Archives : 2020

The covid-19 messenger RNA vaccine tozinameran (Comirnaty°, from Pfizer and BioNTech) in elderly patients: limited data, many uncertainties

NEWS UPDATE The vaccination campaign against the covid-19 epidemic is launching in late December 2020. The first populations to whom the French authorities have chosen to offer this covid-19 messenger RNA vaccine (marketed by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech) are nursing home residents and certain health professionals who work in these facilities. What are the main data from the clinical evaluation of this vaccine in this population?

23 December 2020

Covid-19 and vitamin D: too uncertain

NEWS UPDATE Interest has been expressed in using vitamin D in the prevention of Sars-CoV-2 infection or the treatment of covid-19. What evaluation data available as of late 2020 support this hypothesis?

15 December 2020

Fexinidazole (Fexinidazole Winthrop°) and sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

FEATURED REVIEW Human African trypanosomiasis (or sleeping sickness) is endemic in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Is fexinidazole more effective than the standard treatments for sleeping sickness due to T. brucei gambiense? Does it have fewer adverse effects? Is it easier to use?
Full review (5 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 December 2020

An exemplary initiative

EDITORIALA successful collaboration between the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and several other entities has shown that it is possible to develop drugs that satisfy a genuine need, with the sole aim of providing a therapeutic advance, without the promise of exclusive market access or huge profits.

1 December 2020

In the December issue of Prescrire International: Betibeglogene autotemcel (Zynteglo°) in certain forms of severe beta thalassaemia

FREE DOWNLOAD Despite the uncertainties, an option for achieving transfusion independence in the absence of a compatible donor.

Full text available for free download.

1 December 2020

Updated review of "Drugs to avoid, in the name of better patient care" is published by independent French journal Prescrire

The independent French medical journal Prescrire has published its annual review of "Drugs to avoid", identifying drugs that are clearly more harmful than beneficial. The full report will be published in English in the February 2020 issue of Prescrire International.

1 December 2020

Depression: cardiac risks with citalopram (Seropram° and other brands), even greater if combined with omeprazole (Mopral° and other brands)

Citalopram (Seropram° and other brands), an antidepressant, carries a risk of cardiac rhythm disorders and sudden death, all the more so when combined with omeprazole (Mopral° and other brands), which is often used for gastric reflux and peptic ulcers.

1 December 2020

Drug research: public funding, private profits

Drug companies receive many direct and indirect forms of public aid for pharmaceutical research, but the allocation of this aid lacks transparency, and recipients are not required to market the drugs concerned at affordable prices.

1 December 2020

Mediator°: all wrong from the very start

In June 2020, at the end of France's Mediator° trial, the two prosecutors concluded that all the defendants were guilty of the offences with which they were charged. The judges' ruling is expected for 2021.

1 December 2020

Evaluation of covid-19 vaccines: the questions to ask

NEWS UPDATE November 2020 has seen a flurry of press releases announcing effective, and apparently relatively safe, vaccines against covid-19. However, as no detailed results have been released, it is impossible to assess the quality and relevance of these claims. When we finally have more than headlines to go on, what questions will need to be asked about these clinical trials? The answers will help determine the usefulness of these vaccines and define the vaccination strategy, taking account of the interests of vaccinees and society as a whole.

20 November 2020

Doxylamine during pregnancy: minimise dose and duration, due to possible link with malformations

FEATURED REVIEW Prescrire's analyses have for many years found doxylamine to be the first-choice antiemetic drug in early pregnancy, when non-pharmacological measures fail. A recent study suggests an increased risk of major birth defects. Does this finding affect doxylamine's harm-benefit balance and its place as the first-choice drug for relieving nausea and vomiting during pregnancy?
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 November 2020

In the November issue of Prescrire International: Dupilumab (Dupixent°) and nasal polyps

FREE DOWNLOAD Dupilumab (Dupixent°) has been authorised in the European Union for adults with very troublesome nasal polyposis. How do Prescrire's editors rate dupilumab in this situation?

Full text available for free download.

1 November 2020

Memory can save lives

EDITORIALIn the field of pharmaceuticals, novelty is not always what it seems. It is often useful to remember the chemical relationships between substances, in order to predict certain beneficial or adverse effects.

1 November 2020

Dapagliflozin (Forxiga°): no place in type 1 diabetes

Dapagliflozin (Forxiga°) has no demonstrated efficacy with regard to the clinical complications of type 1 diabetes and it carries a risk of sometimes serious adverse effects.

1 November 2020

Clinical trials of drugs: the various types of placebo used

In certain situations, the best way of telling the extent to which a treatment's apparent effects are due to the natural history of the disease or the treatment itself is to compare it with a placebo.

1 November 2020

The 2020 "Prescrire Prize" is awarded in Paris to
3 noteworthy books about health and healthcare

The recipients of the 2020 "Prescrire Prize" book awards were announced on 1 October 2020. The prize is awarded to works of particular interest to the general public and/or healthcare professionals.

1 October 2020

Apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban: situations with a high risk of bleeding or thrombosis

FEATURED REVIEW When using xabans, it is essential to take into account the situations that increase the risk of bleeding or thrombosis, and to monitor the patient for any change in these risks, such as new comorbidities, new drugs, or discontinued drugs.
Full review (4 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 October 2020

In the October issue of Prescrire International: A public awareness campaign which mainly benefits companies

FREE DOWNLOAD The pharmaceutical company Abbvie, which markets adalimumab (Humira°), has jointly funded a public awareness campaign produced by the patient organisation France Psoriasis. Objective: marketing.

