Are Biobetters Better?
Biosimilars and biobetters are both variants of a biologic drug, however, while biosimilars are close copies of the originator, biobetters have been improved, for example, in terms of efficacy, safety, tolerability or dosing regimen.Regulators consider biobetters as new products and so afford them the same patent protection as any originator, however, this means they require the same clinical and non-clinical data packages. Conversely, a reduced clinical data package is an attractive element for the development of biosimilars.Given the cost of development and the time pressure to bring a biobetter to market before biosimil...
Source: EyeForPharma - July 3, 2017 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: James Wright Source Type: news
Direct Comparison Favors Electrolyte Bowel Prep Direct Comparison Favors Electrolyte Bowel Prep
Polyethylene glycol is a better bowel preparation than sodium picosulfate plus magnesium citrate, and colonoscopy results are best when prep is spread over 2 days, new research shows.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - May 16, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Gastroenterology News Source Type: news
Large-volume Regimen Preferred After Previous Poor Bowel Preparation Large-volume Regimen Preferred After Previous Poor Bowel Preparation
An intensified bowel prep regimen that includes split-dose large-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) is superior to a similar low-volume PEG (plus ascorbic acid) regimen in patients who had inadequate bowel preparation for a previous colonoscopy.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines - April 6, 2017 Category: Pathology Tags: Pathology & Lab Medicine News Source Type: news
Diuretic Use Increases Colonoscopy Patients ’ Risk of Hypokalemia Diuretic Use Increases Colonoscopy Patients ’ Risk of Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia is not uncommon after low-volume PEG (polyethylene glycol) bowel cleansing, particularly in patients who use diuretics, a new report confirms.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - March 9, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: News Source Type: news
GoLytely (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 and Electrolytes Oral Solution) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - February 21, 2017 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Study finds higher complication risk with Cardinal Health ’ s Mynx vascular closure device
A study published last week in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that patients treated with Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH)’s Mynx vascular closure device are at higher risk for vascular complications compared to patients that received alternative vascular closure devices. The data also suggested that patients who received the Mynx device were at greater risk for access site bleeding and transfusion compared to their counterparts.
The team of researchers analyzed data from 73,124 patients who received Mynx devices after percutaneous coronary intervention procedures with femoral access from January 1, 2011...
Source: Mass Device - February 1, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: Clinical Trials Vascular Wall Street Beat Cardinal Health Source Type: news
NuLytely (Polyethylene Glycol 3350, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Bicarbonate and Potassium Chloride for Oral Solution) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - December 12, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Modification to delivery polymer sidesteps allergic response
Researchers from Duke University have reconfigured the popular drug-delivery polymer, polyethylene glycol, to sidestep dangerous immune responses that have previously halted clinical trials at Duke. The team’s work was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Polyethylene glycol, PEG, is a polymer that is found in toothpaste and cosmetics, but is often used in pharmaceuticals. It can be attached to active drugs in the bloodstream, thus slowing the body’s ability to clear them and lengthening the duration that the drug can be useful.
But because this polymer is so widely used, many people have developed anti...
Source: Mass Device - December 1, 2016 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: Drug-Device Combinations Pharmaceuticals Research & Development Duke University Source Type: news
Drug delivery modification sidesteps allergic responses
Biomedical engineers have reconfigured a popular drug-delivery technology to evade immune responses that have halted some clinical trials. Polyethylene glycol, commonly known as PEG, is a polymer commonly found in commercial products from toothpaste to cosmetics, and also in pharmaceuticals. PEG is used as a thickener, solvent, softener and moisture-carrier, but it can also be attached to active drugs in the bloodstream to slow the body ' s clearing of them, greatly lengthening the duration of their effects. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - November 30, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Drug delivery modification sidesteps allergic responses
(Duke University) Duke has developed an altered version of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymer used to ferry drugs in the bloodstream that seems to evade PEG antibodies already present in humans due to its common use in consumer goods. The new technology shows excellent efficacy as a drug delivery vehicle, controlling glucose levels in diabetic mice for up to four days when used with a drug that would otherwise work for only six hours. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - November 30, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Severe Hyponatremic Encephalopathy following Bowel Prep for Colonoscopy
CONCLUSION
This case highlights the need for physicians to be aware of the potential electrolyte disturbances that can occur in susceptible individuals during bowel prep for a colonoscopy. Any patient presenting with acute altered mental status in this setting should receive prompt electrolyte measurements and treatment of hyponatremia with hypertonic saline to help minimize associated morbidity.
REFERENCES
Adrogue HJ, Madias NE. Hyponatremia. N Engl J Med. 2000;342 (21):1581-1589.
Frizelle FA, Colls BM. Hyponatremia and seizures after bowel preparation: report of three cases. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005;48(2):393-396. doi:...
Source: EPMonthly.com - November 25, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Matt McGahen Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Deals this week: Merck, Zydus Cadila Healthcare Limited, AbbVie
Merck& Co and JenKem Technology have entered a distribution agreement to make Jenkem ’s polyethylene glycol (PEG) products available for biomedical applications. (Source: Drug Development Technology)
Source: Drug Development Technology - September 22, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Are Head Transplants Possible... and Ethical?
During a cold, dreary summer in Switzerland 200 years ago, English author Mary Shelley sat down to write her novel "Frankenstein."
The story -- and subsequent adaptations for the screen -- has gripped our imaginations ever since.
While reanimating the dead remains a scientific impossibility, scientists are pushing the boundaries of modern medicine closer and closer to Shelley's vision.
As they do, the public's uneasiness about the ethical limits of medicine has been stoked.
Take, for example, the announcement last year by Italian neuroscientist Dr. Sergio Canavero that he plans to perform the first human head transplan...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - September 19, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
MiraLAX (Polyethylene Glycol 3350 - OTC) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - September 13, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news