said during a conference call.
Strong growth across Canada led by gains in Western Canada and Quebec helped Shoppers increase its third quarter profits and sales, the company reported Tuesday.
The Toronto company said third quarter profits rose 15.1 per cent to $143 million from $124 million the previous year on a sales jump of more than nine per cent. ...more
Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. (TSX: SC), the country's largest drug store operator, said Tuesday that further forays into organic foods, beauty brands and a stepped up focus on private label brands are on the horizon next year after a strong third quarter.
"We had a very good Q3 and will look forward to a very strong Q4, too, and we look forward to a very strong Q1 next year," Shoppers president and CEO Jurgen Schreiber said during a conference call.
Strong growth across Canada led by gains in Western Canada and Quebec helped Shoppers increase its third quarter profits and sales, the company reported Tuesday.
The Toronto company said third quarter profits rose 15.1 per cent to $143 million from $124 million the previous year on a sales jump of more than nine per cent. ...more
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Pharmacists hold key to cheaper drugs
There is so many inaccuracies in this article it's ridiculous. I'm going to break it down, but before I go any farther, I have one question. If pharmacists are to blame for high drug prices, why didn't the reporter actually talk to a pharmacist to get their responses to the physician's totally baseless claims?
Well, physicians could ask the question of price to the local pharmacist and/or the drug rep of a product. In some provinces, pharmacy organizations publish easy to use charts with commonly used drug prices on them.
Generics are copies of brand name products. They're the same -- including frequency of dosing. Sure, a brand name company may come out with an extended release product to counteract the effect of the generic entering the market, but this article makes it sound like generics don't have the same duration of action, which is totally wrong.
I'm supposed to believe that the patient would question the written Rx if it was written for ranitidine instead of Zantac. That's highly unlikely. And the MD makes it sound like pharmacists don't make the generic substitution when available. In Canada, it's almost always done.
Here's the complete article:
But Dempsey said the doctors don't normally know drug costs.
"We don't actually get any information about drug prices," the Belleville pediatrician said.
"There's no mechanism to educate doctors about costs of drugs."
Well, physicians could ask the question of price to the local pharmacist and/or the drug rep of a product. In some provinces, pharmacy organizations publish easy to use charts with commonly used drug prices on them.
For example, he said, some drugs require the brand name to be taken only once a day, whereas the generic must be taken two or three times in the same period to achieve the same effect.
Generics are copies of brand name products. They're the same -- including frequency of dosing. Sure, a brand name company may come out with an extended release product to counteract the effect of the generic entering the market, but this article makes it sound like generics don't have the same duration of action, which is totally wrong.
Doctors will often write the name of a well-known drug in a prescription. Zantac, a drug for heartburn, is recognized by most people, Dempsey said.
But if a physician wrote the generic brand, Ranitidine, that person might call back to the doctor's office and ask if a mistake had been made, he said.
It is then up to the pharmacist to substitute the generic for Zantac if the doctor did not tick the no-substitution box, Dempsey said.
I'm supposed to believe that the patient would question the written Rx if it was written for ranitidine instead of Zantac. That's highly unlikely. And the MD makes it sound like pharmacists don't make the generic substitution when available. In Canada, it's almost always done.
Here's the complete article:
From the Belleville (Ont.) Intelligencer:
There are mechanisms in place that could help save Canadians money on prescription drugs, says a local physician.
Dr. Paul Dempsey, head of the 268-doctor Professional Staff Association at Quinte Health Care, said oft-times pharmacies can substitute a cheaper generic replacement, even if the name brand drug is specified in the prescription.
"On a prescription pad there's a box to check off for no substitutions," he said.
If that box is not ticked, pharmacies can fill the order with the cheaper generic drug, Dempsey said.
A recently-released study commissioned for Industry Canada found that Canadian physicians are generally oblivious to drug prices and often prescribe an expensive pharmaceutical when a cheap one would do the job. ...more
Canadian drug sales slow
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Ann Griffith doesn't fit the stereotype of a criminal.
At 81, the Plymouth Meeting resident has been buying the thyroid medication Synthroid for three years from a Canadian Internet pharmacy. She shaved 40 percent off the U.S. price.
But from July to September, the Food and Drug Administration detained three of her packages at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. Agency letters stopped short of accusing her of breaking the law but required her to write or travel personally to Washington state to prove that the packages were legal.
"These laws are designed to protect you," one letter said.
Griffith, who said she never had any health problems with Canadian drugs, scoffed at the agency's actions. "The big drug companies don't want to lose anything," she said. "That's the whole thing."
Canadian drug sales to U.S. patients like Griffith were once a hot trend. But a variety of factors have stifled this continental trade, making it more like curling than hockey. Drug firms such as Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. have threatened to cut off supplies to Canadian pharmacies catering to the U.S. market. ...more
Ann Griffith doesn't fit the stereotype of a criminal.
At 81, the Plymouth Meeting resident has been buying the thyroid medication Synthroid for three years from a Canadian Internet pharmacy. She shaved 40 percent off the U.S. price.
But from July to September, the Food and Drug Administration detained three of her packages at the Seattle-Tacoma airport. Agency letters stopped short of accusing her of breaking the law but required her to write or travel personally to Washington state to prove that the packages were legal.
"These laws are designed to protect you," one letter said.
Griffith, who said she never had any health problems with Canadian drugs, scoffed at the agency's actions. "The big drug companies don't want to lose anything," she said. "That's the whole thing."
Canadian drug sales to U.S. patients like Griffith were once a hot trend. But a variety of factors have stifled this continental trade, making it more like curling than hockey. Drug firms such as Pfizer Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. have threatened to cut off supplies to Canadian pharmacies catering to the U.S. market. ...more
Bayer Stops Sales of Trasylol Globally
I think this article would be a good one to file in the memory banks. The next time American experts say there is no drug research being done in Canada, here's an example that contradicts that statement.
From the Associated Press:
Bayer AG halted worldwide sales Monday of its anti-bleeding drug Trasylol at the request of U.S. and foreign health officials pending further analysis of a Canadian study that suggests it's linked to a 50 percent higher risk of death than the other drugs in the clinical trial.
The Food and Drug Administration asked the company to stop selling the drug, used to prevent excessive bleeding during heart bypass surgery, until it could receive and review further results from the study. The study comparing the safety and efficacy of the drug with two others was recently halted.
"FDA cannot identify a specific patient population where we believe the benefits of using Trasylol outweighs the risk," said Dr. John Jenkins, director of the agency's Office of New Drugs, during a briefing Monday. ...more
Monday, November 05, 2007
Foul Taste Is Part of the Cure
A classic Canadian OTC product goes south...
