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Ingenol mebutate gel is effective treatment for actinic keratosis, study shows
Ingenol mebutate topical gel (0.015% for face and scalp and 0.05% for trunk and extremities) was effective for treating actinic keratoses, a common precursor to sun-related, squamous cell carcinoma, according to a new study.
Ingenol mebutate topical gel (0.015% for face and scalp and 0.05% for trunk and extremities) was effective for treating actinic keratoses, a common precursor to sun-related, squamous cell carcinoma, according to a new study.
The 4-multicenter, randomized, double-blind study, published in the March 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, was led by Mark Lebwohl, MD. The study was funded by LEO Pharma.
In the study, patients with actinic keratoses on the face or scalp, or on the trunk or extremities, were randomly assigned to receive ingenol mebutate (Picato, LEO Pharma) or a placebo. Patients self-applied the medication or placebo to a 25-cm2 contiguous area once daily for 3 consecutive days for lesions on the face and scalp or for 2 consecutive days for lesions on the trunk or extremities.
Complete clearance (primary outcome) was assessed at 57 days, and local reactions were quantitatively measured.
The researchers found that the rate of complete clearance on the face and scalp was higher (42.2%) with ingenol mebutate than with placebo (3.7%). The rate of complete clearance on the trunk and extremities was 34.1% with ingenol mebutate versus 4.7% with the placebo. In addition, adverse events were generally mild to moderate in intensity.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
