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Spotlight

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

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100 most recent
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Public- versus private-sector research: what do they bring to the table?

Editorial How important is the contribution of public-sector or academic research to the development of new medicines? In comparison with research conducted in the private sector by pharmaceutical companies, does it lead to more drugs that represent a therapeutic advance?
Full article available for download (FREE)

1 March 2025

Exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy°) in beta-thalassaemia or sickle-cell disease

Marketing Authorisations Exagamglogene autotemcel is the first gene therapy product using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to have been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union. It is indicated in certain patients with severe forms of beta-thalassaemia or sickle-cell disease. Is it curative in these patients? Does it eliminate the need for blood transfusions and iron chelators in severe beta-thalassaemia, does it eliminate vaso-occlusive crises and their complications in sickle-cell disease, and what are its adverse effects?
Full article (4 pages) available for download by subscribers

1 March 2025

Ritlecitinib (Litfulo°) in severe alopecia areata in adults and adolescents

Marketing Authorisations Ritlecitinib is an immunosuppressant that inhibits various kinases, including Janus kinases. It has been authorised in the European Union for the treatment of adults and adolescents with severe alopecia areata.
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1 March 2025

Children exposed to progestogens in utero: excess cancers?

Adverse Effects In June 2024, the European pharmacovigilance committee (PRAC) recommended that marketing authorisation for products containing hydroxyprogesterone should be suspended, due to the lack of proven efficacy in preventing preterm birth and the risk of cancer in children exposed in utero. Other progestogens, including progesterone, are authorised for the prevention of spontaneous abortion early in pregnancy. What are the main data concerning the risk of cancer in children exposed to a progestogen in utero?
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1 March 2025

Anticoagulants and heavy menstrual bleeding

Adverse Effects According to 2 cohort studies published in 2022 and 2023, 2 out of 3 women under 50 years of age on anticoagulant treatment for venous thromboembolism or pulmonary embolism have troublesome heavy menstrual bleeding, with sometimes major consequences for their everyday lives. In this situation, the insertion of an intrauterine device containing levonorgestrel usually reduces the volume of menstrual blood loss, with largely acceptable adverse effects.
Full article available for download by subscribers

1 March 2025

Errors related to brand names: the EMA can still do more

Advancing Healthcare Policy In March 2022, Prescrire responded to a public consultation launched by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in preparation for the 7th revision of its guideline on the acceptability of brand names for drugs authorised via the centralised procedure. The new version of this guideline was published in December 2023. For drugs that are the subject of a European marketing authorisation application, the EMA is stepping up its efforts to prevent medication errors related to brand names. But it still does not encourage systematic use of international nonproprietary names.
Full article (3 pages) available for download (FREE)

1 March 2025

Take action

Editorial Many drugs that have been marketed for decades have become such a part of routine practice that they are taken for granted. Some are useful, with demonstrated efficacy and an acceptable adverse effect profile. Some others have no demonstrated clinical value beyond that of a placebo, and it is debatable whether they should remain on the market.
Full article available for download (FREE)

1 February 2025

Drugs to avoid in the name of better patient care: 2025 update

DRUGS TO AVOID - 2025 UPDATE To make it easier to choose high-quality care, and to prevent disproportionate harm to patients, Prescrire has published its annual update of drugs to avoid on the basis that they are more dangerous than beneficial.
Full article (11 pages) available for download (FREE)

1 February 2025

Dostarlimab (Jemperli°) in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer with DNA repair defects

Marketing Authorisations Dostarlimab is an immunostimulatory anti-PD-1 antibody that has been authorised in the European Union for use in patients with advanced or recurrent mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) endometrial cancer, either in first-line treatment in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, or in second-line treatment as monotherapy.
Full article available for download by subscribers

1 February 2025

Mavacamten (Camzyos°) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

Marketing Authorisations Mavacamten, described as a selective and reversible inhibitor of cardiac myosin, has been authorised in the European Union in the treatment of symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adults. Does it extend survival in this situation, alleviate the symptoms of the disease (especially compared with a beta blocker or a calcium-channel blocker), reduce the incidence of serious complications, and avert the need for heart surgery? And what are its adverse effects?
Full article (3 pages) available for download by subscribers

1 February 2025

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