Latest news and product developments

The BTS/SIGN guideline for the management of asthma has been updated. The diagnosis section has been rewritten, there is a new section on difficult asthma and the treatment sections have been updated.

A new option at Step 3 (initial add‐on therapy) is now the use of a combined budesonide/formoterol inhaler (Symbicort) as a reliever in addition to regular use as a preventer. This reflects evidence from the SMART trials, which showed that an average of one extra puff per day significantly reduced exacerbations and admissions (Br Med J 2007;335:513).

Metformin does not worsen perinatal outcomes compared with insulin in gestational diabetes and mothers prefer it, a study from Australia and New Zealand shows (N Engl J Med 2008;358:2003–15).

Of the women randomised to metformin treatment, 93 per cent were still taking it at term and 46 had supplemental insulin. The combined incidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia, respiratory distress, need for phototherapy, birth trauma, five‐minute Apgar score less than 7 or prematurity was 32 per cent with both treatments. There were no serious adverse events. More women said they would choose the same treatment again for metformin than insulin (77 vs 27 per cent).

There is no difference in protection against major cardiovascular events between different types of antihypertensives in young or older (65 or over) adults, according to the Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists' Collaboration.

Its meta‐analysis of 31 trials involving over 190 000 patients (BMJ Online 2008; doi:10.1136/bmj.39548.738 368.BE) found no significant difference by age on blood pressure reduction or risk reduction. Treatment may be chosen according to tolerability and cost as long as effective blood pressure reduction is achieved, the authors conclude. Older people are at greater absolute risk and treatment therefore offers larger reductions in serious vascular events.

Vaccination against human papilloma virus will be part of the national immunisation programme from the start of the new school year in September. The vaccine, administered as three doses over six months, will initially be offered to girls aged 12–13 (school year 8) to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. A two‐year catch‐up campaign for all girls up to 18 years old will begin in 2009.

The incretin mimetic exenatide (Byetta), licensed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, may rarely be associated with pancreatitis, warns the MHRA (Drug Safety Update 2008;1:Issue 10).

One case has been reported in the UK and 89 in the USA and Germany. The MHRA advises that patients should be warned of the symptoms of pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain, back pain). Treatment should be discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected and the case reported on a yellow card.

Primary‐care expenditure on drugs in England in 2007 totalled £8.37 billion, only 2 per cent more than in 2006, according to the latest statistics from the Information Centre ( www.ic.nhs.uk). Prescription numbers increased by almost 6 per cent.

Prescribing increased in most BNF categories but changed little in musculoskeletal drugs and immunological products and vaccines.

Manufacturer Galen has pledged to continue to price‐match its calcium/vitamin D3 supplement Calceos with Adcal‐D3 or Calcichew D3 Forte. If the price of either product falls below that of Calceos chewable tablets, Galen will match it within six months. The company says it will honour the pledge until at least 2011. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd