Data Dose August 2024 #5

Referral Procedures: How the EU Safeguards Medicines

In the European Union, ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicines is a top priority. A vital tool that regulatory authorities use to manage and harmonize decisions on human medicines is the referral procedure. These procedures are central to the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) operations, addressing safety concerns, efficacy issues, and the need for consistent regulation across member states. This article delves into the various types of referral procedures, their objectives, and their significance for public health. Read more...

Indy nonprofit’s drug safety campaign removed from Facebook

Indiana-based nonprofit Overdose Lifeline launched a video campaign aimed at making fentanyl test strips more accessible to Gen Z, but Meta removed the content from Facebook, according to the organization. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is increasingly found laced in street drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) notes that fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. When combined with other drugs, it can amplify their potency significantly, and just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. Read more...

How You Can Practice Pharmaceutical Safety

When picking up a prescription or getting a vaccination, trusting that the medication is safe is crucial. In the U.S., a combination of laws, procedures, and personal responsibility ensures drug safety, known as pharmacovigilance. Physician Paul Beninger emphasizes that drug safety is a continuous process, with pharmaceuticals being regularly assessed and reassessed. "There’s a whole network of agencies and individuals constantly working to keep drugs safe," he notes. Read more...

A Surprising Ally: Diabetes Drugs Battle Dementia

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, may also help prevent dementia, with longer treatment potentially offering greater benefits, according to a large study from Korea published in The BMJ on August 28. However, since this study was observational, the researchers caution that the effect size may be overestimated and suggest that randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings. The WHO reports that the global number of people with dementia is expected to reach 78 million by 2030, with type 2 diabetes being linked to an increased risk of developing the condition. Read more...