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Generics - still controversial

admin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:27:39 +0000

The generic manufacturers are allowed to compete with the companies that went through the research and development phase after the patents have expired. All these “dangerous” companies need to do is to wait a few years and then copy all the original research. This affects the profits of Big Pharma. So, equally routinely, the lobbyists employed by Big Pharma discuss generic imports with their regulatory authorities, and sometimes those discussions lead to action. First, a word of reassurance. The action I am about to discuss does not affect your ability to buy generic viagra online. Although some thirty drugs are affected, they are treatments for rather different conditions. The FDA has issued two Warning Letters to Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of generic drugs based in India. These Warning Letters are somewhat controversial. There is no suggestion that the thirty drugs named on the list and manufactured in the identified plants are unsafe. There is no product recall and no warning to patients not to continue taking the drugs they already hold. Further, there is no suggestion that the other plants where different drugs are produced are unsafe in any way. This is, at best, a technical violation by the manufacturer. To repeat, this does not affect the generic viagra manufactured by Ranbaxy. The politics of free trade are always complicated. When the interests of significant local industrial players are involved, there is always going to be a temptation to be protectionist. In this instance, the decision of the FDA looks suspect because it has not required a recall. By its own admission, there is nothing wrong with the generic drugs manufactured by Ranbaxy. They can be safely consumed by existing patients. But the FDA is nevertheless authorising customs to stop imports of new supplies. I suspect that if the FDA had tried to interfere with the import of generic viagra, there would have been am outcry. As it is, there has been little comment outside the financial press discussing the effect on share price.

Reduce the risks of breast cancer

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:55:52 +0000

The latest issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research, carries a study from the National Cancer Institute. Over the years, there has been an accumulation of evidence that overweight women who have been through the menopause have increased risks of breast cancer. But there was a strong trend to show that a high total level of vigorous activity reduced the risk of the cancer developing. This trend was the most pronounced in women with a BMI of less than 25. So the first step in risk avoidance is the reduction of weight through a healthy diet and, where appropriate to keep the motivation going, the use of an appetite suppressant drug such as acomplia. Exercise also helps in the reduction of body fat so devising a combined program with all three elements balancing each other produces the best results. It’s important to recognize that the results find no reduction in risk through gentle exercise. It’s an effect achieved because of the way their metabolism levels increase, not because they lose weight. For the record, the clinical evidence from the drug trials shows that those who use acomplia lose an average of 10% of their body weight. This, when combined with a diet, can be the fastest way to get the BMI down below the target. Cycling on the flat is out, find some hills to climb. Don’t just line dance, get into jiving. If you prefer a gym, go for aerobics. Then you will live a longer and healthier life. If you combine this with a diet and acomplia, the overall effect on your health will be enhanced.

If you prick me, do I not bleed?

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:53:12 +0000

When Shakespeare was writing The Merchant of Venice, he was talking about the extent to which people are the same under the skin. Put most simply, the practitioners treat sickness and disease by sticking needles into their patients. There are complex diagrams identifying all the key points round the body and, by inserting needles at just the right points for each condition to be treated, you produce relief or a cure. To those in the West who are used to the idea of taking a tablet, acupuncture just looks like masochism, i.e. you feel so much better when the pain stops. Westerners are used to using a range of treatments for cosmetic problems such as acne and baldness. Some are available over the counter while others require a prescription. Accutane, being the most powerful treatment for acne, usually requires the approval of a dermatologist before it is prescribed. The treatment for acne in TCM relies on acupuncture, herbal preparations and a change in diet to food with a low fat content, low spiciness and not fried. The aim in the treatment is to improve the condition of the skin by stimulating the flow of blood around the face. Results are not simply a placebo effect produced by the strength of the patient’s belief. There are verifiable “cures” when TCM, including acupuncture, is used. For Westerners, the question is of some importance. As it stands, the drug of final resort for the treatment of acne is accutane which has significant problems associated with its use by women of child-bearing age. If the same improvements seen among those who use acupuncture could be replicated in the West, would this not be a better way to treat a serious skin problem rather than having to rely on heavy-duty drugs with sometimes dangerous side effects?

WADA changes its mind on baldness

admin — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:59:57 +0000

Maybe I don’t watch enough television these days, but I have not noticed any sudden increase in the number of bald athletes or sports persons. For the most part, all these fit specimens of humanity seem to thump the ball or run around energetically while affecting the usual flowing locks. Wait, you don’t mean that these poor people have been forced to wear wigs all this time?

Just try to imagine that all that sweat under a heavy crown of artificial hair. Or is that why many people wear these caps - I always thought that was to help keep the sun out of their eyes. How naive I was. Hmmm? You’re not following this? Ah, my apologies. I have the cart before the horse yet again. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is in the business of devising tests to detect drug cheats. These are the people who enhance their performance by training with anabolic steroids and other banned substances as part of their regime.

This is a perfectly legitimate drug used to treat male pattern baldness. It has an excellent track record for effectiveness and safety only requiring that the man takes one tablet per day for as long as he wishes to retain his hair. Thus, propecia was duly added to the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods. Over time, a number of athletes were banned for using propecia.

This does not help the athletes who were banned for its use nor the unfortunate publicity that was given to their baldness. But one thing is undeniable. WADA publishes its list. Propecia was clearly identified on it as a banned substance and these athletes broke the rule. Whether the rule was a good one or not cannot change the wrongfulness of the athletes’ decision. As to those of you athletes who are threatened with hair loss.