Latest Publications
Plerixafor
About Plerixafor For years, collecting enough stem cells for a transplant was a race against time, and many patients struggled to cross the finish line. Originally created as a drug to fight HIV, plerixafor failed...
Read Full Bulletin →One Dose, One Gene, One Cure? Itvisma as the World’s most expensive drug
Brand name: Itvisma Generic name: Onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve Category: Gene replacement therapy Indication: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children aged 2 years and above SMA is an autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene,...
Read Full Bulletin →Repaglinide: A Short Acting Secretagogue with Strategic Advantages
Category: Meglitinide analogue, Oral insulin secretagogue Available brands: Eurepa and Novonorm 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg Indication: Type 2 Diabetes mellitus Dosing (Oral): HbA1c <8%: 0.5mg and HbA1c >8%: 1-2mg upto 4times/day Dosing in altered kidney function:...
Read Full Bulletin →Zonisamide
Zonisamide is a broad-spectrum anti- seizure medication (ASM) chemically classified as a 1,2-benzisoxazole derivative, a unique sulfonamide compound unrelated to other antiepileptic drugs. Zonisamide may even be more cost-effective and show slightly higher probabilities of achieving a...
Read Full Bulletin →Pembrolizumab
Therapeutic class: Antineoplastic agent Pharmacologic class: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (PD-1 Inhibitor) Mechanism of Action Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on T-cells. By blocking the interaction between...
Read Full Bulletin →Valacyclovir
Valacyclovir is a second-generation antiviral agent widely used in the management of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1, HSV-2) and Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) infections. It was developed to overcome the limitations of Acyclovir, particularly its poor...
Read Full Bulletin →Acyclovir
Drug Class Therapeutic class: Antiviral agent Pharmacologic class: Synthetic nucleoside (guanine) analogue. Mechanism of Action Acyclovir is selectively activated in virus-infected cells by viral thymidine kinase to acyclovir monophosphate, then converted to the active triphosphate...
Read Full Bulletin →Edaravone
Overview Edaravone is classified as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, approved for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It was first approved in Japan in 2001 for treating acute ischemic stroke, and later for amyotrophic lateral...
Read Full Bulletin →Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR T Cell) Therapy- An Overview
Introduction CAR T Cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy where a patient’s own T Cells are genetically engineered to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that specifically recognize cancer cell antigens. Enables targeted killing of...
Read Full Bulletin →Denosumab
Overview: Denosumab is a bone-modifying agent belonging to the class of “Monoclonal Antibodies”. It first approved by the US FDA in June 2010 for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture,...
Read Full Bulletin →Pharmacogenomics in Cardiovascular disease
Introduction: Pharmacogenomics integrates genetics and pharmacology to individualize drug therapy, ensuring the right drug at the right dose for each patient. In cardiovascular diseases, genetic markers help predict drug response, metabolism, and toxicity. Studies indicate...
Read Full Bulletin →Sunscreen
“The first line of defense against UV damage and cancers of skin: A Pharmacological Overview” Category: Topical photoprotective agents Purpose: Prevent UV-induced skin damage, including Sunburn, Photoaging, Actinic keratosis, Skin cancers (Melanoma, Squamous cell carcinoma,...
Read Full Bulletin →Tirofiban
Introduction Tirofiban was introduced in 1998 by Merck and approved by the FDA. This is the first antiplatelet drug derived from a snake venom protein. Tirofiban is a fast-acting, highly selective, low-molecular-weight, non-peptide glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor...
Read Full Bulletin →Chronotherapeutics
Chrono-therapeutics is all about delivering medications at specific times of day to synchronize with the body’s biological (circadian) rhythms, thereby maximizing efficacy and minimizing side effects. Many diseases and the body’s response to drugs vary...
Read Full Bulletin →Vericiguat
Overview: Vericiguat is a novel agent that belongs to a class of drugs called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. It has earned recognition as the “Fifth Pillar” of Guideline Directed Medical Treatment (GDMT) for Heart...
