[AF] gatifloxacina: retiro del mercado

[Martín Cañás]

Estimadas y estimados
Bristol-Myers Squibb retira gatifloxacina del mercado

Despues de algunas modficaciones en el etiquetado en febrero , un articulo
en el New england y la persinete presión de Public Citizen, Bristol-Myers
Squibb anuncio que retirara gatifloxacina  ( Tequin) del mercado.
como pueden leer en la noticia de AP,  Bristol-Myers Squibb, confirmo que la
farmaceutica devolvera los derechos a la ompañía japonesa Kyorin
Pharmaceutical.

la gatifñoxacina fue aprobada por la Food and Drug Administration en 1999 y
Public Citizen hizo una presentación el mismo lunes pidiendo que se retirara
señalano que casi 400 habían tenido problemas de disglucemia incluyendo 20
muertes y 159 hospitalizaciones desde el 1 de enero del 2000

Se recomendo  a los pacientes que no dejen de tomar  el medicamento producto
hasta no consultarlo con el  medico.

Saludos,
Martín

Martin Cañás
GAPURMED La Plata  (Argentina)
macanas en netverk.com.ar


Drug Company Taking Tequin Off Market RANDOLPH E. SCHMID Associated Press
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/politics/14474377.htm

WASHINGTON - An antibiotic plagued by serious blood-sugar complications is
coming off the market.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. confirmed Monday that it plans to stop making and
selling Tequin.

Spokesman Eric Miller said the company will return rights to the drug to
Kyorin Pharmaceutical Company in Japan. He said the company acted after a
commercial evaluation of the product as well as ongoing transition in the
company's focus.

Approved for sale in 1999, Tequin has faced questions about its effects on
blood sugar, being associated with both high- and low-blood sugar in some
patients.

In February, the Food and Drug Administration required increased warnings on
the drug's label. The manufacturer has warned that it should not be used by
diabetics and said the elderly and those with kidney disease are more likely
to have problems.

Miller said that while Bristol-Myers Squibb will stop making and selling the
drug, stocks currently available are not being recalled. He urged people
using Tequin not to discontinue it until they talk with their physician
about an alternative.

A public interest group, meanwhile, petitioned the FDA on Monday for a ban
on the antibiotic.

In its petition, Public Citizen said there have been 388 patients with
blood-sugar irregularities associated with the drug including 20 deaths and
159 hospitalizations since Jan. 1, 2000.

Public Citizen urged the FDA to order a recall of the drug.

"This drug carries unique risk but has no unique benefits and therefore
should not be on the market," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public
Citizen's Health Research Group.

Tequin is prescribed for chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, urinary
tract and other infections.

Tequin had $150 million in global sales last year including $100 million in
the U.S.

Bristol-Myers shares fell 33 cents or 1.3 percent to $25.05 in afternoon
trading on the New York Stock Exchange