Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the middle of the week. Somehow, we all made it this far, so why not celebrate with a cup or three of stimulation? After all, there is much more to be done and, unlike the official Pharmalot mascots, we cannot break for a nap. No doubt, you can relate. So to help you along, here are some tidbits. Hope your day is productive and, as always, do keep in touch …
Novartis has stopped making tuberculosis drugs in Pakistan over a pricing dispute, prompting fears of a health crisis due to a shortage of drugs, Reuters reports. The drug maker, which is one of just four companies selling treatments in a country with the world’s fifth-largest TB rate, maintains pricing caps have not been significantly raised since 2001. “It’s an emergency in the making,” said Naseem Salahuddin, an infectious disease doctor in Karachi.
A Food and Drug Administration panel recommended that a Valeant Pharmaceuticals drug for psoriasis should be approved, Reuters writes. The panelists believe there is a need for new drugs, despite a suicide risk associated with this medicine. To mitigate that concern, they suggested including a boxed warning and a patient registry to collect patient data and more clearly assess suicide risks among patients.
About the Author Reprints