From the Wall Street Journal:
When drug makers come out with new cough medicines, they typically tout characteristics such as extra strength or improved flavor. But when Novartis starts marketing a Canadian cough mixture in the U.S. today, it will focus on a different feature that it hopes will help the product stand out from the crowd: the medicine's foul taste.
Buckley's ad campaign embraces the foul taste of its cough syrup as a selling point.
Made from camphor, pine needle oil, menthol and Canadian fir balsam gum, Buckley's Cough Mixture has been available since 1919 in Canada, where it has become what Novartis calls the country's "best-selling and worst-tasting" cough medicine. It doesn't contain sugar or alcohol, which other brands use to dull the medicinal flavor.
Novartis, which bought the Buckley's brand in 2002, hopes to convince consumers that the bad taste proves the syrup's effectiveness. "It Tastes Awful. And it Works," is the tagline of the television, print, radio and Internet ads designed by Publicis Groupe's Saatchi & Saatchi in New York. ...more
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
FDA proposes new class of medicines
This is an old article, but I thought it was interesting to see that the FDA is considering a "behind the counter" status, much as we have in Canada.
From the Dallas Morning News:
Physicians might be losing their lock on Americans' medicine cabinets.
For years, consumers either showed up at the drugstore with a doctor's prescription or settled for less powerful medications sold over the counter.
Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering creating a class of medicines dubbed "behind the counter." It would let consumers buy routine medicines that could include birth control pills, cholesterol drugs and migraine medicine without a prescription – as long as they discuss it with a pharmacist first.
Pharmacists and drug companies like the idea; doctors think it's dangerous. If approved, the new drug classification could go into effect as early as next year.
"We believe having certain drugs behind the counter but available only after a consultation with a pharmacist could significantly increase patient access," said Ilisa Bernstein, the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs. ...more
Misadventures in medicating
From the Victoria (BC) Times Colonist:
Many of the patients filling Canada's crowded hospitals are there because of side effects and other problems with their medication -- and most of those drug "misadventures" could be prevented, a new study suggests.
Almost one in four admissions to the internal-medicine ward of British Columbia's largest hospital was the result of adverse drug reactions, doctors prescribing the wrong medicine or similar glitches, the study found.
The lead researcher says he expects similar results from a follow-up look at emergency cases that has just been completed. ...more
Many of the patients filling Canada's crowded hospitals are there because of side effects and other problems with their medication -- and most of those drug "misadventures" could be prevented, a new study suggests.
Almost one in four admissions to the internal-medicine ward of British Columbia's largest hospital was the result of adverse drug reactions, doctors prescribing the wrong medicine or similar glitches, the study found.
The lead researcher says he expects similar results from a follow-up look at emergency cases that has just been completed. ...more
A few older posts below
The next four posts below are from a couple of weeks ago that are interesting reads and are not really that time sensitive.
Be aware of cough syrup abuse, parents told
From the Whitehorse (YT) Star:
Porter Creek Secondary School’s drug awareness co-ordinator is warning parents to watch for any over-the-counter medications their kids are bringing home.
Doug Green began his three-year contract for the Canines for Safer Schools program in September.
During an interview Tuesday, he said it’s become clear there are students who are using high doses of what’s known as DXM, or dextromthorphan (the active ingredient in many cough syrups and cold medications), to get high.
“It was one of the first things that hit my radar when I came up here and it wasn’t exclusive to this school,” he said.
Already, he’s spoken to two students about using DXM, but Green stressed it’s not exclusive to Porter Creek Secondary School or even Whitehorse.
It’s an issue in many regions as Internet forums and web pages have sprung up on the subject.
Many of the pro-use sites include suggestions on how much to use to get high given a person’s weight, but don’t point to the negative effects which come with the drug use. ...more
Porter Creek Secondary School’s drug awareness co-ordinator is warning parents to watch for any over-the-counter medications their kids are bringing home.
Doug Green began his three-year contract for the Canines for Safer Schools program in September.
During an interview Tuesday, he said it’s become clear there are students who are using high doses of what’s known as DXM, or dextromthorphan (the active ingredient in many cough syrups and cold medications), to get high.
“It was one of the first things that hit my radar when I came up here and it wasn’t exclusive to this school,” he said.
Already, he’s spoken to two students about using DXM, but Green stressed it’s not exclusive to Porter Creek Secondary School or even Whitehorse.
It’s an issue in many regions as Internet forums and web pages have sprung up on the subject.
Many of the pro-use sites include suggestions on how much to use to get high given a person’s weight, but don’t point to the negative effects which come with the drug use. ...more
Study questions long-term use of Alzheimer’s drugs
From the National Post:
As the main class of drugs licensed to treat Alzheimer's disease in Canada, they have limited impact on the devastating illness at the best of times. Now a troubling new study suggests that cholinesterase inhibitors may often be prescribed long after they can do any good, potentially exposing patients to unpleasant side effects for no real reason and burdening taxpayer-funded drug plans.
As well, more than a third of patients in the Ontario-based study were at the same time taking other drugs that would counteract the Alzheimer's pills' positive effects.
"We're using them much longer than they've ever been studied for and we're using them longer than they are in other locations," said Dr. Nathan Hermann, the study's lead author and head of the psychiatry division at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. ...more
As the main class of drugs licensed to treat Alzheimer's disease in Canada, they have limited impact on the devastating illness at the best of times. Now a troubling new study suggests that cholinesterase inhibitors may often be prescribed long after they can do any good, potentially exposing patients to unpleasant side effects for no real reason and burdening taxpayer-funded drug plans.
As well, more than a third of patients in the Ontario-based study were at the same time taking other drugs that would counteract the Alzheimer's pills' positive effects.
"We're using them much longer than they've ever been studied for and we're using them longer than they are in other locations," said Dr. Nathan Hermann, the study's lead author and head of the psychiatry division at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. ...more
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Extend dental coverage, doctors urge
From the National Post:
Something must be done to extend health insurance for dental care and prescription drugs to the millions of Canadians who lack such coverage now - even if taxpayers end up footing the bill, the president of Canada's largest doctors group said yesterday.
Brian Day is best known for wanting to give the private sector a bigger role in health care, but after a speech in Toronto, the new head of the Canadian Medical Association advocated essentially expanding the public system. He lamented the fact that some Canadians have health insurance through their workplace that pays for dental care, medication and other health needs not covered by government plans - while many have no such coverage.
