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BEWARE
Diabetes drug & kidney problem
The US FDA has strengthened the warning about the risk of acute kidney injury by Type 2 diabetes medicines canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR). “Based on recent reports, we have revised the warnings in the drug labels to include information about acute kidney injury and added recommendations to minimize this risk,” the FDA said. Patients should seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms of acute kidney injury. This is a serious condition in which the kidneys suddenly stop working, causing dangerous levels of wastes to build up in the body. Signs of acute kidney injury include decreased urine output or swelling of legs or feet. Patients should not stop taking their medicine without first talking to their health care professionals, the FDA said.
PATIENT FIRST
EMA & FDA collaborate
The European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration have set up a new ‘cluster’ on patient engagement. The cluster will provide a forum to share experiences and best practices on the way the two agencies involve patients in development, evaluation and post-authorisation activities related to medicines. Patients bring real-life experience as well as specific knowledge and expertise to scientific discussions on medicines and on the impact of regulatory decisions. The first meeting of the cluster took place by teleconference on June 22, the EMA said.
TRANSGENDER
Health effects of discrimination
Year 2015 was unprecedented in terms of recognition of transgender rights in some high-income countries. However, as a new series in The Lancet reveals, public recognition has yet to translate into a concerted effort to improve the health of transgender people. While the study points to major gaps in the understanding of transgender health because of a failure to recognise gender diversity, the authors say routinely denied their rights, transgender people often face discrimination and abuse leading to marginalisation which further damages their physical and mental health. As a result, transgender people have high rates of depression.
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