UPDATE ON DRUGS | ||
Class | Name/Company | Approval Dates and Comments |
Antipsoriatic Agent | Infliximab Remicade® Centocor/Schering- Plough | The US FDA approved this monoclonal antibody in May 2005 for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. This is the ninth new indication for this product. |
Health Advisory | Cyproterone Ethinyl Diane-35 Berlex | TPP Canada issued a Health Advisory in May 2005 informing consumers of a new version of the product monograph agreed upon by Berlex and TPP Canada that includes the following information:
Any occurrences of thromboembolic disorders (blood clots) or other serious and/or unexpected adverse reactions in patients taking Diane-35® should be reported to TPP Canada. |
Drug News | |
Antipsoriatic Agent | Biogen Idec and Fumapharm AG in April 2005, announced results from a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BG-12, an oral fumerate, in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The trial met the primary endpoint and patients receiving BG-12 demonstrated a statistically significant clinical improvement as measured by a lower median psoirasis severity score after 16 weeks of treatment compared with patients receiving placebo. The median PASI was 5.8 for the BG-12 group and 14.2 for the placebo group. Median percentage reduction from baseline PASI was 68% for patients receiving BG-12 and 10% for patients receiving placebo. |
Hair Dye | In an article recently published in of the scientific evidence looking strong evidence of increased risk. hematopoietic cancers (e.g., leukemia of a causal effect is too weak to represent a major public health concern.*JAMA 293:2516-25 (2005). |