"There is something wrong with 30% not getting their drugs paid for, getting a bill when an ambulance takes them to a hospital, not having their crutches paid for," Dr. Day told reporters. "I think they should get it, somehow. And if they can't afford to pay the premiums, the government should pay the premiums for them." ...more
Something must be done to extend health insurance for dental care and prescription drugs to the millions of Canadians who lack such coverage now - even if taxpayers end up footing the bill, the president of Canada's largest doctors group said yesterday.
Brian Day is best known for wanting to give the private sector a bigger role in health care, but after a speech in Toronto, the new head of the Canadian Medical Association advocated essentially expanding the public system. He lamented the fact that some Canadians have health insurance through their workplace that pays for dental care, medication and other health needs not covered by government plans - while many have no such coverage.
"There is something wrong with 30% not getting their drugs paid for, getting a bill when an ambulance takes them to a hospital, not having their crutches paid for," Dr. Day told reporters. "I think they should get it, somehow. And if they can't afford to pay the premiums, the government should pay the premiums for them." ...more
Drug body's advice against provinces paying for MS drugs seen as unfair
From the Canadian Press:
An expert panel's advice that provinces and territories not cover the cost of two Multiple Sclerosis drugs creates a system of two-tiered care, MS advocates say.
They view the recommendation as leaving people with the disease, who don't have private drug insurance, unable to afford medication that could slow progression of the condition and ease the pain they suffer.
Late last month, the Common Drug Review advised that governments not put the MS pain medication Sativex on the list of medicines that provincial and territorial drug plans cover for eligible people. That follows a "do not list" recommendation issued in the spring for Tysabri, a drug that slows progression of the disease.
Those decisions put these drugs out of reach for many people with MS, an expert and a spokesperson for the MS Society argue. ...more
An expert panel's advice that provinces and territories not cover the cost of two Multiple Sclerosis drugs creates a system of two-tiered care, MS advocates say.
They view the recommendation as leaving people with the disease, who don't have private drug insurance, unable to afford medication that could slow progression of the condition and ease the pain they suffer.
Late last month, the Common Drug Review advised that governments not put the MS pain medication Sativex on the list of medicines that provincial and territorial drug plans cover for eligible people. That follows a "do not list" recommendation issued in the spring for Tysabri, a drug that slows progression of the disease.
Those decisions put these drugs out of reach for many people with MS, an expert and a spokesperson for the MS Society argue. ...more
Pharmacy rebates should make generics cheaper for patients: Competition Bureau
From the Canadian Press:
Many generic drug companies compete for space on pharmacists' shelves by offering rebates to the retailers - but those benefits are not finding their way into consumers' wallets in the form of lower prices, a study by the Competition Bureau has found.
The study by the independent agency found that rebates average about 40 per cent of the price the pharmacy is charged on paper for various generic drugs.
"Rebates provide incentives for pharmacies to select a particular manufacturer's product," bureau commissioner Sheridan Scott said Monday in releasing the study results.
Scott said that public sources of information and interviews conducted as part of the study show prices actually paid by pharmacies in most provinces were "on average at least 40 per cent below what the pharmacy was invoiced." ...more
Many generic drug companies compete for space on pharmacists' shelves by offering rebates to the retailers - but those benefits are not finding their way into consumers' wallets in the form of lower prices, a study by the Competition Bureau has found.
The study by the independent agency found that rebates average about 40 per cent of the price the pharmacy is charged on paper for various generic drugs.
"Rebates provide incentives for pharmacies to select a particular manufacturer's product," bureau commissioner Sheridan Scott said Monday in releasing the study results.
Scott said that public sources of information and interviews conducted as part of the study show prices actually paid by pharmacies in most provinces were "on average at least 40 per cent below what the pharmacy was invoiced." ...more
Pope urges pharmacists to reject abortion pill
I thought this was relevant as I'm sure a notable percentage of Canadian pharmacists are Catholic.
From Reuters:
Pharmacists must be allowed to refuse to supply drugs that cause abortion or euthanasia, Pope Benedict said on Monday, calling on health professionals to be "conscientious objectors" against such practices.
The Pope told a convention of Roman Catholic pharmacists that part of their job was to help protect human life from conception until natural death -- the Church teaching that rules out any deliberate termination of pregnancy or euthanasia.
"It is not possible to anaesthetise the conscience, for example, when it comes to molecules whose aim is to stop an embryo implanting or to cut short someone's life," the Pope said. ...more
Monday, October 29, 2007
Chronically ill lobby for national drug plan
From the Edmonton Journal:
Early retirement doesn't look so rosy to George Rozon, when it means the end of his employee drug insurance plan that pays thousands of dollars on his medication bills.
Rozon's plan has been paying the $7,500 annual cost for his diabetes and heart medication, as well as covering drug costs for his wife.
Moving to Nova Scotia to be closer to family is also a concern. Alberta covers his $2,000 monthly bill for anti-rejection drugs needed after a kidney transplant in 2001. He doesn't know if he will qualify for such coverage in the Maritimes. ...more
Early retirement doesn't look so rosy to George Rozon, when it means the end of his employee drug insurance plan that pays thousands of dollars on his medication bills.
Rozon's plan has been paying the $7,500 annual cost for his diabetes and heart medication, as well as covering drug costs for his wife.
Moving to Nova Scotia to be closer to family is also a concern. Alberta covers his $2,000 monthly bill for anti-rejection drugs needed after a kidney transplant in 2001. He doesn't know if he will qualify for such coverage in the Maritimes. ...more
Pharmacists caught in the squeeze
From the London (Ont.) Free Press:
When the pharmacist leaves his store for a break, he makes sure to take off the white jacket that identifies his profession.
"I don't want people to know I am a pharmacist," he says. "I have kids coming up to me and bugging me. 'Can you get me some Oxy?' "
It can be just as tense inside the pharmacy.
Occasionally, obvious members of outlaw motorcycle clubs have come in with legitimate doctor's prescriptions for large amounts of OxyContin, he says.
Rather than question them or the doctor, he has filled them out. ...more
When the pharmacist leaves his store for a break, he makes sure to take off the white jacket that identifies his profession.
"I don't want people to know I am a pharmacist," he says. "I have kids coming up to me and bugging me. 'Can you get me some Oxy?' "
It can be just as tense inside the pharmacy.
Occasionally, obvious members of outlaw motorcycle clubs have come in with legitimate doctor's prescriptions for large amounts of OxyContin, he says.
Rather than question them or the doctor, he has filled them out. ...more
New Zealand example touted at hearing on universal drug plan
From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix:
The campaign for a national drug plan arrived in Saskatoon smack in the middle of a provincial election where drug coverage is an issue.
"It is a coincidence that we are here during an election campaign," said Michael McBane of the Canadian Health Coalition in Saskatoon on Thursday.
The Saskatoon stop is the first of 13 in a cross-Canada tour designed to gather personal stories from people about their struggles to pay for prescription drugs. Planning for the hearings began last January, said McBane.
And while those making presentations on Thursday were reminded to not use the hearing for partisan purposes, NDP Premier Lorne Calvert was one of about a dozen presenters. ...more
The campaign for a national drug plan arrived in Saskatoon smack in the middle of a provincial election where drug coverage is an issue.
"It is a coincidence that we are here during an election campaign," said Michael McBane of the Canadian Health Coalition in Saskatoon on Thursday.
The Saskatoon stop is the first of 13 in a cross-Canada tour designed to gather personal stories from people about their struggles to pay for prescription drugs. Planning for the hearings began last January, said McBane.
And while those making presentations on Thursday were reminded to not use the hearing for partisan purposes, NDP Premier Lorne Calvert was one of about a dozen presenters. ...more
Study to probe whether acne drug can slow MS
From CTV News:
Researchers in Calgary are preparing to begin a new study to see whether a commonly available acne medication could help delay the crippling effects of multiple sclerosis.
The medication, called minocycline, has been available for over 30 years. If it's proven effective in delaying the progress of MS, it could offer an inexpensive option for the treatment of early stages of the disease.
A small study on 10 patients a few years ago yielded promising results. Now, clinical researchers in 14 Canadian centres will be taking an in-depth look at the drug in a $4-million, two-year study funded by the MS Society of Canada.
Minocycline is a prescription antibiotic used to control acne by killing the germs that prompt outbreaks. But the drug also offers anti-inflammatory properties, which researchers believe are responsible for its ability to slow the progress of MS. ...more
Researchers in Calgary are preparing to begin a new study to see whether a commonly available acne medication could help delay the crippling effects of multiple sclerosis.
The medication, called minocycline, has been available for over 30 years. If it's proven effective in delaying the progress of MS, it could offer an inexpensive option for the treatment of early stages of the disease.
A small study on 10 patients a few years ago yielded promising results. Now, clinical researchers in 14 Canadian centres will be taking an in-depth look at the drug in a $4-million, two-year study funded by the MS Society of Canada.
Minocycline is a prescription antibiotic used to control acne by killing the germs that prompt outbreaks. But the drug also offers anti-inflammatory properties, which researchers believe are responsible for its ability to slow the progress of MS. ...more
FDA says safety board recommends halt to Canadian-led drug trial
From the Globe and Mail:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revealed that the safety board overseeing a large Canadian-led trial has recommended the trial be stopped because of concerns the drug being tested increases the risk of death.
The FDA statement says that the Data Safety Monitoring Board has recommended no new patients be enrolled in the trial.
The study, which goes by the acronym BART, is led by Ottawa researcher Dr. Paul Hebert.
It was designed to test the drug aprotinin — marketed as Trasylol by Bayer Inc. — against other drugs used to reduce blood loss during heart bypass surgery. ...more
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revealed that the safety board overseeing a large Canadian-led trial has recommended the trial be stopped because of concerns the drug being tested increases the risk of death.
The FDA statement says that the Data Safety Monitoring Board has recommended no new patients be enrolled in the trial.
The study, which goes by the acronym BART, is led by Ottawa researcher Dr. Paul Hebert.
It was designed to test the drug aprotinin — marketed as Trasylol by Bayer Inc. — against other drugs used to reduce blood loss during heart bypass surgery. ...more
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Part D killing small pharmacies
It's not a Canadian story, but I thought it would be a good idea to mention some of the difficulties that independent pharmacies are feeling in the States. Would a Canadian national pharmacare program have similar issues? I think it's possible.
From Newsday (NY):
While I was on the phone with Frank Deluco, a Staten Island pharmacist, he had a typical emergency.
The customer was in pain and needed his prescription quickly but couldn't figure out his benefits under Part D. Deluco filled the prescription and helped relieve the elderly customer's pain and confusion.
But Deluco, 56, whose Delco Pharmacy has been in business 40 years, may be a dying breed; thousands of neighborhood drugstores like his represent an endangered species. Deluco explained one reason why: A 90-day supply of the drug for his customer costs him $216 and change, but he'll be reimbursed only about $214 by the insurer and the Pharmaceutical Benefit Manager (PBM) he deals with.
"We're supposed to make at least $10 or $15 as a dispensing fee," he said. "But we get $1.50 or $2, so we lose money most of the time and we have no power to get a better price from the PBMs. And they're often late in paying us for the prescriptions we fill." ...more
Friday, October 26, 2007
For real relief, treat cold symptoms one by one
This article presents a key piece of information that I have given parents for years -- treat children with single entity over the counter products. Avoid the multiple ingredient products and focus on the most problematic symptom.
From the Globe and Mail:
Last Friday, an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for all over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines to be banned.
The advice from the independent experts was unequivocal: These drugs should never be given to children under the age of 6 because they are potentially dangerous.
The panel members were also clear about this key point: The drugs don't work in children. They don't make a cough go away and they don't alleviate any other cold symptoms. Never have and never will.
Most manufacturers have voluntarily withdrawn some products from the market, namely those aimed at children under the age of 2. ...more
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Doctors could use more info on drug costs: study
I have to concur with this article. Generally, physicians are somewhat unaware of the price of medications. I just had an example of this in my practice where a physician was incorrect in their price estimate of a drug by thousands of dollars per month of treatment. Perhaps a pharmacist working collaboratively with a physician could help these types of situations. Ultimately, costs could be contained and patient outcomes could be improved.
From CTV News:
Soaring drug bills in Canada could be cut if doctors simply paid attention to the cost of the medications they prescribe, says a new federal report.
The study, commissioned by Industry Canada, found that Canadian physicians are generally oblivious to drug prices and often prescribe an expensive pharmaceutical when a cheap one would do.
"In Canada, there is no formal mechanism that credibly brings cost into the physician's decision-making process'' when issuing prescriptions, says the report by IMS Health Consulting Inc. ...more
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Expert warns against cheap vitamins
From the Victoria (BC) Times Colonist:
Canadians are taking a chance on their health by trading their strong dollars for cheaper dietary supplements across the U.S. border, says B.C. vitamin expert Lyle MacWilliam.
Canada has some of the toughest regulations in the world, he says, while the U.S. lets the industry regulate itself -- "a regulatory loophole that you could drive a Mac truck through."
Health Canada demands that supplements meet pharmaceutical-style standards, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lets manufacturers classify supplements as food -- a much less rigorous standard.
