Pharmacology News

New real-world data show a monthly self-injection of erenumab, a preventive migraine treatment, reduced migraine intensity and the incidence of migraine attacks in most patients, according to a press release from the manufacturer.

Researchers in China found that hospitalized patients with milder cases of COVID-19 were treated earlier with an assortment of antivirals compared with patients who experienced more severe disease, suggesting that the timing of antiviral therapy may significantly slow COVID-19 progression.

In a recent interview, Alice C. Levine, MD, professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, spoke with Healio about how antiandrogen treatments could potentially improve — or worsen — COVID-19 outcomes. It was the top story in endocrinology last week.

In this guest editorial, Steve Chung, MD, a neurologist at Banner – University Medicine Neuroscience Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, discusses new treatment options for patients suffering from epilepsy. Chung, who specializes in epilepsy care, is trying to raise awareness among physicians of the development of certain rescue therapies that can spare patients from trips to the ED and improve their quality of life.

Intranasal vazegepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor agonist currently in phase 3 development for the treatment of acute migraine, will be tested as a potential treatment option for COVID-19-related pulmonary complications. Biohaven Pharmaceutical announced in a press release that the FDA has authorized initiation of a phase 2 trial of intranasal vazegepant in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who require supplemental oxygen.

During a virtual Town Hall meeting recently hosted by the AMA, experts reviewed the latest research on COVID-19 and addressed questions from health care providers on the front lines about the availability of personal protective equipment, treatments for COVID-19 and efforts to secure the financial stability of private practices.

Using coronary artery calcium scores may better define who should receive aspirin for primary prevention than using the Pooled Cohort Equations, researchers reported in Circulation.

A 52-week open label extension of a previous 12-week double-blind treatment study showed sustained efficacy and safety of erenumab for the treatment of chronic migraine.

Recent reports have lauded hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine — drugs previously approved to treat malaria and rheumatic conditions — as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

The dihydropyridine calcium-channel blocker isradipine did not slow the clinical progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine.