Industry News

What's in the news

Amitiza

April 29, 2008 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Amitiza (lubiprostone) for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome where constipation is the predominant bowel symptom (IBS-C) in adult women aged 18 and over. The efficacy of Amitiza in men was not conclusively demonstrated, said the FDA. With this approval, Amitiza becomes the only FDA-approved medical treatment for IBS with constipation available in the United States. Find our more here.   

July 12, 2007 - Amitiza became the first selective chloride channel activator approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic idiopathic ("functional") constipation in adults.

 

Zelnorm

On April 2, 2008, Novartis terminated their restricted access program for Zelnorm. The drug will no longer be available except for severe emergency situations. (On March 30, 2007 sales and marketing of the IBS and constipation drug had been discontinued in the U.S. and Canada; the restricted access program was launched July 27, 2007.) 

Prilosec and Nexium

December 10, 2007 - FDA's Safety Reviews of Prilosec and Nexium Find No Evidence of Increased Rates of Cardiac Events
Read FDA Statement 

Lotronex

On November 7, 2007 Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company signed an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to acquire exclusive rights to Lotronex (alosetron hydrochloride) Tablets in the United States.