FDA Issues Warning for the Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix

Medicine & Technology Mar 10, 2015

Chantix has helped many people quit smoking in the years since its release. However, on Monday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about the quit-smoking drug made by Pfizer Inc. According to the FDA, the drug has been associated with seizures and that some patients who drink while taking the drug may become aggressive or even black out.

Novartis Seeking Approval for Medication to Treat 'Smoker's Cough'

Jan 09, 2015

Novartis AG, a Swiss drug maker, is seeking U.S. regulatory approval for two new drugs designed to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), otherwise known as "smoker's cough". Approval of the drugs could generate an additional $1.4 billion for the company, while helping chronic smokers breathe a little clearer in the process.

Consumer Reports Study Finds Americans Know Little About the Weight Loss Supplements They Take

Jan 05, 2015

How trusting are American consumers when it comes to weight loss supplements? And exactly how easily do we fall prey to these products' marketing strategies? A recent Consumer Reports survey found that many Americans are misinformed about weight loss supplements, including their quality and efficacy.

Drug Approvals Reached New High in 2014: What's Next?

Jan 04, 2015

Approvals for medicine in the United States have reached their highest levels in eighteen years, and recommendations for new drugs in Europe also came at a rapid rate, driven by expensive new treatments for cancer and other rare and serious diseases. After enduring wave after wave of patent losses on some of their larger, more popular drugs, pharmaceutical firms are beginning to recover by bringing new medicines to the market, while also improving their productivity.

FDA Approves a Fast-Acting Ebola Test

Dec 31, 2014

The fight to stop Ebola continues to rage on across the world as researchers continue to find new ways to both detect and treat the deadly virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a new test to detect the virus in patients believed to be suffering from the virus.

Caramel Apples May Not Be So Sweet—Listeria Outbreak Across US

Dec 19, 2014

This holiday season you may want to steer clear of the sweets—or at least caramel apples. Though the caramel sweets are often an Autumn/Winter treat, health officials with the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are saying that they may be the link between a multi-state Listeria outbreak that has to date led to more than four deaths, and dozens of hospitalizations. Reporting this morning, Dec. 19, on the condition of the outbreak, the CDC says that at least 28 individuals spanning the states of Arizona, Texas and Minnesota have been infected and are facing the life-threatening illness.

Gay and Bisexual Men in the U.S.May Be Allowed to Donate Blood

Nov 15, 2014

Panel considers lifting FDA ban on blood donations by gay men.

FDA approves Esbriet and Ofev in the U.S. as treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Oct 16, 2014

FDA approves the selling of Esbriet and Ofev in the U.S. as treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.