Health Care Information and Resources

Court ruling could pave way for Gemzar generics

A decision by a U.S. appeals court could pave the way for cheaper generic drugs forms of Eli Lilly and Co’s Gemzar cancer drug to be launched in the United States beginning in mid-November. Many industry analysts have expected Gemzar to lose U.S. marketing exclusivity in mid-November, when protection on the blockbuster drug’s basic chemical patent [...]

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U.N. urged to probe U.S. trade stance on generic drugs

AIDS groups on Tuesday accused the United States of violating the health rights of millions of poor people around the world through trade policies that make it harder for them to get life-saving drugs. A coalition that includes Health Gap, the Foundation for AIDS Rights and the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS formally asked [...]

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A pill to make you smarter? Drug grows brain cells

Researchers have found a drug that can help the brain grow new cells and said their study may lead to ways to improve experimental Alzheimer’s drugs. The researchers’ work, done on rodents, builds on findings that all mammals, including humans, make brain cells throughout their lives. Most of these die, but this drug helps more of [...]

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Outdated Meds Pose Problems If Kept or Tossed

It’s a common find in medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers: a prescription vial containing years-old medication or an over-the-counter cold remedy that’s embarrassingly past its sell-by date. But unless they’re spring-cleaning, many people don’t bother throwing away these items. And when they do, people often turn to the toilet and flush the products away. Both behaviors are [...]

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Abuse of meds sends as many to ER as illegal drugs

For the first time, abuse of painkillers and other medication is sending as many people to the emergency room as the use of illegal drugs. In 2008, ERS saw an estimated 1 million visits from people abusing prescription or over-the-counter medicines — mostly painkillers and sedatives. That was about the same number of visits from those [...]

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