New breast cancer drug beats Tamoxife

Women taking a new breast cancer drug are living longer than those taking Tamoxifen - the current 'gold standard' treatment

Doctors predict the new drug, Arimidex, will improve long-term survival for women using hormonal therapy for the first time in decades

Claimed as the biggest breakthrough in treatment for 20 years, it is the first drug to challenge tamoxifen, the standard treatment for postmenopausal women after surgery

Trial results out yesterday show the risk of a relapse within four years of surgery is cut by almost a fifth more in women taking Arimidex

Only 413 of 3,125 women taking the new drug had a breast cancer relapse or died compared with 472 of 3,116 women using tamoxifen

The latest research findings show Arimidex is much more effective than tamoxifen, which is normally used to stop patients successfully treated with surgery from developing a tumour in the other breast

Previous trial results found that although tamoxifen halves the risk of a new cancer in the other breast - Arimidex halves it again

Women taking Arimidex also suffer fewer cases of deep vein thrombosis and womb cancer - known sideeffects of tamoxifen use

Professor Jeffrey Tobias, Professor of Cancer Medicine at University College and Middlesex School of Medicine and one of the trial investigators, said: 'The results show that women taking Arimidex remain disease-free for longer than those on tamoxifen - so far we have observed fewer recurrences and a longer time before relapse in these patients

The study of 9,300 post-menopausal women worldwide, including 3,000 Britons, involves women being given Arimidex, tamoxifen or both

It shows that women with tumours that respond to hormonal therapy have an 18 per cent lower risk of a relapse after about four years of treatment, according to results released at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, Texas

Nail Fungus Drug Might Help Against HIV, Study Suggests

A common drug used to treat nail fungus may hold promise against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to a new study

In laboratory research, the anti-fungal drug Ciclopirox allowed HIV-infected cells to get killed off by blocking the cells' mitochondria -- their powerhouse. In addition, Ciclopirox eliminated HIV from cell cultures, and the virus did not return when the anti-fungal drug was stopped, the study authors said

This does not occur with currently available anti-HIV drugs, which must be taken for the rest of a patient's life, said study leaders Michael Mathews and Hartmut Hanauske-Abel, of the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

The effectiveness of Ciclopirox against HIV needs to be confirmed in human clinical trials. But because the drug is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of fungal infection and is considered safe, the clinical trial process for this treatment could be quicker and less costly than usual, the researchers said

The study is published in the current edition of the journal PLoS One

The use of combination antiretroviral drugs have vastly improved HIV treatment, the study authors said in a Rutgers news release. These so-called drug cocktails are effective at keeping HIV under control, but they never completely eradicate the infection

HIV's persistence is partially due to its ability to disable a cell's so-called suicide pathway, which is normally triggered when a cell becomes infected or damaged

New FDA Approved Drugs 2013

New FDA Approved Drugs 2013

The following database contains a listing of drugs approved by the Food and

 Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the United States

 Drug information typically includes the drug name, approval status, indication of use, and clinical trial result

Cardiology/Vascular Diseases

Kynamro (mipomersen sodium); Genzyme; For the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, Approved January 2013

Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin); Merck; For the treatment of hyoerlipidemia, Approved May 2013

Nymalize (nimodipine); Arbor Pharmaceuticals; For the reduction of incidence and severity of ischemic deficits following subarachnoid hemorrhage, Approved May 2013

Dermatology

Mekinist (trametinib); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations, Approved May of 2013

Mirvaso (brimonidine); Galderma Labs; For the treatment of facial erythema of rosacea, Approved August 2013

Sitavig (acyclovir) buccal tablets; BioAlliance Pharma; For the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in adults, Approved April 2013

Tafinlar (dabrafenib); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation, Approved May 2013

Valchlor (mechlorethamine) gel; Ceptaris Therapeutics; For the treatment of Stage IA/IB mycosisfungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Approved August 2013

Devices

Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Approved May 2013

Endocrinology

Brisdelle (low-dose paroxetine mesylate); Noven Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause, Approved July 2013

Invokana (canagliflozin); Janssen Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, Approved April 2013

Nesina (alogliptin); Takeda; For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, Approved January 2013

