Patients looking to save on antipsychotics have a new option. The patent protecting Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster Risperdal expired yesterday, and today the FDA said it granted approval to Teva Pharmaceuticals to market the first generic version.

The Israeli generics maker was at the ready. “Shipping has commenced,” Teva spokeswoman Denise Bradley told the Health Blog.

Teva has 180 days of market exclusivity before other generic manufacturers can enter the fray with their own versions. The six-month monopoly on the generic, known as risperidone, should mean big bucks for Teva because the price of a generic doesn’t tend to fall very far during that period.

But J&J said today that it launched its own authorized generic, too. That may drive prices down some, but typically the cost of a generic doesn’t really go through the floor until the market is flooded with lots of generic options.

A D.C. court granted Teva the exclusivity period in April, but the issue is still in the courts, with a hearing scheduled for September 12, according to Teva. If the ruling is overturned, other generics makers may be able to enter the market before the six-month period is up. Five other generics companies, including Ranbaxy, which the FDA erroneously listed as having received approval back in March, have already gotten tentative nods, according to the FDA.

The end of J&J’s own monopoly could pack a punch. Risperdal brought more than $2 billion in U.S. sales last year. Meanwhile, Invega, another J&J antipsychotic that many doctors believe is simply a me-too drug, so far hasn’t been a big seller.

Risperdal photo via Wikimedia Commons

Californians hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) could more than double their chances of survival if they are treated at one of the top-rated hospitals, according to a newly released report from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), "Community Acquired Pneumonia: Hospital Outcomes in California, 2003-2005.

Just when we were talking about delays keeping drug makers’ products from the U.S. market, GlaxoSmithKline announced that its cervical-cancer vaccine Cervarix may take even longer to get to the U.S. than expected.

The company said today that it wants to submit additional data to the FDA, and it now doesn’t expect an FDA decision before late 2009. The FDA had already delayed Cervarix, asking Glaxo for more information.

Now, Glaxo says it has answered the FDA’s questions, but wants to submit more data from a clinical trial that should finish by the end of this year. The clinical trial is measuring Cervarix’s safety and efficacy in thousands of women. Glaxo submitted interim data from the trial with its initial application to the FDA in March 2007.

The development means more profit for Merck, whose blockbuster Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine on the U.S. market. Cervarix is on the market in Europe, Mexico, Australia and parts of Asia.

Image: iStockphoto

Just when we were talking about delays keeping drug makers’ products from the U.S. market, GlaxoSmithKline announced that its cervical-cancer vaccine Cervarix may take even longer to get to the U.S. than expected.

The company said today that it wants to submit additional data to the FDA, and it now doesn’t expect an FDA decision before late 2009. The FDA had already delayed Cervarix, asking Glaxo for more information.

Now, Glaxo says it has answered the FDA’s questions, but wants to submit more data from a clinical trial that should finish by the end of this year. The clinical trial is measuring Cervarix’s safety and efficacy in thousands of women. Glaxo submitted interim data from the trial with its initial application to the FDA in March 2007.

The development means more profit for Merck, whose blockbuster Gardasil is the only cervical cancer vaccine on the U.S. market. Cervarix is on the market in Europe, Mexico, Australia and parts of Asia.

Image: iStockphoto

Global drug delivery company, pSivida Corp. (NASDAQ: PSDV)(ASX: PVA)(FSE: PSI) today reported the interim three-month safety and efficacy results from the first human pharmacokinetic(1) (PK) study of Medidur™ FA, in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). This Phase II study is designed to support the ongoing pivotal Phase III clinical trial of Medidur in DME.

The colon is one of the important organs for the digestive system of the body. It helps in the proper functioning of the body by removing the harmful substances in the body. Many of these available treatments for colon cleaning can cause a lot of pain or take a lot of time to clean the colon tube. In spite of this, the people mostly prefer colon cleaning through the natural treatment.

Many medicinal herbs are used to make medicine for the treatment. The use of such herbs guarantees safety to the person taking the treatment of colon cleaning. Also medicinal herbs are the medicines that are being used since the ancient times. As such there is less risk involved.

