EMEA recommends suspension of the marketing authorisation of Raptiva (efalizumab)
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation for Raptiva (efalizumab), from Serono. The EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that the benefits of Raptiva no longer outweigh its risks, because of safety concerns, including the occurrence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients taking the medicine.
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European Medicines Agency welcomes continuation of D:A:D study
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has welcomed the commitment of the sponsors to continue the D:A:D study at least until 2012. This ensures that the study, which was started on the initiative of the EMEA in 1999, will remain one of the most powerful pharmacovigilance tools to monitor the long-term safety of antiretroviral medicines.
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FDA Approves Drug for Patients with Advanced Prostate Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the injectable drug degarelix, the first new drug in several years for prostate cancer. Degarelix is intended to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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FDA's Monthly Video Series Wins Award
"FDA Patient Safety News," the FDA's monthly video series for health care professionals, has won the Cheers Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for efforts to improve the safe use of medical products and prevent medical errors.
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EMEA recommends the suspension of the marketing authorisation of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride)
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation of Ionsys (fentanyl hydrochloride), from Janssen-Cilag International NV, because of a defect with the delivery system of the medicine that could lead to patients being overdosed.
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FDA Warns Public of Extortion Scam by FDA Impersonators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about a fraudulent scheme to extort money from consumers by callers who falsely identify themselves as "FDA special agents" or other FDA officials. Several instances have been reported to the FDA of calls enticing consumers to purchase discounted prescription drugs by wiring funds to one of several locations in the Dominican Republic.
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FDA Seizes Contaminated Heparin from a Cincinnati Manufacturer
As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ongoing efforts to ensure that heparin for patients remains safe, the government has seized 11 lots of heparin from Celsus Laboratories Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio. The five lots of Heparin Sodium Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and six lots of Heparin Lithium were seized at the FDA's request by U.S. Marshals.
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The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended the suspension of the marketing authorisation for Raptiva (efalizumab), from Serono. The EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has concluded that the benefits of Raptiva no longer outweigh its risks, because of safety concerns, including the occurrence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients taking the medicine. 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the injectable drug degarelix, the first new drug in several years for prostate cancer. Degarelix is intended to treat patients with advanced prostate cancer.