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Cut in reimbursement vs. upfront costs....
December 17, 2007
Leavitt: Doctors Need Electronic Records | www.sfgate.com
Hmmmmm. I might as well retire given this choice. Sounds like a lose-lose situation to me
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A novel approach to an old disease
December 17, 2007
Cytos Biotechnology announces start of two phase II studies | www.pipelinereview.com
The use of an immunodrug to provide more reliable and long-lasting relief to those among us who suffer from house dust mite and cat allergy--what an improvement this would be.
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Not a major concern in enuressi treatment
December 6, 2007
Desmopressin Acetate (marketed as DDAVP Nasal Spray, DDAVP Rhinal Tube, DDAVP, DDVP, Minirin, and Stimate Nasal Spray) | www.fda.gov
With the availability of desmopressin tablets, the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis in pediatrics has moved away from the intranasal route, which is the highest risk means of delivering the drug.
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Intriguing, but not really relevant
December 6, 2007
Antibiotics and Topical Nasal Steroid for Treatment of Acute Maxillary Sinusitis | jama.ama-assn.org
The study compared amoxicillin as the antibiotic used in the treatment group with controls with no antibiotic and with nasal steroids. Amoxicillin is not the antibiotic of choice for sinusitis, however.
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The Law of Unintended Consequences strikes again
December 4, 2007
Strategies to Avoid Medicare’s Big Hole | www.nytimes.com
The pharmaceutical companies were able to prevail on preveenting Medicare from negotiating for lower prices. Seems that the huge increase in generic utilization is a result they did not forsee.
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Another weapon in the armamentariun for treating this difficult condition
December 4, 2007
Forest Laboratories and Lundbeck announces positive results of Lexapro(R) phase III study in adolescents with major depression | www.pipelinereview.com
Adolescent depression is often seen by both psychiatrists and primary care physicians. However, the drugs approved for treatment are limited.
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In-office diagnosis is nice, but....
December 3, 2007
Meridian Bioscience Receives FDA Clearance For Two New Rapid Tests For The Detection Of Influenza And Respiratory Syncytial Virus | www.medicalnewstoday.com
It is nice to know the causative organism in a sick child, but the utility of this test is limited by the lack of specific therapies once the diagnosis is made.
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Preventive care is a big part of the answer
November 28, 2007
CBO: Medicare and Medicaid spending growth unsustainable | www.ama-assn.org
Unfortunately, few if any health plans put any value on preventive care. As pediatricians, we struggle daily with the huge costs of vaccines--the number one preventive public health measure of the last hundred years--while reimbursement is not even adequate to cover our costs.
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November 28, 2007
Akorn, Inc. Announces FDA Approval For Unit Dose Preservative Free Tetanus Diphtheria Vaccine | www.medicalnewstoday.com
Preservative-free vaccines are always welcome, but the market for a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine alone is limited by newer recommendations that adolescents and adults also be immunized against pertussis.
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An important extension of protection
November 20, 2007
New data for Menveo(TM) vaccine show excellent immune response and broad protection for infants against meningococcal meningitis | www.pipelinereview.com
Meningococcal meningitis is the remaining major bacterial meningitis for which an effective vaccine has not been available for infants and children younger than 10 years of age. this study suggests that infants will no longer be lacking protection against this devastating illness.
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November 19, 2007
A Model for Health Care That Pays for Quality | query.nytimes.com
We are still a procedure-focused health care system, not a thought-focused one.
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Makes it easier to use, but not more affordable
November 16, 2007
FDA Approves MedImmune's Refrigerated Formulation of FluMist | phx.corporate-ir.net
While the need to keep FluMist frozen was a mild hassle, the cost and reimbursement issues are the major factor blocking widespread use.
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A market expansion for a very good product
November 16, 2007
Wyeth Salutes World Health Organization Call To Action To Combat Pneumococcal Disease | www.medicalnewstoday.com
The use of Prevnar has reduced the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in the US by 99%. This benefit will be even more important to children in underdeveloped areas of the world where the disease is much more devastating and prevalent due to underlying nutritional issues and poor public health status.
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Significant improvement in a very difficult to treat problem
November 8, 2007
MacroChem Announces Positive Interim Phase 2 Data for EcoNail(R) in the Treatment of Onychomycosis | www.pipelinereview.com
Although the data of 32% of patients showing clinical improvement is by no means overwhelming, it is much better than the results seen with some current treatments.
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November 8, 2007
Universal Health Coverage Attracts New Support | www.washingtonpost.com
Interesting to see all sorts of groups rallyin to support universal health coverage.
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A different way of addressing constipation
November 1, 2007
New Data Presented At UEGW Confirm Effectiveness and Safety of RESOLOR(R) For Patients with Chronic Constipation | www.medicalnewstoday.com
Most treatment methods rely on bulk agents or osmotically active compounds to increase the amount of water, and thus the softness of the stools, along, possibly, with stimulant laxatives to enhance intestinal movement. Primary attempts to increase intestinal motility, thus reducing spontaneous water absorption, might prevent the problem in the first place.
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We don't treat colds, we treat children
November 1, 2007
Cough-Medicine Dilemma Widens | online.wsj.com
The data is lacking for efficacy, and mis-use is associated with safety issues. On the other hand, there is (admittedly inadequate) anecdotal experience which suggests at least some benefit.
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For some drugs it matters, for others less so
October 31, 2007
Generic Drugs: Dangerous Differences? | abcnews.go.com
When drug levels are critical, it is best to pick one brand (or even a particular generic manufacturer's product) and stay with the same one if results are as desired. For other less critical levels, the differences are of much less significance.
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Statistical significance may not mean much in real life
October 31, 2007
Long-Term Data from a Landmark Phase III Trial Show Survival Benefit at Three- and Four-Years in Patients with Glioblastoma multiforme | www.pipelinereview.com
Clearly there is some benefit in prolonging survival at all durations studied, but the meaning is not clear from the study.
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October 31, 2007
Ranbaxy Receives Tentative Approval for Valsartan Tablets | www.medicalnewstoday.com
It has been used for many years (Diovan is the brand name.)
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