| Diabetes Drug Pargluva, A Booster for Cardiac Diseases |
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Chicago(24x7 Updates) -- The Journal of American Medical Association rushed online on Thursday an analysis which shows the new diabetes pill "Pargluva" significantly increases the risk of heart attack and strokes.
The drug which belongs to the class of drugs called dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which affect both cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, more than doubles the risk of life-threatening cardiovascular complications, the researchers concluded after analyzing the same studies the drug’s maker presented to the FDA. They said the agency should not approve the drug until additional research is conducted.
Dr. Steven Nissen, one of the researchers who was instrumental in publicizing a similar risk posed by painkiller, Vioxx said same data that led a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel last month to suggest Pargluva be approved was analyzed for these findings.
The drug is designed to lower blood sugar levels and increase levels of "good" cholesterol in patients with Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, which affects about 18 million Americans.
The analyzed data involved 3,725 patients who were given Pargluva, a similar drug called pioglitazone, or dummy pills in a variety of studies lasting from 24 weeks to 104 weeks.
Deaths, heart attacks or strokes occurred in 35 of the 2,374 Pargluva patients versus nine of 1,351 patients in a combined group on the other drug or dummy pills, the analysis found. Slightly higher risks for mini-strokes and heart failure also were found among Pargluva patients.
Dr. Nissen said, however, that the analysis is limited because he and his colleagues only had access to data included in the FDA filing rather than data from the original clinical trial databases.
In an editorial that accompanied the study, James M. Brophy, M.D., Ph.D., wrote that the analysis by Dr. Nissen and colleagues was meticulous and it "should focus serious attention on the cardiovascular risks of this drug." He added that also unanswered are "residual safety concerns surrounding carcinogenicity also have not been completely resolved."
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A one year course of the drug Herceptin can do wonders for Women who have particularly aggressive form of breast cancer, according to a report published in Oct. 20 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.
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| Cause for Tourette syndrome suspected to be a single gene mutation - Oct 18, 2005 9:44 IST |
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A new avenue for understanding Tourette syndrome, the complex disorder that causes muscle and vocal tics has been opened by researchers who have identified the first gene mutation associated with it.
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| Scientists Devise New Ways to Create Stem Cells - Oct 17, 2005 9:43 IST |
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Two new experiments may show how to obtain human embryonic stem cells without the destruction of early embryos, a step that could allow federal funding for such research, scientists reported Sunday.
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| Cooling shields Newborns against Brain Damage - Oct 13, 2005 12:41 IST |
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Reducing the temperature of babies whose brains have suffered oxygen deprivation may prevent the brain damage or death that often results from such deprivation, a recent study suggests.
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| Trachea developed using Stem Cells from Amniotic Fluid - Oct 10, 2005 19:26 IST |
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Undifferentiated stem cell from amniotic fluid,collected during pregnancy was used for producing the cells needed.The theory used is that mesenchymal stem cells descend directly from embryonic stem cells and they later specialize in making connective tissues, including muscle, bone, cartilage, fat and tendon.These cells are also rich in amniotic fluid, which in this case was exploited.
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| Foetal DNA testing – a safer way to test unborns for genetic diseases - Oct 9, 2005 9:26 IST |
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With the identification of foetal DNA in a mother’s blood scientists from the Chinese University of Hong have proposed a technique which may lead to a non-invasive and safer way of testing unborn babies for genetic diseases.
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| Cervical Cancer Vaccine - A Reality within a Year - Oct 7, 2005 12:19 IST |
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Gardasil, a vaccine that is in trials has been proved 100% effective against two virus strains which cause cervical cancer. The vaccine can be a reality within a year.
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| US awakens to the threat of avian influenza - Oct 6, 2005 21:58 IST |
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After a closed-door briefing last week, fear of an outbreak swept official Washington, which was still reeling from the poor response to Hurricane Katrina. The day after the briefing, led by Michael Leavitt, secretary of health and human services, and other senior government health officials, the Senate squeezed $3.9 billion for flu preparations into a Pentagon appropriations bill.
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| WHO Crusades against Chronic Diseases - Oct 6, 2005 21:58 IST |
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a strong call for immediate and effective global action to prevent chronic diseases. In its newly issued report "Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment," the United Nations health agency said that about 17 million people die prematurely each year because of the slow but fatal diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes etc. Proactive show of concern the world over could save the lives of 36 million people who would otherwise die by 2015 from these diseases.
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| GE(R)M OF AN IDEA!!! - Oct 5, 2005 7:20 IST |
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Two Australian scientists have won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for showing that many stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection and not stress or lifestyle. The findings by Barry Marshall and Robin Warren have revolutionized the treatment of these ulcers, even though their work was initially ridiculed.
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