Venclexta

FDA Approves Venclexta

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Venclexta (venetoclax), an oral B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitor for the treatment of patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion, as detected by an FDA-approved test, who have received at least one prior therapy.

Venclexta Medication Guide

Read this medication guide before you start treatment and every time you get a refill. There may be new information. If you have questions about this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Widely Used Type 2 Diabetes Drug May Reduce Cancer Death Risk

Metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetes drug, may reduce the risk of dying from some cancers for postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.
The study found that for women with type 2 diabetes and cancer, the odds of dying from cancer appeared to be 45 percent higher compared to women with cancer who didn't have diabetes. But, in women with cancer who took metformin to treat their type 2 diabetes, the risk of dying from cancer seemed about the same as it was for women without diabetes.
"Our findings from this large study may provide more evidence that postmenopausal women with diabetes and cancer may benefit from metformin therapy compared to other anti-diabetes therapy," said lead researcher Zhihong Gong. She's an assistant professor of oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in Buffalo, N.Y.

Nano-Technology: New Hopes in Cancer Treatment

cancer has become a foremost cause of death around the world. Cancer is an extremely complex disease to understand because it entails multiple cellular physiological systems such as cell signaling and apoptosis. However the most cancer treatments are limited to chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Even in these scopes, different drawback plays major role shortcoming its affectivity. 99% of chemotherapy does not reach the cancer cells, US National Cancer Institute (OTIR, 2006). Moreover poor drug delivery and residence at the target sites reach o significant complications including multi drug-resistance.

Radiation therapy is also not specific to cancer cells. Most of the normal cells in the body die at 460 C (1080 F) which limited the extent of affectivity of radiation therapy. And most of times surgery is possible if cancer is detected at early stages.

Nanotechnology has the power to offer solutions to these current obstacles in cancer therapies due to its unique size (1-100 nm) and large surface to volume ratios. Currently, lots of research is going on to design novel nanodevices capable of detecting cancer at its earliest stages, pinpointing its location in the body and delivering anti-cancer drugs specifically to malignant cells. According to OTIR:

Metformin is a Workhorse for Type 2 Diabetes

Metformin, also known by the brand names Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Fortamet, and others, has been available for the oral treatment of type 2 diabetes since 1995. Metformin helps to control blood sugar (glucose) levels and is sometimes used in combination with insulin or other medications. Metformin is a true workhorse for diabetics: a 2014 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were initially started on metformin were less likely to need other diabetic drug treatments to control their blood sugar. In fact, metformin is recommended in guidelines as the first-line drug treatment for new patients.

Xanax Has Been Around for Over 30 Years

Xanax, commonly referred to by its generic name alprazolam, was originally developed by Upjohn Labs in the late 1960's as a sleep aid with muscle relaxant properties, but researchers soon learned it had other properties, too. Xanax, in the class known as benzodiazepines, works to suppress the overreaction of the central nervous system. It was found to be effective for anxiety and panic disorder, and the FDA approved these uses in 1981. Xanax has been one of the most successful, but worrisome, blockbusters in years past due to a serious addiction potential. Patients also develop tolerance, requiring higher and higher doses.

How Xanax Works

When you have anxiety don't you feel like everything is moving faster? Xanax is a benzodiazepine, and like all benzodiazepines, has action as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Benzodiazepines increase the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA) in the brain to illicit a calming, sedative effect. But alprazolam can cause drowsiness and affect your ability to react to situations. For these reasons, you should not combine alprazolam with alcohol, other CNS depressant medications like narcotic painkillers, or driving. Your inability to react quickly to an unexpected situation may lead to a car accident.

I'm Afraid I Don't Know What Anxiety Is

Generic Hepatitis C Drugs as Effective as Pricey Brand Names: Study

Low-cost generic antiviral drugs are as effective and safe as more expensive brand-name drugs in treating people with hepatitis C, researchers report.
In many countries, people don't have access to a course of brand-name direct-acting antiviral drugs due to the high cost -- as much as $94,000 a patient, the researchers explained.
However, mass-produced generic versions are available for less than 1 percent of the retail price of the brand-name drugs, they added.
"Our interim data suggests a potential solution for hepatitis C patients in areas where treatment access has been restricted as a result of the high prices demanded for branded treatment," said study author Dr. James Freeman, of GP2U Telehealth in Hobart, Australia.
The study of patients in the United States, Canada, Africa, Australia, Europe and Southeast Asia found that generic direct-acting antiviral drugs sofosbuvir (Sovaldi), ledipasvir, daclatasvir (Daklinza) and ribavirin (Rebetol) were as effective as brand-name versions.
The study was to be presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Barcelona. Until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, data and conclusions presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary.
A full course of brand-name direct-acting antiviral medication that costs $94,000 a patient in the United States can be obtained in generic form for less than $1,000. And, a 12-week course of treatment could cost as little as $200 in coming years, the researchers said in a meeting news release.
"At the price level of generic direct-acting antivirals, treating the entire global hepatitis C epidemic could be financially feasible. Furthermore, if a patient is cured of hepatitis C, there is evidence for improved survival and lower risks of liver cancer and liver cirrhosis," Freeman said in the news release. He added that cured patients could return to work, delivering further economic benefits to society.
Another expert said there is a clear role for generic treatments such as these for people with hepatitis C.
"The implications of increased availability of these drugs could be enormous, presenting more people with the possibility of a 'cure' for what is often a debilitating condition," Laurent Castera, secretary general of EASL, said in the news release.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver, leading to inflammation, scarring and liver cancer.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on hepatitis C.