Archives : 2022

Covid-19 : Follow Prescrire's independent, evidence-based analysis of the pandemic

COVID-19 Prescrire's editors are publishing an ongoing series of articles featuring independent analysis of developments related to the covid-19 pandemic. Useful and practical information, to help health professionals gain a clear and balanced view.

1 October 2022

Viral vector covid-19 vaccines authorised in the European Union: a review of their adverse effects

FEATURED REVIEW The first-choice options for the prevention of covid-19 are the messenger RNA (mRNA) covid-19 vaccines, with the two viral vector vaccines, covid-19 vaccine ChAdOx1-S (Vaxzevria° from AstraZeneca) and covid-19 vaccine Ad26.COV2-S (Jcovden° from Janssen-Cilag), as second choices. What adverse effects are known to occur with these viral vector vaccines?
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 October 2022

In the October issue of Prescrire International: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu°) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

FREE DOWNLOAD Evaluation of trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu°), authorised for treatment of some inoperable or metastatic breast cancers, was mainly based on one non-comparative trial, with a primary endpoint that is not necessarily objective.

Full text available for free download.

1 October 2022

An African covid-19 vaccine, despite foot-dragging by drug companies

Editorial As part of a WHO technology-transfer initiative, the South African biotech company Afrigen succeeded in producing a small quantity of a copy of Moderna's covid-19 vaccine elasomeran (Spikevax°). Since then, Afrigen has been working on the development and large-scale production of formulations that would be cheaper and less heat-sensitive than the original vaccine, to facilitate its use in Africa.

1 October 2022

Oral contraception: estetrol + drospirenone (Drovelis°), a combination to avoid

Yet another combined oral contraceptive has been marketed in Europe: a combination of estetrol and drospirenone (Drovelis°). But it is probably better to avoid the combination of an insufficiently evaluated oestrogen and a progestogen with worrying adverse effects.

1 October 2022

Antibiotic resistance: a growing threat

Action is needed on various fronts to tackle microbial resistance, including reducing the use of antibiotics in intensive animal-rearing, rationalising their use in humans, and developing antibiotics with new mechanisms of action.

1 October 2022

Oral use of injectable drugs: uncertain efficacy and known risks

Healthcare professionals sometimes administer an injectable form of a drug by mouth when no suitable oral liquid form exists. It is a risky and often ineffective practice. There is an old saying in France that if a substance can be injected it can also be swallowed, but despite its appeal, this idea is misleading and dangerous.

1 October 2022

Mycophenolic acid and pregnancy: genotoxicity, malformations, spontaneous abortions

FEATURED REVIEW Mycophenolic acid is used as an immunosuppressant to prevent graft rejection after certain types of organ transplant. What is known as of mid-2022 about the possible harms to children of in-utero exposure to this drug?
Full review (4 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 September 2022

In the September issue of Prescrire International: late-onset neutropenia linked to rituximab (Mabthera° or other brands)

FREE DOWNLOAD Among 104 reports to French regional pharmacovigilance centres involving severe late-onset neutropenia linked to rituximab, the time to onset varied from 1.5 to 15 months after the last dose. These cases of neutropenia expose patients to a risk of serious infections.

Full text available for free download.

1 September 2022

Moderate use of medicines

Editorial There are many reasons for moderate use of medicines. First and foremost, to reduce the risk of adverse effects and drug interactions. But also to use drugs for what they are: just one of several therapeutic options, not the answer to everything.

1 September 2022

Imiquimod 3.75% cream (Zyclara°) in actinic keratosis

In Focus An imiquimod 3.75% cream came onto the French market in 2021, under the brand name Zyclara°. It has a lower dose strength than Aldara° (3.75% instead of 5%), and it is applied daily for two 14-day periods. What do Prescrire's editors make of this new product?

1 September 2022

How long should one wait after stopping a drug before starting a pregnancy?

Some key principles to help answer this question without relying solely on the summary of product characteristics.

1 September 2022

Prescrire's annual review of drug packaging: choose high-quality packaging for safer health care

A drug's packaging contributes greatly to the quality of care patients receive, to patients' safety, and to the safety of those around them. There were a few signs of progress in 2021, but packaging is still too often neglected by drug companies and regulators.

1 September 2022

The European Implementing Regulation on Pharmacovigilance Activities

The proposed revision is a step towards greater independence from drug companies and better control of the quality and disclosure of data, but additional improvements are needed.

1 September 2022

EMA's response to Prescrire's analysis of EMA's transparency policy over the last 10 years

The reply by the European Medicines Agency's Executive Director, in response to Prescrire's critique of the Agency's transparency policy, with comments added by Prescrire, appears in the September 2022 issue of Prescrire International.

1 September 2022

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto°) for venous thromboembolism in children and adolescents

FEATURED REVIEW Rivaroxaban is the first oral factor Xa inhibitor to be granted marketing authorisation in the European Union for use in children and adolescents. In this situation, what benefit does rivaroxaban bring, compared to a heparin derivative or warfarin? What is its adverse effect profile in children and adolescents?
Full review (3 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 July 2022

Prescrire's analysis of EMA's transparency policy over the last 10 years: EMA's reply with Prescrire's comments

ADVANCING HEALTHCARE POLICY Prescrire sent a copy of its article "European Medicines Agency: transparency policy marred by too many failings" to Emer Cooke, Executive Director of the European Medicine Agency. Here is Emer Cooke's reply, with comments added by Prescrire.

