Pharmaceuticals

• FDA stresses birth defect risks with Roche drug
  AP ( 16, 2008)
  WASHINGTON (AP) - Health regulators reiterated their warning Friday that organ transplant drugs from Roche and Novartis can cause miscarriages and birth defects when used by pregnant women.
   
  
• Study likely spells end for anti-bleeding drug
  AP ( 15, 2008)
  (AP) - An anti-bleeding drug probably will stay off the market, experts say, after a rigorous study found patients getting the medication during heart surgery were much more likely to die than patients given other drugs.
   
  
• More Americans are taking prescription medications
  AP ( 14, 2008)
  TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.
   
  
• Families will make case for vaccine link to autism
  AP ( 12, 2008)
  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Institute of Medicine said in 2004 there was no credible evidence to show that vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal led to autism in children. But thousands of families have a different take based on personal experience.
   
  
• US health secretary: Chinese Heparin shipped to US now safe
  AP ( 12, 2008)
  SHANGHAI, China (AP) - A blood thinner manufactured in China and linked to dozens of deaths in the United States is now safe because of tighter testing and controls, a top American health official said Monday, while warning that all U.S. imports would face closer scrutiny in the future.
   
  
• Wal-Mart expands low-price drug program
  AP ( 005, 2008)
  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, announced Monday it would expand its discounted prescription drug program to offer 90-day supplies for $10 and add several women's medications at a discount. It also said it would lower the price of more than 1,000 over-the-counter drugs.