Insidermedicine in 60 - December 21, 2007

From San Francisco - Genentech and groups representing Eye Surgeons have come to an agreement regarding access to Avastin for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. Genentech angered many physicians by threatening to restrict the sale of Avastin to compounding pharmacies that repackaged the drug into smaller doses, providing a cheaper alternative to Genentech's drug Lucentis. The new deal will allow doctors to buy Avastin directly from wholesale pharmacies.

From Toronto - While running marathons in extreme heat can cause sudden cardiac death, research shows that holding marathons actually results in a net saving of lives. Heart stoppage killed 26 runners in the U.S. over the past 30 years, but 46 fewer motor vehicle deaths occurred than expected while these races were underway.

And finally, from London - A study on 11 patients showed improved coronary artery perfusion after eating chocolate rich in flavonoids, but eating chocolate is not necessarily a cure-all. Makers of dark chocolate often remove bitter tasting flavonoids from bars, eliminating its heart healthy component. As well, the potential benefits of flavonoids are offset by the increased calories consumed through its ingestion.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• genentech
• avastin
• macular
• degeneration
• lucentis
• drug
• medical
• eye
• marathon
• run
• jog
• chocolate
• flavonoid
• bar
• pharmaceutica