Osphena (ospemifene); Shionogi; For the treatment of dyspareunia and vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, Approved March 2013

Family Medicine

Actemra (ocilizumab); Genentech; For the treatment of Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Approved May 2013

Flublok (seasonal influenza vaccine); Protein Sciences; For the active immunization against influenza virus subtypes A and type B, Approved January 2013

Ilaris (canakinumab); Novartis; For the treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Invokana (canagliflozin); Janssen Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, Approved April 2013

Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin); Merck; For the treatment of hyoerlipidemia, Approved May 2013

Nesina (alogliptin); Takeda; For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, Approved January 2013

Osphena (ospemifene); Shionogi; For the treatment of dyspareunia and vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, Approved March 2013

Quartette (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol); Teva Pharmaceutical; For the prevention of conception, Approved April 2013

Sitavig (acyclovir) buccal tablets; BioAlliance Pharma; For the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in adults, Approved April 2013

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate); Biogen Idec; For the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, Approved March 2013

Uceris (budesonide); Santarus; For the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Approved January 2013

Gastroenterology

Simponi (golimumab); Janssen Biotech; For the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Aproved May 2013

Stivarga (regorafenib); Bayer; For the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, Approved February 2013

Uceris (budesonide); Santarus; For the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Approved January 2013

Genetic Disease

Kineret, anakinra; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum; For the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Approved January 2013

Kynamro (mipomersen sodium); Genzyme; For the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, Approved January 2013

Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate); Hyperion Therapeutics; For the treatment of pediatrics and adults with urea cycle disorders, Approved February 2013

Healthy Volunteers

Flublok (seasonal influenza vaccine); Protein Sciences; For the active immunization against influenza virus subtypes A and type B, Approved January 2013

Hematology

Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose injection); Luitpold Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, Approved July 2013

Kcentra (Prothrombin Complex Concentrate); CSL Behring; For the reversal of vitamin K antagonist therapy-induced coagulation factor deficiency, Approved May 2013

Nymalize (nimodipine); Arbor Pharmaceuticals; For the reduction of incidence and severity of ischemic deficits following subarachnoid hemorrhage, Approved May 2013

Pomalyst (pomalidomide); Celgene; For the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, Approved February 2013

Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate); Hyperion Therapeutics; For the treatment of pediatrics and adults with urea cycle disorders, Approved February 2013

Revlimid (lenalidomide); Celgene; For the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, Approved June 2013

Rixubis (Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant)]; Baxter International; For the routine prophylaxis and control of hemophilia B, Approved June 2013

Valchlor (mechlorethamine) gel; Ceptaris Therapeutics; For the treatment of Stage IA/IB mycosisfungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Approved August 2013

Immunology

Flublok (seasonal influenza vaccine); Protein Sciences; For the active immunization against influenza virus subtypes A and type B, Approved January 2013

Kineret, anakinra; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum; For the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Approved January 2013

Simponi (golimumab); Janssen Biotech; For the treatment of ulcerative colitis, Aproved May 2013

Sitavig (acyclovir) buccal tablets; BioAlliance Pharma; For the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in adults, Approved April 2013

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate); Biogen Idec; For the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, Approved March 2013

Tivicay (dolutegravir); ViiV HealthCare; For the treatment of HIV-1 in adults and children over 12 years of age, Approved August 2013

VariZIG, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (Human); Cangene; For the post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella zoster (chickenpox), Approved January 2013

Infections and Infectious Diseases

Flublok (seasonal influenza vaccine); Protein Sciences; For the active immunization against influenza virus subtypes A and type B, Approved January 2013

Sitavig (acyclovir) buccal tablets; BioAlliance Pharma; For the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis in adults, Approved April 2013

VariZIG, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (Human); Cangene; For the post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella zoster (chickenpox), Approved January 2013

Vibativ (telavancin); Theravance; For the treatment of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by staph aureus, Approved June 2013

Musculoskeletal

Actemra (ocilizumab); Genentech; For the treatment of Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Ilaris (canakinumab); Novartis; For the treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate); Biogen Idec; For the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis, Approved March 2013

Nephrology

Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose injection); Luitpold Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, Approved July 2013

Procysbi (cysteamine bitartrate); Raptor Pharmaceuticals; For the management of nephropathic cystinosis, Approved May 2013

