Pharmacology News

A community-based intervention that included nonphysician health workers, PCPs and patient family members significantly reduced CVD risk and increased BP control, according to data from the HOPE 4 trials presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

The American College of Rheumatology issued a warning on Friday that a U.S. District Court judge’s decision to allow CVS Health Corp to merge with Aetna could threaten recent progress made in forcing pharmacy benefit managers to be more transparent, and hinder efforts to reduce drug costs.

Taking aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease does not benefit older adults, according to findings from the ASPREE trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Haloperidol and second-generation antipsychotics should not be routinely used to prevent or treat delirium in hospitalized patients based on evidence evaluated in two systematic reviews published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Last month, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay more than $572 million in damages for its role in the opioid epidemic in Oklahoma. Purdue Pharma previously agreed to pay the state $270 million, and Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay Oklahoma $85 million, rather than face trial.

Only about 10% of participants with opioid use disorder used buprenorphine treatment over a 2-year follow-up period mainly due to issues with access and acceptability, according to data from a long-term follow-up study.

Xofluza significantly reduced the risk for influenza infection among children aged younger than 12 years and adults living with infected individuals by 86%, according to phase 3 trial findings released by Genentech.

For men with type 2 diabetes, the small increased risk for Fournier gangrene associated with SGLT-2 inhibitor treatment should not dissuade clinicians from prescribing them, according to a research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

PARIS — Aspirin did not benefit older patients for the primary prevention of CVD, according to a new analysis from the ASPREE trial presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

Primary care physicians increased their opioid prescribing when appointments were later in the day or if they were running behind schedule, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.