"There is a real cause for concern when it comes to U.S. products -- there's a lot of room for error," says MacWilliam, a biochemist and former MLA and MP who was among the experts who developed new regulations that went into force in 2004 at a cost to the federal government of $40 million. ...more
Canadians are taking a chance on their health by trading their strong dollars for cheaper dietary supplements across the U.S. border, says B.C. vitamin expert Lyle MacWilliam.
Canada has some of the toughest regulations in the world, he says, while the U.S. lets the industry regulate itself -- "a regulatory loophole that you could drive a Mac truck through."
Health Canada demands that supplements meet pharmaceutical-style standards, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lets manufacturers classify supplements as food -- a much less rigorous standard.
"There is a real cause for concern when it comes to U.S. products -- there's a lot of room for error," says MacWilliam, a biochemist and former MLA and MP who was among the experts who developed new regulations that went into force in 2004 at a cost to the federal government of $40 million. ...more
Stroke therapy fights cell death
From the Globe and Mail:
In recent years, huge advances have been made in the treatment of the most common type of stroke in which a clot blocks the flow of blood to part of the brain.
If a patient gets to a hospital within three hours of the onset of symptoms, doctors can administer a clot-busting drug that quickly restores blood flow and reduces the chances of long-term disability.
But there is a catch: A lot of patients don't make it to an emergency room in time to receive this brain-preserving therapy.
A new study suggests there may be another option for the latecomers. People treated with the antibiotic minocycline within six to 24 hours of the stroke suffered far fewer long-term disabilities than patients who didn't get the medication. ...more
In recent years, huge advances have been made in the treatment of the most common type of stroke in which a clot blocks the flow of blood to part of the brain.
If a patient gets to a hospital within three hours of the onset of symptoms, doctors can administer a clot-busting drug that quickly restores blood flow and reduces the chances of long-term disability.
But there is a catch: A lot of patients don't make it to an emergency room in time to receive this brain-preserving therapy.
A new study suggests there may be another option for the latecomers. People treated with the antibiotic minocycline within six to 24 hours of the stroke suffered far fewer long-term disabilities than patients who didn't get the medication. ...more
Man pleads guilty to beating, locking pharmacist in trunk
From the Montreal Gazette:
Roger Grenier, who has a long history of violent robberies, doesn't remember much about his latest heist, in which he beat and robbed Outremont pharmacist Marie-Josée Caron, then stuffed her into the trunk of her car.
But yesterday, the 54-year-old Grenier, fresh from a psychiatric evaluation at the Philippe Pinel Institute, pleaded guilty to forcible confinement, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a prohibited weapon. ...more
Roger Grenier, who has a long history of violent robberies, doesn't remember much about his latest heist, in which he beat and robbed Outremont pharmacist Marie-Josée Caron, then stuffed her into the trunk of her car.
But yesterday, the 54-year-old Grenier, fresh from a psychiatric evaluation at the Philippe Pinel Institute, pleaded guilty to forcible confinement, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a prohibited weapon. ...more
Doctors and pharmacists more likely to be addicted
From the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger Enquirer:
Tom was ashamed to meet the other members of his new therapy group for prescription drug addicts. After all, he was a pharmacist with more than 30 years experience.
He was in for a surprise.
"The room was full of doctors, dentists, nurses, medical technicians," says Tom, who chose not to use his real name. "That's when I realized just what a huge problem this really is."
In fact, doctors and pharmacists suffer from prescription drug addiction at a higher rate than the general population.
The American Medical Association estimates that 10-15 percent of doctors and pharmacists suffer from prescription drug addiction. By comparison, less than 5 percent of U.S. residents use a painkiller nonmedically in a year, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. ...more
Tom was ashamed to meet the other members of his new therapy group for prescription drug addicts. After all, he was a pharmacist with more than 30 years experience.
He was in for a surprise.
"The room was full of doctors, dentists, nurses, medical technicians," says Tom, who chose not to use his real name. "That's when I realized just what a huge problem this really is."
In fact, doctors and pharmacists suffer from prescription drug addiction at a higher rate than the general population.
The American Medical Association estimates that 10-15 percent of doctors and pharmacists suffer from prescription drug addiction. By comparison, less than 5 percent of U.S. residents use a painkiller nonmedically in a year, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. ...more
Friday, October 19, 2007
Don't use cold medicines in children under 6: U.S. government advisers
From CBC News:
Cold and cough medicines don't work in children and shouldn't be used in those younger than six, U.S. federal health advisers recommended Friday.
The over-the-counter medicines should be studied further, even after decades in which children have received billions of doses a year, the outside experts told the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its panels of outside experts but does so most of the time.
"The data that we have now is they don't seem to work," said Sean Hennessy, a University of Pennsylvania epidemiologist, one of the FDA experts gathered to examine the medicines sold to treat common cold symptoms. The recommendation applies to medicines containing one or more of the following ingredients: decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives. ...more
Cold and cough medicines don't work in children and shouldn't be used in those younger than six, U.S. federal health advisers recommended Friday.
The over-the-counter medicines should be studied further, even after decades in which children have received billions of doses a year, the outside experts told the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA isn't required to follow the advice of its panels of outside experts but does so most of the time.
"The data that we have now is they don't seem to work," said Sean Hennessy, a University of Pennsylvania epidemiologist, one of the FDA experts gathered to examine the medicines sold to treat common cold symptoms. The recommendation applies to medicines containing one or more of the following ingredients: decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives. ...more
MRSA superbug a bigger killer than AIDS
From News-Medical.net (Aus.):
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States says MRSA infections (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are more prevalent and invasive than previously thought.
In the CDC's first overall estimate of the invasive disease it is estimated that more than 94,000 Americans are infected by the super bug MRSA
MRSA is carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people and has now escaped the hospital setting and is in the wider community.
Staph infections, including MRSA, usually start as small red bumps that look like pimples, boils or spider bites; these can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. ...more
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States says MRSA infections (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are more prevalent and invasive than previously thought.
In the CDC's first overall estimate of the invasive disease it is estimated that more than 94,000 Americans are infected by the super bug MRSA
MRSA is carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people and has now escaped the hospital setting and is in the wider community.
Staph infections, including MRSA, usually start as small red bumps that look like pimples, boils or spider bites; these can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. ...more
Revoke druggist's licence, college told
From the Toronto Star:
Two members of a professional review panel felt disgraced Hamilton pharmacist Abadir Nasr should never be allowed to dispense drugs again, feeling he's beyond rehabilitation.
They didn't agree with the majority of their colleagues on an Ontario College of Pharmacists five-member disciplinary committee. The committee ruled last month that Nasr, 30, could get his licence back after a one-year suspension as long as he underwent a public reprimand, paid $12,500 in costs to the college and took remedial training.
