english.prescrire.org > Prescrire International > N°99 - February 2009

n°99

February 2009

Issue Contents
Editorial

Free  Non-inferiority = a non event!

p.2
Patients should not participate in non-inferiority trials

Marketing Authorisations

Nelarabine T-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (New Drug)

p.3-5
More evaluation needed

Dexrazoxane anthracycline extravasation (New Indication)

p.6-8
Not acceptable. Dimethyl sulfoxide is best

Albumin-bound paclitaxel breast cancer metastases (New Drug)

p.8-9
No progress

Lapatinib metastatic breast cancer (New Drug)

p.9
Possibly helpful in some cases

Bevacizumab kidney cancer (New Indication)

p.10
Premature approval

Bevacizumab non-small cell lung cancer (New Indication)

p.11
Too many adverse effects

INN common stems: -stat

p.12

INN common stems: -mer

p.12

Anidulafungin invasive candidiasis (New Drug)

p.12
Just another echinocandin

Eculizumab nocturnal paroxystic haemoglobinuria (New Drug)

p.13
Fewer transfusions

Duloxetine fibromyalgia (Rejection)

p.14
Approval finally not granted

Sitagliptin in combination with a sulphonylurea (New Indication)

p.14-15
Other treatments are preferable

Hydroxycarbamide sickle cell disease (New Drug)

p.15
For severe cases only

Extracorporeal methoxsalen (New Drug)

p.16
Cutaneous T cell lymphoma: for rare patients

Epoetin alfa (Biosimilar)

p.16-17
First copy of Eprex°

Methadone capsules (New Formulation)

p.17
Long-awaited formulation

Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C relapse (New Indication)

p.18
For some patients

Free  Rivastigmine patches (Line Extension)

p.19
No advantage and less convenient

Adverse Effects

Drug-induced Lyell and Stevens-Johnson syndromes

p.20-22
Rare, sometimes fatal and mostly drug-induced

Buprenorphine and pregnancy

p.22
Relatively reassuring data

Bisphosphonates: bone, muscle and joint pain

p.23
Patients treated for osteoporosis are especially at risk.

Rimonabant

p.24
Depression and suicide

Praxinor°

p.24
Abuse and dependence

Mycophenolate

p.25
Miscarriage and birth defects

Bisphosphonates

p.25
Atypical fractures?

Varenicline

p.25
The French experience after 6 months

Reviews

Fungal nail infections

p.26-30
Diagnosis and management

Prescrire's advice: Management of fungal nail infection

p.29

The common cold

p.31-32
Key information for healthcare professionals and the public

Management of primary liver cancer

p.33-34
Choosing the most appropriate treatment is tricky

Antioxidants

p.34
Not for prevention

Outlook

Free  WHO is mandated at last to do essential biomedical research

p.35
An unprecedented move

Marketing isomers

p.36-37
An optical illusion

Waivers for standard marketing authorisation of drugs

p.37-40
More rapid market access, but less thorough evaluation

Self-medication and pregnancy

p.40
Many women are not aware that common drugs can harm their unborn child

Swiss doctor-pharmacist "quality circles"

p.41-42
Confirmed benefits

Swiss doctor-pharmacist quality circles, 1997 to 2008

p.42

Free  Medicines in Europe: where are we headed?

p.44

Masthead

Free  Issue masthead

p.43

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