The House Appropriations Committee marked up (definition) its portion of the $825 billion stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 598). The package passed by a vote of 35-22 in the full committee. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI) hopes to have a vote on the House floor by next week. Read the rest of this entry »
House Stimulus Package Includes NIH Funding
Posted by on January 22nd, 2009
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Leucovorin Shortage Update
Posted by on January 22nd, 2009
The Food and Drug Administration has updated information on the shortage of leucovorin as of January 21, 2009.
- Teva Parenteral Medicines reports a shortage of Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection due to “Increase in Demand”.
- Bedford Laboratories reports a shortage of Leucovorin Calcium Solution for Injection and Leucovorin Calcium Lyophilized Powder for Injection due to “Manufacturing Delays.”
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Virtual Colonoscopy or Colonoscopy
Posted by on January 22nd, 2009
One of the discussions at GI Symposium was whether virtual colonoscopy is ready for prime time. What is that? Well, it is a CT scan which evaluates the colon for polyps and other changes instead of using a scope to enter the colon and look directly.
It is often misunderstood that the preparation for these two procedures are different. They are not. You need a clean colon whether you get a CT colonoscopy or a real one. Read the rest of this entry »
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Chemotherapy with Erbitux Converts Unresectable Liver Mets to Allow Surgery
Posted by on January 21st, 2009
Update from the 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium
Combining chemotherapy with Erbitux® (cetuximab) can effectively shrink tumors and enable surgeons to remove formerly unresectable colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, offering potentially curative treatment. Read the rest of this entry »
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KRAS Testing Has Potential to Save Millions in Health Care Costs
Posted by on January 21st, 2009
Update from the 2009 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium
Over half a billion dollars could potentially be saved if all patients with colorectal cancer that had spread were tested for the KRAS gene before beginning treatment.
Because patients with mutated KRAS in their tumors don’t benefit from treatment with EGFR inhibitors Erbitux® (cetuximab) and Vectibix™ (panitumumab), offering them those drugs is a futile expense. In addition, trying the drugs delays potentially effective treatment and exposes patients to skin rash and other unnecessary side effects. Read the rest of this entry »
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