Yesterday, the college released the reasons for its decision.
Nasr had pleaded guilty to a series of professional misconduct charges in connection with his practices at the King West Pharmacy on King Street West, which resulted in a number of criminal charges against him in 2005. He was acquitted on all the charges this year, including allegations he dispensed fake heart medication to dozens of unsuspecting patients. ...more
Two members of a professional review panel felt disgraced Hamilton pharmacist Abadir Nasr should never be allowed to dispense drugs again, feeling he's beyond rehabilitation.
They didn't agree with the majority of their colleagues on an Ontario College of Pharmacists five-member disciplinary committee. The committee ruled last month that Nasr, 30, could get his licence back after a one-year suspension as long as he underwent a public reprimand, paid $12,500 in costs to the college and took remedial training.
Yesterday, the college released the reasons for its decision.
Nasr had pleaded guilty to a series of professional misconduct charges in connection with his practices at the King West Pharmacy on King Street West, which resulted in a number of criminal charges against him in 2005. He was acquitted on all the charges this year, including allegations he dispensed fake heart medication to dozens of unsuspecting patients. ...more
Taking care of old drugs
From the Georgia (BC) Straight:
Taken a look in your medicine cabinet lately? If you're like me, a tangle of old tubes, bottles, and blister packs is collecting dust on the shelves.
As it turns out, I've been wrong to hang on to my old medicine, but right not to throw it in the garbage or flush it down the toilet. According to many environmental and government organizations, including Health Canada, drugs sitting in landfills or drifting in waterways can be harmful. A section on the Health Canada Web site called "It's Your Health" (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/index_e.html) cautions readers about the risks. "There is growing evidence," the site reads, "that throwing out or flushing into the water system prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and other health products may have a harmful effect on the environment.…The presence of these substances in the environment is emerging as an important national and international issue." The site also notes that such substances may add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. ...more
Taken a look in your medicine cabinet lately? If you're like me, a tangle of old tubes, bottles, and blister packs is collecting dust on the shelves.
As it turns out, I've been wrong to hang on to my old medicine, but right not to throw it in the garbage or flush it down the toilet. According to many environmental and government organizations, including Health Canada, drugs sitting in landfills or drifting in waterways can be harmful. A section on the Health Canada Web site called "It's Your Health" (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/index_e.html) cautions readers about the risks. "There is growing evidence," the site reads, "that throwing out or flushing into the water system prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and other health products may have a harmful effect on the environment.…The presence of these substances in the environment is emerging as an important national and international issue." The site also notes that such substances may add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. ...more
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Do you need a daily dose?
From the Victoria (BC) Times Colonist:
Millions of Canadians begin the day by popping a multi-vitamin/mineral pill.
It's a cheap and easy form of health insurance, right? Or is it too much of a good thing?
There's a lot of confusion about the ubiquitous little pills.
Health Canada won't go out on a limb and recommend them for anyone but women of childbearing age.
The Dietitians of Canada suggest a multi-vitamin for some segments of the population, but advocate food first.
The B.C. Ministry of Health website makes multi-vitamins sound like a good idea even for those eating well: "If you eat a healthy diet, taking a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement may be all you need to do in most cases." ...more
Millions of Canadians begin the day by popping a multi-vitamin/mineral pill.
It's a cheap and easy form of health insurance, right? Or is it too much of a good thing?
There's a lot of confusion about the ubiquitous little pills.
Health Canada won't go out on a limb and recommend them for anyone but women of childbearing age.
The Dietitians of Canada suggest a multi-vitamin for some segments of the population, but advocate food first.
The B.C. Ministry of Health website makes multi-vitamins sound like a good idea even for those eating well: "If you eat a healthy diet, taking a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement may be all you need to do in most cases." ...more
NDP drug plan will lead way for rest of Canada: Calvert
It sounds like prescription drug coverage will be a big issue in the upcoming Saskatchewan election. I don't know how a universal $15 copay could possibly be sustainable over the long term. Perhaps the only way is to greatly restrict the list of eligible drugs. Of course, this begs the question, if you have a great copay but your drug isn't covered, what good is your plan? I'd rather see a percentage instead of a flat copay. This creates a bit of price awareness and creates an incentive for the patient to at least be thinking about cost.
From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix:
NDP Leader Lorne Calvert threw down the gauntlet over his party's promise of a universal drug plan Tuesday, casting the Nov. 7 election as a fight over fundamental principles.
Responding to what he said was "not unexpected" criticism that has been levelled since the plan was unveiled on the first day of the campaign, Calvert framed the debate as a rerun of the battle over the introduction of medicare by the CCF governments of Tommy Douglas and Woodrow Lloyd in the 1960s.
"Each time we've tried to extend universal benefits through medicare there's been criticism. It tends to come from the same source every time. It's coming from the right wing, it's coming from the Sask. Party. That's not surprising. This is not a single issue campaign but obviously this is one of our key visions for the future of Saskatchewan and if, I may say, for the future of Canada," Calvert told reporters after a rally at his campaign headquarters.
The NDP government introduced a seniors' prescription drug plan in this spring's budget at an annual cost of $53 million. Making that program universal and capping prices at $15 per prescription for all Saskatchewan residents will cost the government $150 million at the start, growing to $205 million by 2011-12. ...more
HIV-blocking drug offers hope – doctors
From the Halifax Chronicle Herald:
The Canadian launch this week of a new medication that prevents HIV from entering fresh cells will help many people living with the virus, says a Halifax infectious diseases specialist.
Dr. David Haase said Tuesday that maraviroc, brand-named Celsentri, is a new class of drug that’s taken in tablet form. It’s been approved by Health Canada and was introduced into the marketplace Monday.
Maraviroc prevents entry of HIV "into the cells that usually infect the white blood cells," said Dr. Haase of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. ...more
The Canadian launch this week of a new medication that prevents HIV from entering fresh cells will help many people living with the virus, says a Halifax infectious diseases specialist.
Dr. David Haase said Tuesday that maraviroc, brand-named Celsentri, is a new class of drug that’s taken in tablet form. It’s been approved by Health Canada and was introduced into the marketplace Monday.
Maraviroc prevents entry of HIV "into the cells that usually infect the white blood cells," said Dr. Haase of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. ...more
Super ear infection resists approved drugs
From Canada.com:
A new super bug that causes acute ear infections in children has emerged that is immune to all antibiotics currently approved for children.
The strain of highly drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae requires aggressive therapy, either surgery or an antibiotic not approved for children that has caused joint damage in young animals.
