Health Highlights: Sept. 3, 2009
Sept. 4 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:
ADHD Drug Approved for Children and Teens
Intuniv (guanfacine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in people aged 6 to 17, drug maker Shire Plc said Thursday.
The once-daily drug, to be available in 1-to-4 mg. strengths, is expected on pharmacy shelves in November, the company said in a news release. The way it works is unclear, but the drug is thought to directly engage receptors in the brain's prefrontal cortex, an area that has been linked to the disorder.
Intuniv is not a controlled substance and "has no known potential for abuse or dependence," Shire said. It cited statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that some 4.4 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD.
In clinical testing, the most common adverse reactions to Intuniv included tiredness, abdominal pain, dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, dry mouth and constipation, the company said.
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One-Dose Swine Flu Vaccine Looks Promising
Hopeful news in the battle against the H1N1 swine flu emerged Thursday as European and Chinese researchers said they have developed swine flu vaccines that work with one dose, rather than two, potentially increasing the supply available for distribution.
Novartis, the Swiss drug maker, found that in a British trial of 100 people between 18 and 50 years old, participants had adequate protection two weeks after just one injection, the Associated Press reported.
In China, a swine flu vaccine was approved on Thursday, which also works with one dose, according to its maker, Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
"The pilot results are encouraging," Andrin Oswald, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, said in a statement. "This is important information for public health authorities who prepare for vaccination in the coming months with limited vaccine supply."
