Data Dose October 2024 #4
Polypharmacy and the Complex Maze of Drug Interactions in Pharmacovigilance
As patients, particularly the elderly, are increasingly prescribed multiple medications, polypharmacy has become a pressing concern in healthcare. Intended to manage multiple coexisting conditions, these prescriptions bring challenges that go beyond merely taking several drugs; they introduce a mix of interactions that may lead to adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Pharmacovigilance plays a critical role in monitoring these risks, protecting patient health, and assisting healthcare providers in navigating the complexities of drug interactions. Read more...
UK regulator tells doctors to watch out for obesity injection misuse
The UK's drug safety regulator is urging doctors to be vigilant for potential misuse of obesity injections like Wegovy. This alert comes after reports of non-obese individuals experiencing illness after using these injections for weight loss. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) emphasizes that these drugs are intended solely for treating obesity and diabetes. Health Secretary Wes Streeting supports this message, stating that these are "serious medicines" and not for cosmetic purposes. Although most side effects are mild, the MHRA notes that some can be severe. Read more...
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Scientists Discover Common Eye Medication Could Outsmart Alzheimer’s
A commonly used glaucoma medication has shown potential in reducing tau protein build-up in zebrafish and mice brains, an accumulation linked to dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Cambridge, screened over 1,400 clinically approved drugs in zebrafish genetically modified for tauopathies. They found that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, including the glaucoma drug methazolamide, could effectively reduce tau build-up and alleviate disease symptoms in zebrafish and tau-mutated mice associated with human dementias. Read more...
Fostering regulatory collaboration to improve access to mpox medicines
International regulators have published a report discussing the development, clinical trials, and availability of vaccines and treatments for mpox. The report summarizes outcomes from a workshop organized by EMA under the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA). In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern. The illness, caused by the monkeypox virus, is endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, with recent case surges driven by the mpox clade I strain evolving into a new sub-clade Ib, much like the clade II strain during the 2022/2023 outbreak. Medicine availability has been a major challenge during these outbreaks. Read more...