Health Highlights: March 30, 2009

Mar. 31 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Diabetes Drug Candidate Appears Safe: FDA

A potentially important diabetes medication called Onglyza appears to be free from heart-related side effects seen in similar treatments, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration briefing documents posted online.

An FDA panel of outside experts will meet Wednesday to review safety data on the drug, the Associated Press reported. The panel will then make a recommendation on whether the drug should be approved for use in the United States.

The FDA, which generally follows the advice of its expert panels, could make a decision about Onglyza by the end of April.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and partner AstraZeneca are seeking approval to market Onglyza to reduce blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, the AP reported.

Studies conducted by the companies indicate the level of heart attacks, deaths and other cardiovascular problems appeared well within new FDA safety limits, the agency said in the briefing documents.

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U.S. Task Force Urges Docs to Screen for Depression in Teens

Primary care doctors should routinely screen adolescents, ages 12 to 18, for major depression, says the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The benefits of screening outweigh any risks if doctors can assure accurate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, according to the task force.

That's a change from 2002, when the task force concluded there wasn't sufficient evidence to recommend or oppose screening for adolescents. The task force said there's still not enough evidence to make a recommendation about depression screening for children ages 7 to 11, USA Today reported.

In an article in the journal Pediatrics, the task force noted that questionnaires can accurately identify depression in adolescents, and that there's new evidence that therapy and/or some antidepressants can help depressed teens. They emphasized the need for careful monitoring, because it's been shown that antidepressants can increase suicidal behavior in teens.