FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Three Months of Vioxx Use Can Damage Heart

  Staff Writer | June 28, 2006 9:25 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  The New England Journal of Medicine published a correction June 26, 2006, saying that it does not take 18 months of Vioxx use to increase heart risk, but that heart risks could occur after as few as three months of use. The correction is expected to undermine Merck & Co.'s ability to defend itself against thousands of lawsuits.Dr. Gregory D. Curfman , executive editor of the New England...

• Noneconomic and Punitive damages: Ortho Evra

  Staff Writer | June 22, 2006 8:57 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Federal Judge David Katz of Toledo has asked Ohio's highest court to decide whether Ohio's cap on in civil lawsuits is constitutional. Judge Katz made this request because it could affect a lawsuit before him in which Ohio litigants are suing Ortho Evra, alleging the company's birth control patch caused serious side effects or death. The caps on damages awards have been passed by the state...

• Suit filed against Bausch and Lomb-Fusarium Keratitis

  Staff Writer | June 21, 2006 6:16 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  In a recent personal injury and product liability lawsuit filed in Federal court in St. Louis, Renu with MoistureLoc is being blamed for an eye infection (Fusarium Keratitis) and a subsequent cornea transplant. The suit alleges that Bausch and Lomb was negligent and failed to warn customers that the solution could cause serious and permanent injury. There have been 125 other similar cases...

• New Studies: COX-2 Inhibitors and NSAIDs

  Staff Writer | June 21, 2006 3:59 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Publication of a new study in medicine is nothing new. But one of the recent studies published in a medical journal which is being publicized in the popular press highlights that it is important not only for pharmacists and doctors to stay on top of new research in medicine, but it is critical for patients to take care to inform doctors and pharmacists of medicines they may be taking. The new...

• Recall of all Triaminic Vapor Patch

  Staff Writer | June 20, 2006 3:56 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Novartis Consumer Health and FDA notified patients, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals that the sponsor is conducting a nationwide voluntary recall of all Triaminic Vapor Patch products due to reports of serious adverse events associated with accidental ingestion by children. Triaminic Vapor Patch is labeled as a cough suppressant for children two (2) years of age and older and is...

• Triaminic Cough-Suppressing Vapor Patches Recalled After Child Suffers Seizure

  Staff Writer | June 19, 2006 4:05 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Novartis AG has recalled its Triaminic cough-suppressing vapor patches and warns consumers to stop using them immediately. The warning applies to both the mentholated cherry and menthol scented versions. A child suffered a seizure after chewing on one of the patches. Novartis said the patches are to be placed on the chest or throat of children as young as 2 to allow vapors to reach the nose...

• Renu MoistureLoc and Fusarium Keratitis

  Staff Writer | June 19, 2006 11:00 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  In early 2006, a cluster of four cases of fusarium keratitis was seen at the University of California, San Francisco. Each of the four patients used ReNu with MoistureLoc. In fact, three of the four had been young, otherwise healthy women who used ReNu with MoistureLoc exclusively. Ironically, it was a cluster of four cases of fusarium keratitis in ReNu with MoistureLoc users in February 2006...

• Lawsuit Claims Sunscreens Don't Protect as Claimed

  Staff Writer | June 19, 2006 9:22 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  In a recent article on CNN.com, attorneys have filed a lawsuit in California Superior Court, alleging that the claims made by labels on sunscreen products are misleading, and not offering all the protection they claim. The lawsuit focuses on some of the products sold by Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic, Banana Boat, Bull Frog, and Neutrogena, because those products make claims such as "UVB/UVA...

• Bextra/Celebrex Multi District Litigation

  Staff Writer | June 15, 2006 9:31 AM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  In the Bextra/Celebrex MDL, Judge Breyer is holding a hearing today in San Francisco on Pfizer's motion to dismiss the claims of consumers, labor unions and insurance companies that allege they wrongfully paid for these drugs as a result of Pfizer's improper conduct. A ruling, however, will not be expected for several weeks.

• Johnson and Johnson Will Retest Heart Medication Natrecor

  Staff Writer | June 14, 2006 8:10 PM | 0 CommentsDenver, CO

  Johnson and Johnson announced that its Scios unit will spend over $100 million to test the safety and effectiveness of its heart failure drug, Natrecor. The new study will involve 7,000 people and will test safety issues that arose last year when other studies showed that the drug could lead to an increased risk of kidney problems and a higher risk of mortality within the first month of...