Several controlled studies provide evidence that treatment with interferon beta in patients with a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) delays conversion to clinically definite MS (CDMS). Our aim was to determine whether early initiation of treatment with interferon beta prevents development of confirmed disability in MS.

An international trial looking at the benefits of giving blood pressure-lowering medication to those aged 80 and over has stopped early, after reserachers observed significant reductions in overall mortality in those receiving treatment.

FDA issued in the united state an early communication about the ongoing review of new safety data for the proton pump inhibitors, Prilosec and Nexium. The new safety data was from two small long-term clinical studies in patients with severe GERD. In both studies, patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with a drug (either omeprazole or esomeprazole) or to have surgery to control their gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs (e.g., warfarin, clopidogrel and acetylsalicylic acid) are key therapeutic agents in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, drug – drug interactions may lead to a greatly increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding when these drugs are combined. Researchers assessed whether antithrombotic drug combinations increased the risk of such bleeding in a general practice population.

The aim of this study was to elucidate indicator of interferon (IFN) therapy for reducing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C patients without eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA during IFN therapy. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, IFN period for more than 1.5 years and persistently positive HCV-RNA during IFN therapy. Two hundred thirty-six patients satisfied above criteria were treated with IFN for 1.5-5 years (median 1.8 years, mean 2 years). Mean age was 55.1 years and male was 145(61%).

September 5, 2007 – The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the British equivalent of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), announced updated safety information regarding the use of Tibolone, a hormone replacement therapy. Tibolone was first marketed in Saudi Arabia in 1998.

Tibolone is considered as first line treatment for postmenopausal symptoms and as a second line therapy for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Zolmitriptan nasal spray, at doses of 5 and 10 mg, is effective and tolerable for the acute treatment of cluster headache. The Objective was To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of zolmitriptan 5 mg and 10 mg nasal spray (ZNS) vs placebo in the acute treatment of cluster headache.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology published that Valsartan can slow progression and/or reverse early cardiovascular disease in asymptomatic high-risk patients with prehypertension or BP controlled to <140/90 mm Hg.

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), hydroxychloroquine prevents disease flares and damage accrual and facilitates the response to mycophenolate mofetil in those with renal involvement. A study was undertaken to determine whether hydroxychloroquine also exerts a protective effect on survival.

September 10, 2007 – The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Health Canada the equivalents of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), announced that Pfizer issued a Dear Healthcare Professional Letter to inform healthcare professionals of the presence of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), a process-related impurity in VIRACEPT (nelfinavir mesylate) and to provide guidance on the use of VIRACEPT in patients, including pregnant women and pediatric patients. Viracept used for HIV patient.