So far, the bug appears to be occurring in only a very small proportion of children. But there is concern the multi-drug resistant organism could spread and cause other, more serious problems, including pneumonia, blood stream infections or meningitis. ...more
A new super bug that causes acute ear infections in children has emerged that is immune to all antibiotics currently approved for children.
The strain of highly drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae requires aggressive therapy, either surgery or an antibiotic not approved for children that has caused joint damage in young animals.
So far, the bug appears to be occurring in only a very small proportion of children. But there is concern the multi-drug resistant organism could spread and cause other, more serious problems, including pneumonia, blood stream infections or meningitis. ...more
Gilead's Atripla approved in Canada
From the San Francisco Business Times:
Gilead Sciences Inc. said Atripla -- the three-in-one HIV treatment developed in concert with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. -- was approved by Canadian drug regulators for use by adults with HIV-1 infection.
Atripla combines Gilead's (NASDAQ: GILD) HIV drug Truvada -- itself a combination of the Foster City-based company's Viread and Emtriva -- with Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE: BMY) Sustiva. ...more
Gilead Sciences Inc. said Atripla -- the three-in-one HIV treatment developed in concert with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. -- was approved by Canadian drug regulators for use by adults with HIV-1 infection.
Atripla combines Gilead's (NASDAQ: GILD) HIV drug Truvada -- itself a combination of the Foster City-based company's Viread and Emtriva -- with Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE: BMY) Sustiva. ...more
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
New drug approved in Canada to treat HIV, first in 10 years
From the Canadian Press:
Health Canada has approved the first drug in the first new class of HIV medications to be brought to market in Canada in a decade.
Celsentri - the brand name for the drug maraviroc - is the first of a class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists to gain regulatory approval.
The drug, made by Pfizer Canada Inc., blocks entry of HIV into the immune system's T cells, reducing the level of the virus in the body. It is approved for use only in people who have already been on other HIV medications; it is not licensed for people who are just starting anti-retroviral drug therapy. ...more
Health Canada has approved the first drug in the first new class of HIV medications to be brought to market in Canada in a decade.
Celsentri - the brand name for the drug maraviroc - is the first of a class of drugs called CCR5 antagonists to gain regulatory approval.
The drug, made by Pfizer Canada Inc., blocks entry of HIV into the immune system's T cells, reducing the level of the virus in the body. It is approved for use only in people who have already been on other HIV medications; it is not licensed for people who are just starting anti-retroviral drug therapy. ...more
Jean Coutu Group swings to Q1 profit of $8.3M, eyes more sales to older consumers
From the Canadian Press:
Debt-free and itching to grow after selling its U.S. stores, Jean Coutu Group (TSX:PJC.A) plans to preserve its dominance in Quebec while eventually adopting a new store name for expansion in English Canada.
Over the next three years, the pharmacy chain plans to add 50 stores in Quebec, remodel many others and make a concerted effort to enter neighbouring markets.
"We will definitely work hard to maintain our leadership position here in the province of Quebec," newly installed CEO Francois Coutu said in an interview following the company's annual meeting.
"Definitely within the three-year (strategic) program that I am mentioning we'll be a force in Ontario." ...more
Debt-free and itching to grow after selling its U.S. stores, Jean Coutu Group (TSX:PJC.A) plans to preserve its dominance in Quebec while eventually adopting a new store name for expansion in English Canada.
Over the next three years, the pharmacy chain plans to add 50 stores in Quebec, remodel many others and make a concerted effort to enter neighbouring markets.
"We will definitely work hard to maintain our leadership position here in the province of Quebec," newly installed CEO Francois Coutu said in an interview following the company's annual meeting.
"Definitely within the three-year (strategic) program that I am mentioning we'll be a force in Ontario." ...more
Friday, October 12, 2007
Drug makers pull cold remedies aimed at toddlers
From the Globe and Mail:
Drug makers voluntarily pulled a range of cold medicines aimed at children under the age of two off the market in the United States on Thursday, and at least two Canadian companies have followed suit.
In tandem, Health Canada issued a statement Thursday with recommendations for the appropriate use of non-prescription cough and cold products in children.
“Life-threatening adverse events, including unintentional overdose, have been reported to Health Canada in association with the use of these products in children under two years of age,” the statement said. ...more
Drug makers voluntarily pulled a range of cold medicines aimed at children under the age of two off the market in the United States on Thursday, and at least two Canadian companies have followed suit.
In tandem, Health Canada issued a statement Thursday with recommendations for the appropriate use of non-prescription cough and cold products in children.
“Life-threatening adverse events, including unintentional overdose, have been reported to Health Canada in association with the use of these products in children under two years of age,” the statement said. ...more
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wrong Rx more likely from busy or older docs
From the Globe and Mail:
Doctors who are overworked, have been trained in other countries or who have been practising longer are more likely to prescribe antibiotics inappropriately, according to new Canadian research that highlights a major problem facing public-health officials.
The study, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, assessed the prescribing habits of hundreds of Quebec doctors over an eight-year period, identifying those who prescribe antibiotics in ways that can lead to drug resistance.
With more illness-causing bacteria growing immune to treatments, and fewer new bacteria-fighting drugs being developed, public-health officials fear that one day there will be no effective way to halt the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
"At some point, we will run out of therapies," said Genevieve Cadieux, the study's co-author and a researcher at McGill University's department of epidemiology and biostatistics. "The most daunting concern is that we're not going to have effective drugs to treat illnesses." ...more
Doctors who are overworked, have been trained in other countries or who have been practising longer are more likely to prescribe antibiotics inappropriately, according to new Canadian research that highlights a major problem facing public-health officials.
The study, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, assessed the prescribing habits of hundreds of Quebec doctors over an eight-year period, identifying those who prescribe antibiotics in ways that can lead to drug resistance.
With more illness-causing bacteria growing immune to treatments, and fewer new bacteria-fighting drugs being developed, public-health officials fear that one day there will be no effective way to halt the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
"At some point, we will run out of therapies," said Genevieve Cadieux, the study's co-author and a researcher at McGill University's department of epidemiology and biostatistics. "The most daunting concern is that we're not going to have effective drugs to treat illnesses." ...more
Health Canada to advise against cough, cold remedies for infants
From CBC News:
Health Canada is expected to issue an advisory warning people not to give over-the-counter cold and cough medications to children under two and adjust labels to reflect the concerns, CBC News has learned.
