Medications/Medicines News

Pharma's unpaid European debts

The cost of the euro zone crisis is mounting for drugmakers, with unpaid debts owed to the pharmaceuticals sector now estimated by European trade body at up to $20 billion.

Purchasing statins online

Be wary of buying the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins on the internet, British researchers say.

Synthetic drug production on the up

Seizures of precursor chemicals for synthetic drugs and raids on drug labs have multiplied in Mexico and Guatemala in recent months.

'Magic' mushroom points to new drug

The brains of people tripping on 'magic' mushrooms' have given the best picture of how psychedelic drugs work and suggest that such drugs could be used to treat depression.

NSAIDs help ease schizophrenia

Pooled data suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can augment antipsychotic treatment and ease schizophrenia symptoms, according to Dutch researchers.

Decision in trademark case

In a judgment handed down on 22 December 2011, the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria ordered the cancellation of ANDOSEPT.

Investors wait out drug launches

Burned by disappointing early sales for new, high-profile biotech medicines in 2011, healthcare investors are cautious ahead of this year's expected crop of drug launches.

Benefits of aspirin questioned

Scientific research published questioned the benefits of taking an aspirin a day to reduce the risk of an untimely death from a heart attack or stroke.

Unreported drug data hazard

Unreported data from trials of experimental medicines in humans can result in harm to future patients and needless costs for health systems, says the British Medical Journal.

FDA curbs use of antibiotics

Worried about the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes in humans, the US Food and Drug Administration curbed use of certain antibiotics in cattle, pigs and poultry.