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Studies Examine Morning Sickness Drug, Progesterone Use To Prevent Premature Birth
The following summarizes news coverage on two pregnancy-related studies. ~ Morning sickness: The commonly prescribed heartburn drug metoclopramide -- sold generically and under the brand-names Reglan, Octamide and Maxolon -- can be used to treat morning sickness without harming the health of the fetus, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Time reports. The drug, which also has anti-nausea properties, is not FDA-approved for use in pregnant women in the U.S., though it is commonly prescribed in European and other countries to treat morning sickness (Park, Time, 6/10). According to the Los Angeles Times, U.S. physicians occasionally prescribe metoclopramide to treat severe morning sickness cases. The new study found that there were no statistically significant differences between infants born to women who took metoclopramide and those who did not. Researchers said that the findings "provide reassurance regarding the safety of metoclopramide for the fetus when the drug is given to women to relieve nausea and vomiting during pregnancy." The study involved 81,703 births among women enrolled in Israel"s largest health HMO, including 33,458 who used the drug (Maugh, Los Angeles Times, 6/11). Jennifer Niebyl, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa, said, "There are very few drugs approved for use in the first trimester of pregnancy. But this study could lead to metoclopramide getting approved to treat morning sickness because this is good data with big numbers" (Time, 6/10).~ Progesterone: The hormone progesterone was not effective at preventing premature births among women pregnant with twins, despite evidence suggesting its effectiveness at preventing premature births in single pregnancies, according to a University of Edinburgh study published in the journal Lancet, Reuters reports. Multiple pregnancies have a larger health risk for women and significantly increase the likelihood of miscarriage, premature birth and long-term health problems. The study involved 500 women who took either progesterone or a placebo daily for 10 weeks. Although previous studies have shown that progesterone might prevent premature birth in certain high-risk pregnancies, the new findings show the treatment did not reduce the likelihood of premature delivery or a fetus dying in utero in twin pregnancies. Twenty-five percent of women delivered or had a fetus die before 34 weeks in the progesterone group, compared with 20% in the placebo group (Kahn, Reuters, 6/10).
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Salix's Once-Daily APRISO Demonstrates Long-Term Safety In Patients For Maintenance Of Remission From Ulcerative Colitis
Data was announced today that demonstrated Salix Pharmaceuticals" (NASDAQ:SLXP) APRISO™ (mesalamine) 0.375g extended-release capsules had a favorable safety profile in patients in remission from ulcerative colitis (UC) for up to 24 months. APRISO is approved for use up to six months. The majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild or moderate in intensity, and were similar to what was seen during the 6-month phase 3 trials. The study, which is the first to examine the long-term safety profile of APRISO, was presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
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Mental Health

Pharmacists Have Solutions To Help Address Recommendations In The Leaders' Project Health Care Reform Report

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) applauds the recommendations regarding chronic disease in the report by the Bipartisan Policy Center"s (BPC) Leaders" Project, entitled "Crossing Our Lines: Working Together to Reform the U.S. Health System." The report outlines key health care reform policy recommendations from a bipartisan perspective to ensure that all Americans have quality, affordable health care. The BPC was founded in 2007 by four former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell who all share the common goal of finding a bipartisan solution to the nation"s health care crisis. The report is the culmination of an inclusive year-and-a-half effort that included strategic outreach to key health care stakeholders, a series of state-based public policy forums, and months of personal deliberations. The recommendations were designed to ensure that all Americans have quality, affordable health coverage, while improving health care quality and reining in skyrocketing costs. The policy recommendations outlined in the report are organized around four "pillars" of health reform: - Promoting High-Quality, High-Value Care - Making Health Insurance Available, Meaningful and Affordable - Emphasizing and Supporting Personal Responsibility and Healthy Choices - Developing a Workable and Sustainable Approach to Health Care Financing In the third pillar, Emphasizing and Supporting Personal Responsibility and Healthy Choices, the Leaders endorse the efforts to increase the nation"s focus on clinical and population-based prevention and wellness as a means to improve American"s health. According to a report citation, "A large and growing proportion of our health spending is currently going toward chronic diseases, and the frequent occurrence of preventable and costly complications of these diseases creates an imperative to take major steps toward both clinical and population-based prevention." "We are pleased the Leaders" Report acknowledges that chronic diseases are not optimally treated," said Thomas E. Menighan, APhA Executive Vice President and CEO-designate. "By working collaboratively with physicians and other health care providers, pharmacists help patients better understand their medications and how to get the full benefit of their medication therapy. Pharmacists are the key to solving our medication use crisis." American Pharmacists Association (APhA)


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