Editorial: Don't you just love "elitism"!

"Elitism" is defined as "rule or domination by an elite," a "sense of being part of an elite." "Elite" is defined in one definition as "a small and privileged group."

The small and privileged group being referred to here is the U.S. Congress, appointed politicians, and others in the "elite group"; also, those involved in the up and coming anticipated vote on the Health Reform bill. We vote on political candidates, and they become a part of the "elite." The "elite" is supposed to represent their citizens.

It has become apparent during the discussions that the "elite" think they know more about what is good for us then we do ourselves; they no longer base their actions on the will of the people but on their own feelings related to the issues and what they stand to gain. Are they listening to us? When the "elite" go their own way, the citizens lose. They should not have an "elite" healthcare plan for themselves and a lesser one for everyone else!

Keep the following in mind:

• Elitism is what is keeping many countries throughout the world from becoming thriving economic centers and providing their citizens with freedom and opportunities to excel.
• Elitism is what is keeping many dictators in power at the expense of the working class.
• Elitism is where you have a privileged few that benefit from the hard work of the masses.
• Elitism is where you keep the masses burdened while living a life of leisure.
• Elitism is where much is promised but little is delivered.
• Elitism tends to have a strong sense of "self-preservation" at the expense of others.

I always thought that politicians were to SERVE the people, not to be SERVED by the people!!!!

Maybe I'm just not a part of the elite intellectual group! However, I was taught as a child to "not throw the bath water out with the baby!" Make well thought-out and considerate changes slowly and with deliberation�otherwise one may not recover when errors are made. It can be like compounding a gel; adding the gelling agent too quickly can lead to an unusable product�careful slow addition can lead to a beautiful and useful product.


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

Glenmark Generics Ordered by FDA to Stop Selling Nitroglycerin Tablets
The FDA has ordered Glenmark Generics to stop selling unapproved nitroglycerin tablets for relief of chest pain. The unapproved products differ from approved nitroglycerin tablets in some ways, including formulation and labeling, and the FDA said it has seen quality and efficacy problems with the unapproved versions. "Doctors and patients should know that not all drugs on the market are backed by FDA approval," said Deborah Autor, director of the Office of Compliance at the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Also, Konec Inc. of Arizona received a similar order from regulators, requiring the company to stop selling unapproved nitroglycerin tablets.
www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2010/03/glenmark_generics_of_mahwah_or.html

Oral Bisphosphonate Users May Be At Risk of Femur Fracture
FDA has said that it has not found a "clear connection" between the use of oral bisphosphonates and a risk of atypical fractures in the bone below the hip joint. The announcement followed two presentations at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons where they were reported to have said their research suggested that bisphosphonates, if used for four or more years, may impair bone quality. FDA said it is working with outside experts to gather more information about atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures in oral bisphosphonate users.
www.ashp.org/import/news/HealthSystemPharmacyNews/newsarticle.aspx?id=3294

FDA Is Easing Way for Drug Cocktails
The FDA is developing guidelines that could accelerate testing and approval of multidrug regimens for some of the world's most deadly diseases. Many diseases, such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and cancer, require multidrug combinations. These drug cocktails can prevent the development of drug resistance because the microbe or cancer cell needs to undergo more mutations to escape several drugs than to escape just one. By attacking the disease in different ways, drug combinations also improve the chances of therapeutic benefit. Traditionally, the FDA has required each new drug to be tested and approved individually. Afterwards, multidrug regimens are usually developed through additional, time-consuming clinical trials.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704059004575127830176898048.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Senate Democrat Asking Top Drugmakers to Explain Why We Pay More
Senator Herb Kohl, who chairs the Special Committee on Aging, has sent letters to AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Aventis. Kohl said Americans on average pay twice as much as people in other industrialized countries. "While I firmly believe that drug quality should not be sacrificed for cost, the large discrepancies in the cost of identical drugs cannot be explained by differences in production or manufacturing," Kohl wrote to the companies.

The pharmaceutical industry has pledged to pay $80 billion over 10 years ($8 billion per year) in price cuts and other concessions to help fund wider insurance coverage as part of a healthcare overhaul under consideration in Congress. However, some lawmakers have criticized that amount as a small price to pay for a $315 billion-a-year industry that stands to gain tens of millions of new customers if insurance coverage expands.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62G5CF20100317

An Introduction to Clinical Pharmaceutics
Florence AT
London, UK: Pharmaceutical Press; March 2010
$39.99; 208 pages; Paperback

This is a unique textbook designed to aid in understanding the role of basic pharmaceutics in determining or modifying clinical outcomes. The book attempts to connect the concepts that are part of most pharmaceutics curricula, not only issues of formulation but also the underlying phenomena such as surface tension, rheology, solubility, crystallization, aggregation, and adsorption among others to a wider clinical and practice base. Dr. Florence explains that it is important for a profession such as pharmacy to have sets of knowledge different from those of other healthcare professionals. Consisting of eight chapters, this book is informative and interesting and demonstrates the importance of pharmaceutics in providing a scientific basis for clinical outcomes.

�another form of government waste (of money and trees) is the separate printing and mailing that precedes the official census form that says:

"About one week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it in promptly�."

What mentality do they think they are dealing with? The census has been well advertised, and we expect to receive the form in the mail. Well, I received the Census form, filled it out, and mailed it back. I can't wait to receive a THIRD mailing that asks, "Did you fill out your census form and mail it in?"

Drug Shortage

Oxsoralen (Methoxsalen) 1% Topical Lotion and 10-mg capsules are still listed as an ongoing shortage that is anticipated to be resolved by July 2010. This is a compounding opportunity.