2- Tuesday Pharmacy Practice News – 23th November

 1 – Study Reveals Mechanics Behind How Penicillin Kills MRSA

• A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals the mechanism that allows beta-lactam antibiotics—which includes penicillin—to kill Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) for the first time. It was previously known that beta-lactam antibiotics function by restricting cell wall growth, but the exact mechanics have remained unknown until now.
• According to the investigators, beta-lactam antibiotics create holes in the cell wall, which enlarge as the cell grows, eventually killing the bacteria.
• The growth of these holes causes the cell wall to fail and results in death of the bacteria, which investigators now plan to use to create new therapeutics for antibiotic resistant superbugs.

Source: Pharmacy Times

2 – Severe Asthma Symptoms Worsen When Treated With Psoriasis Medicine

• Trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a medicine licensed to treat psoriasis worsened the symptoms of severe asthma in patients with the condition, according to a University Hospitals of Leicester press release.
• The study analyzed whether risankizumab could potentially improve the symptoms and reduce attacks in those with severe asthma. The study enrolled 214 patients, with 105 randomized to a risankizumab injection every 4 weeks over a 24-week period, while 109 patients received a placebo.
• The time-to-first worsening was determined by increasing symptoms, deterioration in breathing tests, increased use of inhalers, and need for steroid tablets. Patients treated with risankizumab had an average time-to-first worsening of 40 days, compared to 86 days for patients given a placebo.

Source: Pharmacy Times

3 – 3 COVID-19 Vaccines Protect Individuals Treated for Cancer

• Individuals being treated for active cancer had lower immune responses to the 3 COVID-19 vaccines compared with healthier individuals, though they were still predicted to be protected, study results show.
• The vaccine side effects experienced by patients with cancer were similar to those experienced by healthy controls and were generally mild or moderate, which should be reassuring to patients.
• Investigators measured the individual’s concentration of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and neutralizing titers to determine how well the antibodies block the virus from entering cells.
• Study results show that the type of vaccine patients received was a major factor in inducing an immune response, with those receiving mRNA shots faring better.

Source: Pharmacy Times

4- Subcutaneous Injectable Risperidone Improves Outcomes for Certain Patients With Schizophrenia

• Subcutaneous injectable risperidone prolonged the time to relapse, decreased the proportions of patients with schizophrenia who experienced impending relapse at week 24, and demonstrated significant increase in proportions maintaining stability for patients with schizophrenia who underwent stabilization on oral risperidone, according to the results of the phase 3 RISE study.
• The trial randomized patients to receive TV-46000 once monthly (q1m), TV-46000 once every 2 months (q2m), or placebo, and found that patients had improved outcomes on TV-46000 regardless of dosing schedule.
• According to the investigators, TV-46000 showed significant benefits to the time to impending relapse compared to placebo.
• Further, TV-46000 prolonged time to relapse by 3.5 times overall, 5.0 times for the q1m group, and 2.7 times for the q2m group.
• The overall proportion of patients with impending relapse at week 24 was 9% across the 2 TV-46000 groups, compared to 28% in the placebo group.

Source: Pharmacy Times

5 – Intermittent Fasting, Energy-Restrictive Diet Equally Effective for Weight Loss Following Gestational Diabetes

• The 5:2 diet, or intermittent fasting diet, is equally effective as the conventional energy-restricting diet for patients attempting to lose weight following gestational diabetes, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
• This weight loss can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes for new mothers.
• The investigators compared the effects on weight loss and diabetes risk markers of both the 5:2 diet—specifically, 5 days of normal eating and 2 days of 500 calories—and a continuous energy-restricted diet allowing 1500 calories per day in patients with a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
• According to the results of the study, both diets restricted energy by approximately 25% per week.
• Research shows that the 5:2 diet is just as effective at achieving weight loss as a continuous energy-restricted diet in women who have had gestational diabetes, which is great, because it provides women with greater choice and control

Source: Pharmacy Times

6 – Study Finds Enzymatic Pathway Potential Treatment Target for Blood Clots in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

• Investigators have identified a novel signaling pathway and enzyme that may further the understanding of blood clot formation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
• The investigators said this pathway may ultimately be targetable for therapy.
• Following a vascular procedure, patients with CKD are at higher risk of thrombosis than patients with normal kidney function. This complication could result in potentially fatal adverse events, including myocardial ischemia.
• According to the investigators, the antithrombotics currently approved by the FDA do not work efficiently in patients with CKD, as they do not target the pathways specific to the disease.
• Further, these agents can place patients at a higher risk of bleeding, according to the study authors.
• Therefore, a safe and effective antithrombotic for CKD patients is imminent.

Source: Pharmacy Times

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