July 15th 2009
This week in medicine
The following will appear in the July 18 issue of The Lancet:
Moscow memorandum Russian and US leaders signed a memorandum of understanding in Moscow last week, setting up links between government and research institutes. The Obama administration said that the countries will cooperate on areas of public health and science, such as pandemic preparedness and strengthening of health systems in low-income nations.
Big bad pharma On July 8, the European Commission released the findings of an 18-month inquiry into competition in the pharmaceutical sector. The drugs industry was shown to use several tactics to protect patents and delay the marketing of cheaper generic versions of branded drugs. Favourite strategies included suing generic companies and stalling the case in the courts for months.
Malaria threat In Afghanistan, pools of stagnant water left after earlier floods are threatening recent improvements in malaria control, according to Najibullah Safi, Director of the National Malaria and Leishmaniasis Control Programme. Safi called for local authorities of malaria-prone areas to increase awareness and help to distribute 600 000 extra bednets provided by the Ministry of Health.
Environment and disease The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have launched an environmental public health tracking network in the USA to explore links between environmental contaminants and chronic diseases. The environment has a role in exacerbating diseases such as asthma and cancer, and it is hoped that this network will allow better control of chronic illnesses.
Maternal mortality in Zimbabwe A UNFPA report shows that one in four maternal deaths in Zimbabwe in 2007 were caused by HIV/AIDS. Only 1·8% of HIV-positive mothers received antiretroviral drugs to prevent vertical transmission. However, the report suggests that Zimbabwe could halve maternal mortality by prevention or treatment of complications.
No dextropropoxyphene ban The US Food and Drug Administration has ordered manufacturers of drugs containing dextropropoxyphene to strengthen warning notices in view of findings that the risk of death from overdose is higher than with other analgesic drugs. The agency’s decision not to withdraw the drugs from the market altogether drew condemnation from consumer group Public Citizen.
Dengue in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka is in the grip of one of the worse dengue outbreak in years, according to the Ministry of Health. An estimated 15 500 people have been affected so far this year, with 168 deaths. The last major outbreak was in 2004, when 15 000 cases were reported over the whole 12 months. The government has instigated a public awareness campaign and outdoor spraying.
Egg-handling rules The number of recent cases of foodborne illness in the USA has forced the Food and Drug Administration to announce new regulations on egg handling. The new rules, which include biosecurity measures on farms, environmental testing, and refrigeration during trans-port, should reduce yearly salmonella infections by 60%, and the nation’s medical expenses by US$1·4 billion.
Breaking down barriers Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has called once again on Israel to demolish its security fence. Falk’s statement came on the fifth anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that the barrier was contrary to international law. Falk criticised the USA, EU, and UN for ignoring Israel’s “defiant behaviour”.
Drug shortage In anticipation of a shortage of imiglucerase—one of the few drugs licensed to treat the rare disorder Gaucher’s disease—the Food and Drug Administration has asked the makers of two investigational products, prGCD and velaglucerase alfa, to fill the gap. Imiglucerase production was stopped in June after a viral contaminant was detected.
Off-label advice Draft guidelines from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence suggest that eptifibatide or tirofiban combined with aspirin, clopidogrel, and an antithrombin should be considered in the early management of high-risk patients with unstable angina or non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Eptifibatide and tirofiban do not currently have UK marketing authorisation for use with clopidogrel.
Rights in Honduras Human rights leaders have expressed concern over the violation of fundamental freedoms and the use of excessive force by police and soldiers after last month’s coup in Honduras. Manuela Carmena Castrillo, Leandro Despouy, Margaret Sekaggya, and Frank La Rue jointly condemned the interim government’s flouting of democratic institutional order.
Bookmark on delicious | Digg