U.S. to Provide Antiviral Medication to Latin America and the Caribbean for Novel H1N1 Influenza 7/2/2009 8:00:00 PM HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the United States will provide 420,000 treatment courses of Tamiflu (Oseltamavir) to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to fight the novel H1N1 influenza in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Secretary made the announcement while attending a series of high-level meetings for health ministers throughout the Americas in Cancun, Mexico.
WHO: Influenza A(H1N1) lessons learned and preparedness 7/2/2009 8:00:00 PM President Calderon, Minister Cordova, Governor Canto, Secretary Sebelius, Minister Aglukkaq, honourable ministers, distinguished participants, ladies and gentleman - Let me thank the ministries of health of Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada for organizing this high-level meeting. Our special thanks to the government of Mexico for hosting this meeting. President Calderon, your leadership in managing the H1N1 outbreak in Mexico is commendable.
FDA Approves Multaq to Treat Heart Rhythm Disorder 7/2/2009 2:39:00 PM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Multaq tablets (dronedarone) to help maintain normal heart rhythms in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (heart rhythm disorders). The drug is approved to be used in patients whose hearts have returned to normal rhythm or who will undergo drug or electric-shock treatment to restore a normal heart beat.
FDA: Boxed Warning on Serious Mental Health Events to be Required for Chantix and Zyban 7/1/2009 4:17:00 PM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that it is requiring manufacturers to put a Boxed Warning on the prescribing information for the smoking cessation drugs Chantix (varenicline) and Zyban (bupropion). The warning will highlight the risk of serious mental health events including changes in behavior, depressed mood, hostility, and suicidal thoughts when taking these drugs.
Characterization of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus derived from Wild Pikas in China 7/1/2009 10:23:00 AM
Journal of Virology -- The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus emerged from China in 1996 and has spread across Eurasia and Africa, with a continuous stream of new cases of human infection appearing since the first large-scale outbreak in migratory birds at Qinghai Lake. http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/JVI.00793-09v1
Lantus (insulin glargine) 7/1/2009 4:00:00 AM FDA reviewing safety data regarding possible risk for cancer in patient with diabetes.
Varenicline (marketed as Chantix) and Bupropion (marketed as Zyban, Wellbutrin, and generics) 7/1/2009 4:00:00 AM FDA requires new Boxed Warnings and patient Medication Guides highlighting the risk of serious neuropsychiatric symptoms
FDA Seeks Public Input on Tobacco Regulation 6/30/2009 4:37:00 PM The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is seeking public input on the implementation of its historic new authority overseeing tobacco products in the United States. In a Federal Register notice, the agency invites the public to provide information and share views on a wide range of topics, from product content to advertising and marketing.
Researchers Describe History Of Swine Flu And Warn About Using Extinct Viruses 6/30/2009 8:25:00 AM
MedicalNewsToday.com -- In a leading medical journal this week US researchers describe the 90-year history of swine flu and warn about working with "freezer" viruses, which they suspect is how an H1N1 virus that closely resembles a temporarily "extinct" 1950s strain resurrected some 20 years later and continues to circulate as a seasonal flu strain today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155761.php
FDA Confirms E. Coli O157:H7 In Prepackaged Nestlé Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough 6/30/2009 12:35:00 AM Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has found E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that can cause serious food borne illness) in a sample of prepackaged Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough currently under recall by the manufacturer and marketer, Nestlé USA. The contaminated sample was collected at Nestlé’s facility in Danville, Va. on June 25, 2009.
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