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Spotlight

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

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Spotlight

100 most recent
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Victims of drug-induced harms: the need for recognition

Editorial No health intervention, and in particular no drug, can be assumed to be risk-free. The risk of serious adverse effects from taking a drug is acceptable if: the patient's clinical situation would expose them to serious harm if left untreated; the drug has demonstrated clinical efficacy; there are no better options; and the patient has, as far as possible, understood and accepted the risks involved.
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1 September 2026

Zuranolone (Zurzuvae°) in postpartum depression

Marketing Authorisations Oral zuranolone has been granted marketing autorisation in the European Union for use in adults with postpartum depression. Is zuranolone more effective than an antidepressant at alleviating depressive symptoms and improving quality of life in postpartum depression? Is it effective in patients in whom an antidepressant has failed? Does it reduce the risk of the mother harming the child or herself? What are its adverse effects, in particular its central nervous system effects? What is its potential for dependence or abuse?
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1 September 2026

Mental health policy: the neurobiology offensive

Outlook Political lobbying by pharmaceutical companies is a well-known, established phenomenon. But policy makers are also targeted by other actors in the health sector. These include the French foundation Fondation Fondamental, whose advocacy work addressing mental health care has been analysed in detail in a recent study.
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1 September 2026

In-utero exposure to PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors: autoimmune disorders?

Adverse Effects Several cases of autoimmune disorders have been reported in children exposed in utero to an immunostimulant of the PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor class.
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1 September 2026

In-utero exposure to paracetamol and neuropsychological development

Adverse Effects Three cohort studies have compared the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in more than 200 000 children exposed in utero to paracetamol, versus unexposed children. In these studies, overall analyses showed a small excess risk (of about 5%), but it disappeared in sibling-controlled analyses, a method that better controls for confounding factors. In other words, the results of sibling-controlled analyses represent higher-level evidence.
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1 September 2026

A trustworthy companion

Editorial With each passing day, it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between reliable information, opinion pieces and blatant disinformation. While this confusing media landscape may not be new, its scale in 2026 is unprecedented, posing a threat to societal stability, democracies around the world and the health of patients. To cut through the confusion, some media sources have opted for a straightforward, tried-and-true method: providing robust information based on verifiable facts. This is the approach Prescrire has taken in the information space for health professionals.
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1 July 2026

Elafibranor (Iqirvo°) in primary biliary cholangitis

Marketing Authorisations Elafibranor has been authorised in the European Union for use in patients with primary biliary cholangitis, either as monotherapy or in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid. Does elafibranor reduce mortality when added to ursodeoxycholic acid in patients with primary biliary cholangitis in whom ursodeoxycholic acid is considered insufficiently effective, or as monotherapy when ursodeoxycholic acid causes unacceptable adverse effects? Does it alleviate symptoms and reduce the incidence of complications? And what are its adverse effects?
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1 July 2026

In-utero exposure to mesalazine: renal disorders, haematological disorders and possibly malformations

Adverse Effects A group of French regional pharmacovigilance centres analysed several reports of renal disorders in children who had been exposed in utero to mesalazine. Other data on first-trimester exposure suggest a higher risk of major malformations in exposed children than in unexposed children, mainly cardiovascular defects.
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1 July 2026

GLP-1 agonists: thyroid cancer (continued)

Adverse Effects According to a meta-analysis of 44 randomised clinical trials including a total of 84 000 patients, exposure to a GLP-1 agonist is associated with an approximately 1.6-fold risk of thyroid cancer compared to non-exposure.
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1 July 2026

Extending drug shelf life: potential economic and environmental benefits

Outlook A willingness by pharmaceutical companies to apply to extend the shelf lives of their products could enable savings for national health insurance systems and represent a possible solution to drug shortages. It would also be aligned with a more environmentally-friendly approach.
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1 July 2026

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