Full text available for free download.

1 October 2020

Hydroxychloroquine: the situation is critical

EDITORIALAccording to the methodological principles of clinical evaluation, comparative trials provide the most reliable evidence when evaluating treatments. The lowest-level evidence comes from expert opinions, case series, other observational studies and empiricism. This is still true in 2020 – and also in covid-19.

1 October 2020

Gentian violet used when breastfeeding: irritant and carcinogenic

Gentian violet has no place in the treatment of nipple thrush while breastfeeding, nor of oral thrush in the newborn baby.

1 October 2020

Pinworm infection: easy to detect and easy to treat

Anal itching at night is highly suggestive of pinworm infection, an intestinal parasitic infection that is very common in children. Several drugs, none of which have serious adverse effects, eradicate the parasites, after two doses, given two weeks apart.

1 October 2020

Proton pump inhibitors: increased risk of severe covid-19

NEWS UPDATE Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are known to increase the risk of various infections, including pneumonia and pseudomembranous colitis. What about covid-19 infection? A recent study yields some useful information.

15 September 2020

Covid-19 patients who are not hospitalised: anticoagulation is rarely justified

NEWS UPDATE The risk of thromboembolism in patients with a mild to moderate form of covid-19 is unclear and probably varies greatly between patients. Is anticoagulation justified to prevent deep vein thrombosis in patients with covid-19 who are not hospitalised?

24 September 2020

Cannabidiol (Epidyolex°) in certain severe forms of childhood epilepsy: an option to consider, but liver function must be monitored

FEATURED REVIEW Cannabidiol (Epidyolex°) has been granted marketing authorisation in the European Union for patients aged 2 years and older with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome, in combination with antiepileptic treatment including at least clobazam. How do Prescrire's editors rate this treatment in this situation?
Full text (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 September 2020

In the September issue of Prescrire International. VEGF inhibitors: arterial aneurysm and dissection

FREE DOWNLOAD Drugs that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibit angiogenesis and are mainly used to treat diseases involving vascular proliferation, in particular cancer and certain eye conditions (by intravitreal administration). They can provoke cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, heart failure and arterial or venous thromboembolic events.

Full text available for free download.

1 September 2020

Evidence required: for covid-19 too

EDITORIALAside from the covid-19 epidemic's many major public-health and economic consequences around the world, it has also raised questions for many people about drug evaluation and the need for evidence before using a drug to treat patients.

1 September 2020

Mild asthma: adapt treatment according to patients’ needs

An inhaled beta-2 agonist as needed, possibly combined with an as-needed or continuous inhaled corticosteroid.

1 September 2020

Priapism: urgent medical attention required

Priapism, an erection lasting several hours, needs to be diagnosed quickly in order to prevent possibly irreversible erectile dysfunction. It is often caused by medications.

1 September 2020

Drug shortages: a source of errors and adverse events, which should be reported

Drug shortages did not begin with the covid-19 epidemic. Some shortages cause serious harm to patients. Healthcare professionals and patients should report any adverse events related to drug shortages to the competent authorities.

1 September 2020

Hydroxychloroquine in covid-19: no proven efficacy, including in less severe forms of the disease

NEWS UPDATE The detailed results of four comparative trials of hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 were released in late July 2020: two trials in patients hospitalised for covid-19, and two others in patients who were not hospitalised and had milder forms of the disease.

24 July 2020

Spotlight: Archives

Spotlight

2020

The covid-19 messenger RNA vaccine tozinameran (Comirnaty°, from Pfizer and BioNTech) in elderly patients: limited data, many uncertainties

Covid-19 and vitamin D: too uncertain

Fexinidazole (Fexinidazole Winthrop°) and sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

An exemplary initiative

In the December issue of Prescrire International: Betibeglogene autotemcel (Zynteglo°) in certain forms of severe beta thalassaemia

Updated review of "Drugs to avoid, in the name of better patient care" is published by independent French journal Prescrire

Depression: cardiac risks with citalopram (Seropram° and other brands), even greater if combined with omeprazole (Mopral° and other brands)

Drug research: public funding, private profits

Mediator°: all wrong from the very start

Evaluation of covid-19 vaccines: the questions to ask

Doxylamine during pregnancy: minimise dose and duration, due to possible link with malformations

In the November issue of Prescrire International: Dupilumab (Dupixent°) and nasal polyps

Memory can save lives

Dapagliflozin (Forxiga°): no place in type 1 diabetes

Clinical trials of drugs: the various types of placebo used

The 2020 "Prescrire Prize" is awarded in Paris to
3 noteworthy books about health and healthcare

Apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban: situations with a high risk of bleeding or thrombosis

In the October issue of Prescrire International: A public awareness campaign which mainly benefits companies

Hydroxychloroquine: the situation is critical

Gentian violet used when breastfeeding: irritant and carcinogenic

Pinworm infection: easy to detect and easy to treat

Proton pump inhibitors: increased risk of severe covid-19

Covid-19 patients who are not hospitalised: anticoagulation is rarely justified

Cannabidiol (Epidyolex°) in certain severe forms of childhood epilepsy: an option to consider, but liver function must be monitored

In the September issue of Prescrire International. VEGF inhibitors: arterial aneurysm and dissection

Evidence required: for covid-19 too

Mild asthma: adapt treatment according to patients’ needs

Priapism: urgent medical attention required

Drug shortages: a source of errors and adverse events, which should be reported

Hydroxychloroquine in covid-19: no proven efficacy, including in less severe forms of the disease