Neurology

Fetzima (levomilnacipran); Forest Labs; For the treatment of major depressive disorder, Approved July 2013

Nymalize (nimodipine); Arbor Pharmaceuticals; For the reduction of incidence and severity of ischemic deficits following subarachnoid hemorrhage, Approved May 2013

Trokendi XR (topiramate); Supernus Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of partial onset, tonic-clonic and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome seizures, Approved August 2013

Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone); Orexo AB; For the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence, Approved July 2013

Nutrition and Weight Loss

Nesina (alogliptin); Takeda; For the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus, Approved January 2013

Obstetrics/Gynecology (Women’s Health)

Brisdelle (low-dose paroxetine mesylate); Noven Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause, Approved July 2013

Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine); Genentech; For the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, Approved February 2013

Lo Minastrin, (norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, ferrous fumarate); Warner Chilcott; For the prevention of pregnancy, Approved July 2013

Osphena (ospemifene); Shionogi; For the treatment of dyspareunia and vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, Approved March 2013

Quartette (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol); Teva Pharmaceutical; For the prevention of conception, Approved April 2013

Oncology

Gilotrif (afatinib); Boehringer Ingelheim; For the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations, Approved July 2013

Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine); Genentech; For the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, Approved February 2013

Mekinist (trametinib); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations, Approved May of 2013

Pomalyst (pomalidomide); Celgene; For the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, Approved February 2013

Revlimid (lenalidomide); Celgene; For the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma, Approved June 2013

Stivarga (regorafenib); Bayer; For the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, Approved February 2013

Tafinlar (dabrafenib); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation, Approved May 2013

Valchlor (mechlorethamine) gel; Ceptaris Therapeutics; For the treatment of Stage IA/IB mycosisfungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Approved August 2013

Xgeva (denosumab); Amgen; For the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone, Approved June 2013

Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride); Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastases, Approved May 2013

Orthopedics/Orthopedic Surgery

Xgeva (denosumab); Amgen; For the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone, Approved June 2013

Pediatrics/Neonatology

Actemra (ocilizumab); Genentech; For the treatment of Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Ilaris (canakinumab); Novartis; For the treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Kineret, anakinra; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum; For the treatment of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, Approved January 2013

Kynamro (mipomersen sodium); Genzyme; For the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, Approved January 2013

Ravicti (glycerol phenylbutyrate); Hyperion Therapeutics; For the treatment of pediatrics and adults with urea cycle disorders, Approved February 2013

Tivicay (dolutegravir); ViiV HealthCare; For the treatment of HIV-1 in adults and children over 12 years of age, Approved August 2013

Trokendi XR (topiramate); Supernus Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of partial onset, tonic-clonic and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome seizures, Approved August 2013

Pharmacology/Toxicology

Kcentra (Prothrombin Complex Concentrate); CSL Behring; For the reversal of vitamin K antagonist therapy-induced coagulation factor deficiency, Approved May 2013

Psychiatry/Psychology

Fetzima (levomilnacipran); Forest Labs; For the treatment of major depressive disorder, Approved July 2013

Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone); Orexo AB; For the maintenance treatment of opioid dependence, Approved July 2013

Pulmonary/Respiratory Diseases

Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder); GlaxoSmithKline; For the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Approved May 2013

Vibativ (telavancin); Theravance; For the treatment of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by staph aureus, Approved June 2013

Rheumatology

Actemra (ocilizumab); Genentech; For the treatment of Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Ilaris (canakinumab); Novartis; For the treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Approved May 2013

Trauma (Emergency, Injury, Surgery)

Kcentra (Prothrombin Complex Concentrate); CSL Behring; For the reversal of vitamin K antagonist therapy-induced coagulation factor deficiency, Approved May 2013

Urology

Xofigo (radium Ra 223 dichloride); Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals; For the treatment of prostate cancer with bone metastases, Approved May 2013

Vaccines

Flublok (seasonal influenza vaccine); Protein Sciences; For the active immunization against influenza virus subtypes A and type B, Approved January 2013

VariZIG, Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (Human); Cangene; For the post-exposure prophylaxis of varicella zoster (chickenpox), Approved January 2013