December 28th, 2012
FDA Approves Eliquis (Apixaban) for Stroke Prevention in AF
Larry Husten, PHD
The FDA has finally approved apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer) to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The action comes after the widely-anticipated drug had been plagued by delays at the FDA but well before the PDUFA deadline of March 17, 2013. Eliquis is the latest member […]
December 27th, 2012
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: December 27th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include an intensive lifestyle intervention and its association with type-2 diabetes remission, strategies for multivessel revascularization in patients with diabetes, and more.
December 26th, 2012
FDA Approves Lomitapide for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Larry Husten, PHD
Aegerion Pharmaceuticals said today that the FDA had approved lomitapide (Juxtapid) to help further lower cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The approval comes with a box warning about the risk of hepatotoxicity and a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program which will require certification of health care providers and pharmacies before the drug can be […]
December 25th, 2012
Autopsy Studies Find Dramatic Drop in Early Atherosclerosis Over the Past 60 Years
Larry Husten, PHD
Military service members who died during the past decade were far less likely to have atherosclerosis than service members who died in Korea or Vietnam, according to a new study published in JAMA. Although it is impossible to fully understand the causes and implications of the finding, the results provide powerful new evidence of a very […]
December 21st, 2012
A Look Forward to 2013
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
CardioExchange invited contributors and members to offer predictions for 2013. Several of these folks also offered predictions for last year and helped assess the most important developments in cardiology in 2012. What are your predictions for the year? Steven E Nissen, MD The IMPROVE-IT Trial will complete and show no reduction in morbidity-mortality with addition of ezetimibe to […]
December 21st, 2012
A Look Back at 2012
CardioExchange Editors, Staff
CardioExchange invited several members and participants to give us a list of what they consider the top three most important developments in cardiology in 2012. The same CardioExchange members offer predictions for 2013, which you can view here. Also, for comparison, check out last year’s predictions for 2012 to see which came to fruition. What would your choices […]
December 21st, 2012
Dabigatran Shouldn’t Be Used in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves
Kristin J. Kelley, CardioExchange Staff
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) should not be prescribed to prevent blood clots or stroke in patients with mechanical heart valves, the FDA warned. The warning follows the termination of a European clinical trial in which patients taking dabigatran had more frequent thromboembolic events than those on warfarin. Dabigatran patients also experienced more bleeding after valve surgery. Patients […]
December 20th, 2012
HPS2-THRIVE: No Benefit, Signal of Harm for Niacin Therapy
Larry Husten, PHD
The largest-ever study of niacin has failed to show a clinical benefit of niacin and even found a strong signal of harm. Merck announced today that the HPS2-THRIVE (Heart Protection Study 2-Treatment of HDL to Reduce the Incidence of Vascular Events) study did not meet its primary endpoint. In that study, the combination of a statin and Merck’s niacin compound, Tredaptive, a combination of extended-release niacin and […]
December 20th, 2012
Is “Zapping the Kidneys” Miraculous?
Richard A. Lange, MD, MBA and L. David Hillis, MD
Renal denervation for resistant hypertension is generating a lot of excitement. In this blog, Rick Lange and David Hillis take stock of the evidence and the efforts underway to explore the potential scope of indications for the procedure.
December 19th, 2012
Pradaxa To Be Contraindicated in Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves
Larry Husten, PHD
Boehringer Ingelheim is starting to inform physicians about a new contraindication for its oral anticoagulant drug Pradaxa (dabigatran). The company has told investigators in trials utilizing dabigatran that it will shortly be sending a “Dear Doctor Letter,” also known as a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC), to healthcare professionals. The letter will inform physicians that, […]