Many medicinal herbs are used for the colon cleaning. These are extracted from the herbs to prepare the medicine. All these extracts are taken in small quantities and boiled. The rose extract is then used after mixing it with the water used for boiling. This produces a valuable medicine that is very much of use for cleaning colon.

The person taking the treatment has to take a spoonful of this medicine everyday for approximately fifteen days. Drinking lots of water everyday also helps in cleaning the colon in the safest way. In addition, following a regular diet that contains lots of juicy fruits as well as fruits and vegetables containing fibers helps in cleaning the colon. Such are the ways in which the person can clean his colons harmlessly. Also these treatments are also very cheap. As such the person does not have to spend much to clean his colon.

George Christodoulou,

For more information about natural colon cleansing, please visit
ColonCleansingBlueprint.com for one of the most comprehensive colon
cleansing systems on the market today. You will also learn about colon cleanse

Keeping the colon healthy is very essential to keep the body protected from the diseases that instigate from an impure colon like cancer. There are various other advantages of keeping the colon clean like functioning of the body parts in an ideal manner. There are various complications in the human body due to improper intake of diet. Junk food, packaged food may lead to constipation which results in obstacle in the movement of the bowels.

After digestion the useless foods stuff moves out of the body in form of excreta. Hence more the intake of not regular foodstuff more will be the waste thus hindering the proper functioning of the body parts. Balanced diet may lead to proper movement of bowels and thus colon gets cleaned.

One more advantage of colon cleansing is reducing the extra and excessive weight. Due the waste that gets collected in the colon one may put on excess weight hence exposing the body to various fat related diseases like diabetes and cardiac arrest. After colon cleansing this excess weight is removed in a healthy manner. In order to avoid accumulation of wastes in the colon one should always prefer balanced diet and fresh foodstuffs.

Fruits should be consumed on a large scale and oily food products should be avoided. Green vegetables which contain high amount of fibers should be preferred as fibers are can be a natural colon cleaning tool. Better diet and decent food habits are the best and natural ways of cleaning the colon.

George Christodoulou,

For more information about colon cleansing program, please visit
ColonCleansingBlueprint.com for one of the most comprehensive colon
cleansing systems on the market today. You will also learn about colon cleanse

Greer, a leading developer and provider of allergy immunotherapy products and services, has completed enrollment for its pivotal Phase III clinical trial designed to study the efficacy of sublingual-oral immunotherapy (SLIT) as a treatment for adults with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by short ragweed pollen.

The colon should not be considered as one of the minor parts but it plays a very vital role in keeping the body refreshed and clean and tidy. It is a very critical part of the body which helps the person to keep his body healthy and strong.

The body should always intake healthy diet so that the colon is kept clear and tidy. There are various causes for colon problems in one’s body so he should take appropriate steps and follow the right procedure so that colon is kept healthy and are taken properly care off. These waste products can further in future if not cleared on time can lead to dangerous hazards and have negative effects on one’s body.

Many people have now realized that cleansing of colon is one of the most vital parts and hence many of them have now started following it. If the colon of the individual is been cleared regularly then he will not suffer from getting exhausted or from emptying his bowels and also weight loss is experienced. Every organ in the body is important and so it’s necessary to keep it checked and updated every now and then possible.

Cleansing of colon is one of the very important procedure as it helps to keep the body fit and without any kind of sufferings. Colon cleansing is now a very much safe and the best way to get rid of the unwanted waste products. Colon cleansing is now dealt with the use of sterilized and disposable tubes and tips. It doesn’t have any threats and is also doesn’t contain any kind of harmful side effects.

George Christodoulou,

For more information about colon cleansing system, please visit
ColonCleansingBlueprint.com for one of the most comprehensive colon
cleansing systems on the market today. You will also learn about natural colon cleansing

Praxis, a company specializing in centralized patient recruitment for clinical research studies, recently provided patient recruitment services to a major pharmaceutical company for a study to test an investigational medication for a women's health indication. The recruitment program saved over 13 months off the enrollment period and delivered a 370% return on investment for the sponsor.