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723 Independent
review to clarify Society's future role An independent review
to examine how the Royal Pharmaceutical Society can separate its regulatory
and professional leadership functions is to be undertaken, the Council
agreed at its meeting last week
PJ 2006;277:723
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723 Society seeks
to decriminalise single dispensing and labelling errors A
change to legislation is to be sought by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
to decriminalise single dispensing and labelling errors. Decriminalising
errors would encourage a culture of open reporting and learning and reduce
tensions between practising pharmacists and the Society, members of Council
argued at its meeting last week
PJ 2006;277:723
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724 Quality
of pharmacy CPD challenged at APPG inquiry Many courses offering continuing
professional development for pharmacists are of questionable value, an inquiry
into the future of pharmacy has been told
PJ 2006;277:724
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724 Independent prescribing
courses Two conversion courses for existing supplementary prescribers
that will give participants independent prescribing status have been approved
by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The courses are the first to be announced
and will be provided by Reading and Keele universities
PJ 2006;277:724
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724 Other professions
trust pharmacy Pharmacists are among the providers of advice on medicines
and side effects that are most trusted by other health care professionals, according
to research carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency
PJ 2006;277:724
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724 UK health research
set to be reformed following Cooksey review A central body for co-ordinating
health research in the UK is proposed in Sir David Cooksey's review of UK health
research, published last week. The Government has accepted the Cooksey report
in full
PJ 2006;277:724
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725 Other
companies consider distribution shake-up Turmoil in the supply chain
seems set to continue following a report published this week in The Times, saying
that AstraZeneca will introduce a single-wholesaler distribution arrangement
in the UK, following Pfizer's lead
PJ 2006;277:725
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725 MPs concerned over Pfizer's “anti-pharmacy” plans Over
20 members of Parliament have backed a motion expressing alarm at the potential
impact on patient access to essential medicines of Pfizer's proposals for distributing
products in the UK
PJ 2006;277:725
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725 NHS Scotland underspent NHS Scotland was underspent by £71m on its £9bn budget at the end of the 2005–06 financial year, compared with an overspend of £32m the year before. This is the conclusion of an Audit Scotland report published this week
PJ 2006;277:725
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725 Computer endorsement Pharmacists
in Scotland are being asked to ensure computer software does not endorse prescriptions
inaccurately. This follows an investigation by NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services
that found prescriptions that had been endorsed for pack sizes smaller than those
which had been dispensed, resulting in greater reimbursement
PJ 2006;277:725
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725 Largest co-ops discuss
merging
PJ 2006;277:725
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726 NICE
guidance must not stifle innovation, says NPA Innovation will be stifled if National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance fails to strike the right balance between evidence-based practice and the plan, do, study, act approach adopted by front-line modernisers, according to John D'Arcy, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association. Mr D'Arcy was participating in a panel discussion entitled “Getting the professionals on board” at the NICE annual conference in Birmingham last week
PJ 2006;277:726
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726 Give weight management
advice to smokers who are trying to stop, NICE recommends Health care
professionals such as pharmacists should offer weight management advice to people
who are trying to stop smoking, according to a new clinical guideline released
this week by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
PJ 2006;277:726
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726 Inhaled insulin for
routine diabetes use rejected by NICE Inhaled insulin is not recommended
for the routine treatment of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus,
the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence announced this week
PJ 2006;277:726
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726 Databases launched
by NICE Two online databases to support implementation of National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance were launched at the institute's
annual conference held in Birmingham last week
PJ 2006;277:726
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727 Scotland
rejects drugs for multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and adrenocortical
carcinoma Natalizumab, a treatment for multiple sclerosis, has been
rejected, along with rasagiline and mitotane, for use within NHS Scotland by
the Scottish Medicines Consortium
PJ 2006;277:727
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727 New CML treatment
provides survival benefits for patients with imatinib resistance Patients
with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) who are showing resistance to imatinib (Glivec)
have improved progression-free survival when treated with dasatinib (Sprycel)
compared with escalated doses of imatinib, according to data presented at a meeting
of the American Society of Hematology, held in Orlando, Florida, earlier this
week
PJ 2006;277:727
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727 Open-access database
needed for unpublished trial data Unpublished clinical trial information
should be made available in an open-access database, the expert group established
in the wake of the TGN1412 trial disaster recommends in its final report
PJ 2006;277:727
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727 Cancer patients with
anaemia Cancer patients with anaemia, whether or not caused by chemotherapy,
benefit from erythropoietin treatment. In a study, presented at a meeting of
the American Society of Hematology in Florida earlier this week, patients not
receiving chemotherapy were treated with darbepoetin alfa (n=162) or placebo
(n=56) for up to 17 weeks
PJ 2006;277:727
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727 Rituximab for ITP Rituximab
offers an alternative to splenectomy in chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura
(ITP), say researchers
PJ 2006;277:727
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728 Pharmacists win share of £18.5m project funding Two projects involving pharmacists are among those awarded a share of £18.5m as part of the Government's Partnerships for Older People Projects (POPP), it was announced last week
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 NES explains new preregistration
scheme New arrangements for preregistration training in Scotland will
be in place in time for next year's applications
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 Self care favoured
by public for managing flu symptoms Self care is the preferred way
of managing influenza-like symptoms, a survey of 293 adults suggests
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 New PAGB code introduced A
new code of practice for the design of medicine packs has been introduced by
the Proprietary Association of Great Britain
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 Green book updated An updated version of the Department of Health's guide “Immunisation against infectious disease”, known as the “Green book”, has been published
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 Paediatric research
network The Medicines for Children Research Network was officially
launched last week at a meeting at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 Health care waste New
guidelines on the handling and disposal of waste generated by NHS organisations
in England have been produced by the Department of Health
PJ 2006;277:728
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728 NPA business course Community pharmacists who want to learn about business management can complete a course designed by the National Pharmacy Association and sponsored by Actavis UK Ltd
PJ 2006;277:728
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R&D
news
729 “Molecular condom” tested
as preventive measure against HIV A
vaginal gel, which can change to a liquid and release a drug during intercourse,
has been designed by scientists in the US. It is hoped that the gel will
eventually be used to prevent HIV infection
PJ 2006;277:729
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729 Oral anticoagulant
is safe and effective Dabigatran etexilate offers a convenient
new therapy for deep vein thrombosis, a study presented at a meeting
of the American Society of Hematology earlier this week suggests
PJ 2006;277:729
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729 Potential new target
for RNA-binding antibiotics identified Small molecules called riboswitches
could serve as targets for a new class of antibacterial agents, according to
research reported online
PJ 2006;277:729
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729 Gene mutations may
provide route to complete analgesia Three distinct gene mutations
that appear to prevent carriers from experiencing pain have been identified by
researchers
PJ 2006;277:729
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729 New DPP-4 inhibitors'
data Patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a combination of the
dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor sitagliptin plus metformin (MK-0431A)
see greater reductions in plasma glucose and HBA1c levels relative to metformin
alone, according to a 24-week study presented at the World Diabetes Congress
held in Cape Town earlier this month
PJ 2006;277:729
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729 Pfizer pulls plug
on its HDL improving drug torcetrapib Pfizer has ceased development
of its investigational cardiovascular therapy torcetrapib because of safety concerns
PJ 2006;277:729
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