September 16th 2023
Even though committee members voted in support of Onpattro for patients with cardiomyopathy related to transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis, there were questions about whether it provided a clinically meaningful benefit. The FDA set an action date of Oct. 8, 2023.
AHA updates CVD prevention guidelines for women
May 13th 2011The American Heart Association recently released its updated cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines for women. The guidelines emphasize practical medical advice that works in the "real world" rather than on findings primarily observed in clinical research.
Consider ER oxymorphone in patients with chronic low back pain, comorbidities
May 6th 2011In patients with chronic low back pain with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, extended-release oxymorphone (Opana ER, Endo Pharmaceuticals) may be a safe and effective alternative, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, National Harbor, Md.
Suppressive therapy manages clopidogrel hypersensitivity
April 8th 2011Clopidogrel hypersensitivity, which affects 6% of patients, can be successfully treated using short-course corticosteroids and antihistamines without interrupting drug therapy, reported researchers at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.
Combination of ACEI and ARB therapy increases renal risks in elderly
April 8th 2011Combining angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors with angiotensin-receptor blockers is associated with increased risk of adverse renal outcomes, according to a recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
High-dose clopidogrel does not reduce mortality after PCI
April 1st 2011The use of high-dose clopidogrel compared with use of standard-dose clopidogrel does not reduce the incidence of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or stent thrombosis among patients with high on-treatment reactivity after percutaneous coronary intervention with drug-eluting stents, according to a recent multicenter study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Ambulatory blood pressure lowering efficacy of hydrochlorothiazide inferior to other drug classes
April 1st 2011Investigators question whether the thiazide diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, should be used as commonly as it is for treating hypertension, according to a report published in a recent edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Cost of heart failure drugs impacts medication adherence
April 1st 2011In a new study published ahead of print on the Mayo Clinic Proceedings website, researchers demonstrated that the cost of medications was a factor influencing the proportion of patients with heart failure who had poor medication adherence to beta-blockers, angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors or receptor blockers, and statins.
New guidelines for atrial fibrillation management incorporate dabigatran
April 1st 2011An update on the management of atrial fibrillation issued by a task force consisting of the American College of Cardiology Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Rhythm Society has incorporated dabigatran into its recommendations.
Both benefits and adverse effects influence elderly's adherence to cardiovascular medication
March 18th 2011The willingness of the elderly to take medication for primary cardiovascular disease prevention is relatively insensitive to its benefit but highly sensitive to its adverse effects, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
FDA: Monthly liver enzyme tests no longer needed for PAH drug
March 11th 2011FDA has approved a change to the prescribing information for ambrisentan 5-mg and 10-mg tablets (Letairis, Gilead Sciences) once-daily treatment to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, WHO Group 1) and predominantly WHO Functional Class II-III symptoms.
Rosiglitazone label and medication guide updated with cardiovascular risks
February 18th 2011FDA has announced that the physician labeling and patient medication guide for rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline) have been changed to include information on cardiovascular risks (including death) of this agent.
Physicians welcome dabigatran etexilate as alternative to warfarin
January 7th 2011In a guest editorial, 2 researchers highlighted the importance of the FDA approval in October of dabigatran etexilate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim), an oral thrombin inhibitor that provides an alternative to warfarin (Coumadin, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for long-term stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
New 3-drug regimen improves outcomes for myeloma patients
January 7th 2011The addition of bortezomib to the standard induction therapy before double autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with multiple myeloma appears to improve nearly threefold the rates of complete or near complete response, according to research published online in The Lancet, HealthDay News reported.
Combining statins and fibrates increases rhabdomyolysis risk
January 7th 2011Patients who are newly treated with statin-fibrate concurrent therapy are slightly more likely to be hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis than those who take just one of the medications, according to research published in the American Journal of Cardiology, HealthDay News reported.
Angiotensin receptor blockers may not reduce mortality in diabetes, hypertension settings
January 1st 2011Antihypertensive therapy with an angiotensin receptor blocker is not associated with reductions in cardiovascular or all-cause mortality compared to non-ARB-based regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Protease inhibitor saquinavir linked to QT, PR interval prolongation
January 1st 2011FDA is requiring a new warning be added to the prescribing information for saquinavir (Invirase) detailing the drug's potential to prolong both QT and PR intervals on an electrocardiogram, and thus potentially cause the dangerous abnormal heart rhythms called torsades de pointes and complete heart block.
Pfizer voluntarily withdraws sitaxsentan from the market worldwide and halts ongoing clinical trials
January 1st 2011Based on "a review of emerging safety information from clinical trials and postmarketing reports," Pfizer announced it would be voluntarily withdrawing sitaxsentan (Thelin), the manufacturer's pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) treatment from the market worldwide.
FDA alerts to ongoing olmesartan cardiovascular review
July 1st 2010On June 11, 2010, FDA announced in a drug safety communication that the agency was currently evaluating whether the use of the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan (Benicar, Daiichi Sankyo) (also sold in combination with hydrocholorothiazide as Benicar HCT) was associated with increased cardiovascular mortality.
Ticagrelor associated with lower rate of death from vascular causes, MI, and stroke
September 14th 2009In the Study of Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes (PLATO) published in the New England Journal of Medicine, patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who were treated with ticagrelor had significant reductions in the rate of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke and no significant increase in the rate of overall major bleeding versus patients treated with clopidogrel.