The warning, which will come within days, follows an American study that says the medications have a questionable benefit and, in some cases, could be dangerous.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed an internal review of serious and life-threatening effects and deaths in young children dating back to 1969. ...more
Health Canada is expected to issue an advisory warning people not to give over-the-counter cold and cough medications to children under two and adjust labels to reflect the concerns, CBC News has learned.
The warning, which will come within days, follows an American study that says the medications have a questionable benefit and, in some cases, could be dangerous.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed an internal review of serious and life-threatening effects and deaths in young children dating back to 1969. ...more
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Health Canada pulls market approval for drug Prexige, citing liver problems
From the Canadian Press:
Health Canada has ordered the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige off the market, citing the potential for severe liver-related side-effects.
The department said it was stopping sales and would cancel market authorization for lumiracoxib, which is sold as Prexige by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
People taking the drug are being instructed to talk with their doctors about finding an alternate pain relief therapy.
"Given the availability of alternative treatment not known to present a similar level of risk, Health Canada decided that the safest option was to withdraw the drug from the market," department spokesperson Alastair Sinclair said in e-mailed responses to questions. ...more
Health Canada has ordered the anti-inflammatory drug Prexige off the market, citing the potential for severe liver-related side-effects.
The department said it was stopping sales and would cancel market authorization for lumiracoxib, which is sold as Prexige by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
People taking the drug are being instructed to talk with their doctors about finding an alternate pain relief therapy.
"Given the availability of alternative treatment not known to present a similar level of risk, Health Canada decided that the safest option was to withdraw the drug from the market," department spokesperson Alastair Sinclair said in e-mailed responses to questions. ...more
Playing through cancer
From the Globe and Mail:
Two decades ago, a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was a death sentence.
But new drugs introduced in the past six years mean that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake and thousands of others with CML can expect to live full and active lives.
In fact, experts say the successes with CML could hold promise as a model for treating other cancers. Because scientists have identified the specific mutation that causes CML, they have developed drugs that target only the cancerous cells — an elusive goal for many cancer researchers.
"There's a lot of hope out there," says Hildy Dillon, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's vice-president for patient services and disease programs. "It's a very exciting area in terms of cancer research." ...more
Two decades ago, a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia was a death sentence.
But new drugs introduced in the past six years mean that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake and thousands of others with CML can expect to live full and active lives.
In fact, experts say the successes with CML could hold promise as a model for treating other cancers. Because scientists have identified the specific mutation that causes CML, they have developed drugs that target only the cancerous cells — an elusive goal for many cancer researchers.
"There's a lot of hope out there," says Hildy Dillon, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's vice-president for patient services and disease programs. "It's a very exciting area in terms of cancer research." ...more
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Doctors write 300,000 prescriptions for drug
From the Globe and Mail:
As a senior manager at the Calgary company that makes popular SMART Boards, Ken Dreger is a no-nonsense, can-do type of guy.
He has taken the same approach to his battle with prostate cancer, and as a co-founder of the group ProstAid Warriors. “I'm not just going to sit back and die without a fight,” Mr. Dreger said. “My goal is to get to 65.”
He is 63 today.
Mr. Dreger was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and underwent surgery to remove his prostate gland. Treatment failed, as it does for about one in five men.
He was prescribed androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) to block the production of testosterone. These drugs are the last hope for patients whose cancer is spreading, but they cause chemical castration. ...more
As a senior manager at the Calgary company that makes popular SMART Boards, Ken Dreger is a no-nonsense, can-do type of guy.
He has taken the same approach to his battle with prostate cancer, and as a co-founder of the group ProstAid Warriors. “I'm not just going to sit back and die without a fight,” Mr. Dreger said. “My goal is to get to 65.”
He is 63 today.
Mr. Dreger was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, and underwent surgery to remove his prostate gland. Treatment failed, as it does for about one in five men.
He was prescribed androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) to block the production of testosterone. These drugs are the last hope for patients whose cancer is spreading, but they cause chemical castration. ...more
Canada's health care workers migrate to cities and Alberta: report
From CBC News:
Canadian health-care workers are leaving rural areas and moving to larger centres, according to a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The report, "Distribution and Internal Migration of Canada's Health Care Workforce," tracks migratory patterns of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and registered nurses within Canada over a 15-year period, between 1986 and 2001.
The report finds that each year, rural areas of Canada lose on average 1.3 per cent of their doctors to urban areas, with the time period between 1996 and 2001 showing the biggest decline. ...more
Canadian health-care workers are leaving rural areas and moving to larger centres, according to a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The report, "Distribution and Internal Migration of Canada's Health Care Workforce," tracks migratory patterns of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists and registered nurses within Canada over a 15-year period, between 1986 and 2001.
The report finds that each year, rural areas of Canada lose on average 1.3 per cent of their doctors to urban areas, with the time period between 1996 and 2001 showing the biggest decline. ...more
Victims cry foul, call acquittal of defendants in tainted-blood trial ?ludicrous?
From the Canadian Press:
Activists and lawyers for victims of the worst public-health disaster in Canadian history lashed out in anger Monday after an Ontario judge acquitted the former national medical director of the Canadian Red Cross and three other doctors of criminal charges in the tainted-blood scandal.
Critics called it "ludicrous" that the court acquitted Dr. Roger Perrault, 70, along with the three doctors and a New Jersey pharmaceutical company for their alleged roles in the blood scandal that left thousands of Canadians infected with HIV or hepatitis C.
Perrault's lawyer, however, called the ruling an "absolute vindication" and a "complete exoneration." ...more
Activists and lawyers for victims of the worst public-health disaster in Canadian history lashed out in anger Monday after an Ontario judge acquitted the former national medical director of the Canadian Red Cross and three other doctors of criminal charges in the tainted-blood scandal.
Critics called it "ludicrous" that the court acquitted Dr. Roger Perrault, 70, along with the three doctors and a New Jersey pharmaceutical company for their alleged roles in the blood scandal that left thousands of Canadians infected with HIV or hepatitis C.
Perrault's lawyer, however, called the ruling an "absolute vindication" and a "complete exoneration." ...more
Ground broken on $909M Edmonton Clinic
From the Edmonton Journal:
Construction is set to begin on the $909-million Edmonton Clinic, a unique "Mayo North" where patients will have quick access to numerous specialists during one visit and where nurses, doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals will all be trained together.
Monday's official groundbreaking marks the beginning of the largest ever project for Capital Health and the University of Alberta. ...more
Construction is set to begin on the $909-million Edmonton Clinic, a unique "Mayo North" where patients will have quick access to numerous specialists during one visit and where nurses, doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals will all be trained together.
Monday's official groundbreaking marks the beginning of the largest ever project for Capital Health and the University of Alberta. ...more
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