Nearly one third of new drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration are flagged for a safety issue after approval. Researchers at Yale found drugs that went through the FDA’s Accelerated Approval Pathway were more likely to have a safety issue. The researchers added most of the safety concerns were not serious enough to have the drugs pulled from the market.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task force recommended against screening for thyroid cancer in adults without any signs or symptoms. The number of thyroid cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S. increased every year for the past ten years, but the number of people dying from the disease has not changed substantially during that time.
People who use common pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen could be increasing their risk of heart attack. Researchers in Montreal said high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk especially during the first month of use, so doctors and patients should weigh the risks and benefits.
Sources:
1 – Journal of the American Medical Association
2 – Journal of the American Medical Association
3 – The BMJ
