Rheumatology Drug Updates

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BSc, RPh, is a freelance medical writer based in New York City, a clinical pharmacist at New York Downtown Hospital, and adjunct faculty at Touro College of Pharmacy.

References

1. Bratulic A. Celgene’s psoriasis drug apremilast meets primary endpoint in Phase III study. Published March 3, 2013. Available at www.firstwordpharma.com/forward/emailref?path=node/1061980. Accessed March 4, 2013.
2. Lilly discontinues Phase 3 rheumatoid arthritis program for tabalumab based on efficacy results. Published February 7, 2013. Available at https://investor.lilly.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=738769. Accessed February 7, 2013.
3. CDC Grand Rounds. Prescription Drug Overdoses—a U.S. Epidemic. Published January 13, 2013. Available at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3.htm. Accessed February 5, 2013.
4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The scope of substance abuse in America. Published October 2012. Available at www.samhsa.gov/prevention/nationalpreventionmonth. Accessed February 4, 2013.
5. Epidemic: Responding to America’s prescription drug abuse crisis. Published April 2011. Available at www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/policy-and-research/rx_abuse_plan.pdf. Accessed February 5, 2013.
6. Alliance of States with Prescription Monitoring Programs. About the alliance. Available at www.pmpalliance.org/content/about-alliance. Accessed February 4, 2013.
7. New York State Department of Health. Frequently asked questions part C chapter 447 laws of 2012 (Controlled Substance Schedule Changes. Published November 2012. Available at www.health.ny.gov/professionals/narcotic/laws_and_regulations/part_c-chapter_447-laws_of_2012-faq.htm. Accessed February 4, 2013.
8. Liscinsky M. FDA issues draft guidance on abuse-deterrent opioids. Published January 9, 2013. Available at www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm334785.htm. Accessed February 4, 2013.
9. Galloway JB, Mercer L, Moseley A, et al. Risk of skin and soft tissue infections (including shingles) in patients exposed to anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy results from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013;72:229-234.
10. Winthrop KL, Baddley JW, Chen L, et al. Association between the initiation of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy and the risk of herpes zoster. JAMA 2013;309:887-895.
11. Geber J. Fatal reactions prompt Omontys recall. Published February 24, 2013. Available at www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Anemia/37509. Accessed February 24, 2013.