Savient shares fall over gout drug safety concerns

sea-maid submitted, created time 1 month 3 days (biz.yahoo.com)

Shares of Savient Pharmaceuticals plunged Monday as Wall Street urged caution over the safety profile of the drug developer's candidate for gout treatment Puricase.

The stock plunged $8.51, or 73.5 percent, to $3.07. Earlier in the session, shares fell to $2.80, their lowest point in more than three years.

On Monday, Savient reported more late-stage study data on Puricase, reinforcing its effectiveness in prior results. If approved, the drug would be administered intravenously, with the goal of removing uric acid from the blood

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House committee widens probe of Vytorin safety

jerry submitted, created time 2 months 3 weeks (www.iht.com)

A House committee investigating the safety and effectiveness of the popular cholesterol drug Vytorin and one of its components is turning up the heat on the drug's makers.

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FDA urges more caution over TNF blocker infections

jerry submitted, created time 2 months 3 weeks (www.reuters.com)

U.S. health regulators ordered stronger warnings for prescription drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other conditions on Thursday after dozens of patients contracted severe fungal infections ...

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Stopping clinical trials early

sea-maid submitted, created time 6 months 15 hours (www.bmj.com)

Should we be worried about an apparent rise in the number of clinical trials now being stopped early because the results are so good? Margaret McCartney asks how convincing should results be before trials are halted - and what the implications are for patients.

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Death, drug reactions spur concern about Botox safety

China turns safety drive to dirty restaurants

Reviver submitted, created time 1 year 3 months (www.reutershealth.com)

China will crack down on dirty restaurants, the government announced on Friday as it seeks to combat lax food safety and prepare for wary visitors during Beijing's 2008 Olympics.

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Common preterm labor drug not without side effects

bianjie submitted, created time 1 year 4 months (www.sciam.com)

A drug commonly used to arrest preterm labor, magnesium sulfate, works just as well as another commonly used drug, nifedipine, but is much more likely cause mild to serious side effects in pregnant women, a study shows.

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U.S. to check safety of imported Chinese seafood

Reviver submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.reutershealth.com)

The U.S Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it will not allow imports of Chinese farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood until suppliers can prove the shipments are free from harmful residues.

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"Thomas and Friends" railway toys recalled

Reviver submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.reutershealth.com)

More than 1 million of the popular "Thomas & Friends" wooden railway toys made in China are being voluntarily recalled because some may contain lead paint, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Wednesday.

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Panel stops Sanofi obesity drug

DanyC submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.upi.com)

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel rejected a Sanofi-Aventis obesity drug Wednesday on worries that it causes depression and suicidal thoughts.The panel unanimously rejected the company's bid to sell prescription rimonabant, once known by the brand name Acomplia, in the United States.

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Leaving Your Child Home Alone

angelfish submitted, created time 1 year 5 months (www.medicinenet.com)

The Nemours Foundation says your child probably is ready if:1.She is responsible with her homework, household chores, and following general instructions.2.She stays calm and handles unexpected situations in a mature manner.3.She understands and is able to follow your rules and safety instructions.4.She makes good judgments overall, and does not put herself in risky situations.5.She follows instructions about staying away from strangers.

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Drug errors common in kids with cancer

alcohol submitted, created time 1 year 6 months (www.cnn.com)

Children with cancer often get the wrong dose of chemotherapy or are given the drug at the wrong time, and many require treatment because of the errors. The problem has a lot to do with lack of common standards for delivering these life-saving but highly toxic drugs, said Dr. Marlene Miller, director of quality and safety at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, Maryland

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Diabetes drug raises fears of another Vioxx

fiona submitted, created time 1 year 6 months (www.msnbc.msn.com)

"First the painkiller Vioxx; now the diabetes drug Avandia. Another big drug safety issue has consumer groups, doctors and congressmen calling for an overhaul of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."

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