n°113

February 2011

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  With more follow-up

p.32
Calling initial assessments into question

Marketing Authorisations

Saxagliptin (type 2 diabetes) (New Drug)

p.33-37
No more effective than other gliptins, but a high potential for drug interactions

Imatinib (adjuvant therapy after surgical excision of gastrointestinal stromal tumour) (New Indication)

p.38
Too many unknowns

INN common stems : -trexed

p.38

Pemetrexed (maintenance therapy for non-small cell lung cancer) (New Indication)

p.39
Inadequately assessed, no proven advantages

Azacitidine (in myelodysplasia syndromes) (New Drug)

p.40
Promising, but more data needed

Adverse Effects

Drug-induced cataracts

p.41-43
Mostly corticosteroids, even after local or inhaled treatment

Drospirenone: high risk of venous thrombosis

p.43-45
Combined contraceptives: levonorgestrel and norethisterone are safer

Free  Benfluorex: how many deaths?

p.45
Pulmonary arterial hypertension and valve damage

Free  Dextropropoxyphene and cardiac disorders: new data

p.45
QT prolongation

Reviews

Adjuvant chemotherapy for localised colon cancer

p.46-49
Fluorouracil + folinic acid for node-positive, non-metastatic disease

Prescrire's advice: adjuvant treatment of colon cancer

p.49

Management of uncomplicated hypertension during pregnancy

p.50-51
ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and aliskiren must be avoided

Prescrire's advice: management of uncomplicated hypertension during pregnancy

p.51

Outlook

Free  Treatment choices: specialist bias

p.52
Patients need access to balanced information

Free  Facing obstacles, yet doing one's job properly

p.53
A number of stakeholders are daring to do the right thing

Perseverance

p.54
Prescrire challenges the EMA's secrecy

Queries and comments : Activated charcoal adsorbs colchicine but does not replace gastric lavage

p.54

Free  Pharmacovigilance in Europe: some progress, but a missed opportunity

p.56

Masthead

Free  Masthead

p.30

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