Read Full Bulletin →Faropenem
Overview: Faropenem is an oral beta-lactam antibiotic of the “penems” class, approved in India by CDSCO in 2005 (tablet) and 2021 (oral solution). It should be used as a reserve antibiotic and not used routinely...
Read Full Bulletin →Diclofenac sodium
Diclofenac sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug widely used as an opioid sparing agent for acute pain. A person who was injured in an RTA arrived with severe pain over neck and left shoulder. He...
Read Full Bulletin →Dalbavancin
This edition of the Bulletin is about a newer antibiotic Dalbavancin, and its action against bacterial infections. Dalbavancin is a long-acting second-generation lipoglycopeptide antibiotic with activity against most gram-positive bacteria, with excellent tissue and bone...
Read Full Bulletin →CAR- T cell therapy
Background In 1980s, the concept of using T cells to fight against cancer emerged. In the 1990s the development of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)- T cell therapy came as a crucial breakthrough in treatment of...
Read Full Bulletin →Lipoprotein (a)
A new and effective therapeutic agent for treating Lp (a) has arrived! It is indeed a milestone in the evolution of therapeutic agents for Hyperlipidemias. Lipoprotein (a) is similar to LDL in structure, which is...
Read Full Bulletin →Polypharmacy in elderly patients
The information below is a hypothetical case example of a patient experiencing breakthrough adverse reactions once in a while who is on multiple medications which might be the reason for additional problem to patient. A...
Read Full Bulletin →The Bulletin from the Clinical Pharmacist
The information below is an example of AMR that depletes the “pool of effective antibiotics” available to treat bacterial infections. Inappropriate use of antibiotics occurs when they are used inappropriately, either by being overprescribed, underused, or...
Read Full Bulletin →Combination Therapy: SGLT2i with Metformin
The information below is about prescribing SGLT2i and Metformin together to patients, with the objective to achieve a significant reduction in HbA1c, as well as reap cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal benefits for patients with Type...
Read Full Bulletin →Metronidazole
The information below here is about a drug which is being given at ER and at clinics as a front line drug for ' nausea, vomiting, diarrhea', without evidence. It is Metronidazole. Metronidazole is an antibiotic and antiprotozoal medication used to treat...
Read Full Bulletin →Orientia tsutsugamushi
Orientia tsutsugamushiis a gram-negative organism belonging to the Rickettsiaceae family. Owing to its intracellular nature, scrub typhus can only be treated by antibiotics that accumulate in large quantities within the target cells. tsutsugamushiis an intracellular...
Read Full Bulletin →The Bulletin from the Clinical Pharmacist Methanol poison
Methanol poisoning occurs when methanol, a toxic alcohol, is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Methanol itself is relatively non-toxic, but it is metabolized in the liver to formaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase and then...
Read Full Bulletin →Drug induced Discoloration of Skin.
A male patient of 30 years was admitted to the hospital with fever on and off, generalized body Pain, loose stools for four days and decreased food intake. He was diagnosed with an undifferentiated fever...
Read Full Bulletin →Drug induced Hypersensitivity reaction
A female patient of 27 years was admitted to the hospital for excision of fibroadenoma, breast. She was placed on NPO status and prescribed medications, such as Inj.Cefotaxime 1gm STAT, Ondansetron, pantoprazole. She developed itching,...
Read Full Bulletin →Drug induced Urticaria
A female patient of twenty-five years of age developed fever for ten days, followed by vomiting and loose stools for three days She was apparently normal ten days back. She was treated at a local...
Read Full Bulletin →Bisphosphonate Induced Uveitis
A female patient of 63 years with the compliant of bilateral shoulder pain for 2 weeks was prescribed with Alendronate Sodium,35mg, weekly once. She experienced pain, redness in both the eyes, also photophobia and watering...
Read Full Bulletin →Drug induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome
A female patient of 29 years of age developed left eye redness, and burning micturition, and was treated with Ciprofloxacin eye drops and Ibuprofen at the previous hospital. She developed maculopapular rash all over the...
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