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Ilisa Keith
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Amy Miller
AAPS
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THOUSANDS OF PHARMACEUTICAL ADVANCES MEAN MEDICAL CARE MORE EFFICACIOUS AND LESS INVASIVE
From Prescription Mail-Order Concerns to Vaginal Ring Drug Delivery Systems, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Announces Medical Discoveries at Annual Meeting in Boston
Alexandria, VA -- Oct. 15, 1997 -- Five thousand of the worldÃs premier pharmaceutical researchers are gathering in Boston, Nov. 2-6, to discuss the latest scientific research and medical advances of 1997. A small sampling of the breakthroughs, presented for the first time at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting, are listed below.
Cancer Research Advances -- Reducing the side effects of chemotherapy is a top priority for cancer researchers. ItÃs known that site-specific drug delivery to cancerous tumors reduces toxins in the body, allows for a higher concentration of drugs, and eliminates side effects of traditional anti-cancer treatments. By using tiny plastic particles, researchers have found a way to inject anti-cancer medication directly into a deadly tumor.
One Pill Cocktail Ulcer Treatment -- Most peptic ulcer sufferers take anywhere from 12 to 15 pills a day. However, a new cocktail concoction allows for the sustained release of medication directly to the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing systemic side effects brought about by standard prescription ulcer medication. By using a patented pill-coating, tiny gas bubbles are created which then deliver the drugs and helps them stay in the system five to seven hours.
Are Prescription Mail Orders Overheated -- More than 26% of mail-order prescriptions tested in a recent study were exposed to excessive heat during shipment. The study demonstrates the need for standard cautionary labeling of mail-order prescriptions, as well as the need for temperature devices to accompany selected medications.
Herbal Remedies Overdosing -- Products like Herbal Ecstasy, Up Your Gas and Excalation contain a substance called Ephedra. When two University of Arkansas professors found that many students were taking the ephedra-based products to ìburn the midnight oil,î they decided to conduct a study regarding the uniformity of ephedra in the non-FDA regulated products. The result: The alkaloid content varied greatly among five products, especially Herbal Ecstasy. Researchers also found product labels very misleading, raising concerns about overdosing which can cause death. The FDA has requested to review this study.
Drug Delivery Options For Women -- Liquids are quickly and easily absorbed through the gums because the tissue is thin and porous. Similarly, the thin membrane lining of the vagina makes it ideal for in-vitro delivery of various drugs. Researchers are examining the use of intravaginal rings as a new delivery option for women using estrogen replacement therapies.
AAPS is a professional, scientific society of more than 7,000 members employed in academia, industry, government and other research institutes worldwide. Founded in 1986, the goal of AAPS is to improve human health through the development of better pharmaceuticals. For more information about AAPS, visit our Web site at http//www.aaps.org.
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EditorÃs Note: To receive complete abstracts, available photos or to set up interviews with researchers, contact Ilisa Keith at 561-998-2434, Lisa Mozloom ([email protected]) or Nicolle Ugarriza ([email protected]) at 305-672-4422.
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