1 July 2022

In the July-August issue of Prescrire International: Indacaterol + glycopyrronium + mometasone (Enerzair Breezhaler°) in asthma

FREE DOWNLOAD How do Prescrire's editors rate this new fixed-dose combination? And what about the questions raised by a "connected drug" such as the Enerzair Breezhaler°, with its electronic sensor that can record and transmit various data?

Full text available for free download.

1 July 2022

Covid-19: delays in other types of health care

Editorial Over 5 million deaths have been directly attributed to the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The estimated number of deaths doubles to quadruples when unrecorded cases and indirect deaths due to the impact of the pandemic on other healthcare services are taken into account.

1 July 2022

Delays in access to EMA documents: the Agency confers with Prescrire

A video conference was held between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Prescrire to discuss the delays in dealing with Prescrire's requests for access to documents.

1 July 2022

Intra-articular corticosteroids: risk of rapid destruction of the hip joint

Injection of corticosteroids into the hip joint is aimed at reducing pain and delaying the need for hip replacement. It is possible that, in some patients, these injections cause a rapid exacerbation of their condition.

1 July 2022

Abnormal body odour: drugs can be responsible

Some drugs alter body odour through their own odour, or via their effects on sweat, breath odour, saliva, or the microflora of the skin or mucous membranes.

1 July 2022

Prescrire is taking action at the European level

Via its policy advocacy, Prescrire acts as a force for change in health policies, first and foremost in the interest of patients. Summaries of three such actions undertaken at the European level were published in Prescrire International's July-August issue.

1 July 2022

New! "Top Texts of 2022", from the editors of Prescrire International

FREE SPECIAL EDITION Check out this sampling of texts from Prescrire International, a wholly independent monthly drug bulletin, written by and for healthcare professionals. Inside, top articles from sections dedicated to new drugs authorised in Europe and key information on adverse drug effects, plus our annual update of drugs to avoid. > Click here for your free copy

1 July 2022

Nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid°) in covid-19, for certain patients at risk of developing severe disease

FEATURED REVIEW The combination of nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid°) is an oral antiviral treatment for adults with covid-19 who have had symptoms for 5 days at most and do not require oxygen therapy, but who have at least one risk factor for developing severe covid-19. How do Prescrire's editors rate this combination in this situation?
Full review (4 pages) available for download by subscribers.

1 June 2022

In the June issue of Prescrire International. Hydroxycarbamide: interstitial lung disease

FREE DOWNLOAD Hydroxycarbamide, alias hydroxyurea, is a cytotoxic drug administered orally in some myeloproliferative syndromes, and to some patients with sickle cell disease to prevent acutely painful vaso-occlusive crises, acute chest syndrome and hospitalisation.

Full text available for free download.

1 June 2022

Not that common

Editorial Independence. Transparency. Two words that are overused, especially in the field of health care. Prescrire takes transparency as far as publishing its financial statement every year. Which is not that common.

1 June 2022

Prescrire's finances: 2021 annual report

Association Mieux Prescrire (AMP), the legal entity responsible for Prescrire's publications, is a non-profit organisation that makes its accounts public every year. The annual report for 2021 appears in the June issue of Prescrire International, and online here.

1 June 2022

Messenger RNA covid-19 vaccines tozinameran (Comirnaty°) and elasomeran (Spikevax°) during pregnancy

in focusWhat main points should pregnant women be aware of in order to make informed decisions about covid-19 vaccination?

1 June 2022

Peanut allergy: peanut-avoidant diet and access to adrenaline injector pens

For patients with peanut allergy, complete elimination of peanuts from the diet and access to adrenaline pens is a better option than oral desensitisation.

1 June 2022

Spotlight: Archives

Spotlight

2022

Covid-19 : Follow Prescrire's independent, evidence-based analysis of the pandemic

Viral vector covid-19 vaccines authorised in the European Union: a review of their adverse effects

In the October issue of Prescrire International: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu°) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer

An African covid-19 vaccine, despite foot-dragging by drug companies

Oral contraception: estetrol + drospirenone (Drovelis°), a combination to avoid

Antibiotic resistance: a growing threat

Oral use of injectable drugs: uncertain efficacy and known risks

Mycophenolic acid and pregnancy: genotoxicity, malformations, spontaneous abortions

In the September issue of Prescrire International: late-onset neutropenia linked to rituximab (Mabthera° or other brands)

Moderate use of medicines

Imiquimod 3.75% cream (Zyclara°) in actinic keratosis

How long should one wait after stopping a drug before starting a pregnancy?

Prescrire's annual review of drug packaging: choose high-quality packaging for safer health care

The European Implementing Regulation on Pharmacovigilance Activities

EMA's response to Prescrire's analysis of EMA's transparency policy over the last 10 years

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto°) for venous thromboembolism in children and adolescents

Prescrire's analysis of EMA's transparency policy over the last 10 years: EMA's reply with Prescrire's comments

In the July-August issue of Prescrire International: Indacaterol + glycopyrronium + mometasone (Enerzair Breezhaler°) in asthma

Covid-19: delays in other types of health care

Delays in access to EMA documents: the Agency confers with Prescrire

Intra-articular corticosteroids: risk of rapid destruction of the hip joint

Abnormal body odour: drugs can be responsible

Prescrire is taking action at the European level

New! "Top Texts of 2022", from the editors of Prescrire International

Nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid°) in covid-19, for certain patients at risk of developing severe disease

In the June issue of Prescrire International. Hydroxycarbamide: interstitial lung disease

Not that common

Prescrire's finances: 2021 annual report

Messenger RNA covid-19 vaccines tozinameran (Comirnaty°) and elasomeran (Spikevax°) during pregnancy

Peanut allergy: peanut-avoidant diet and access to adrenaline injector pens