Medicines Corner

Histology-independent cancer drugs—navigating the uncertainties of innovative treatments

September 2020 | By Martin Bradley

Significant advances in cancer therapy have been made in recent decades. The elucidation of specific aspects of tumour biochemistry and genetics has led to an […]

Gene therapy medicinal products

May 2020 | By Martin Bradley

Gene therapy medicinal products (GTMPs) are advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs): medicines for human use that are based on genes, tissues, or cells. They offer […]

Generic HIV treatments permit cost savings, but their implementation can be complex

February 2020 | By Martin Bradley

National spending on specialised services for the treatment of HIV is significant; in 2016/17, it was close to £540 million, of which antiretroviral treatment (ART) […]

A gloved hand holding a petri dish containing an aspergillus fungal colony

The new Commissioning for Quality and Innovation indicator on antifungal stewardship

November 2019 | By Martin Bradley

Antimicrobial stewardship is a healthcare system-wide approach to promoting and monitoring the judicious use of antimicrobials, such as antifungals, to preserve their future effectiveness.1 Such […]

Mexiletine: now licensed for myotonia, but what about arrhythmia?

September 2019 | By Martin Bradley

Mexiletine is a sodium channel blocker, and was originally developed as an anticonvulsant drug.1,2 However, it was found to have anti-arrhythmic properties, and has been […]

IVIg: new commissioning criteria and sub-regional panels

May 2019 | By Martin Bradley

As this journal has previously highlighted, continuity of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) supply is a long-standing issue for the NHS. There have been several significant supply […]

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