Substance Abuse, HAART Nonadherence, Risky Sex All Linked

Amphetamines and injection drug use are strongly associated with missed dosing and risky sexual behaviors in a large study of HIV-infected patients. Medscape Medical News

Buprenorphine Implant Effective for Opioid Dependence

New data suggest treatment with an investigative buprenorphine implant significantly reduces opioid dependence. Medscape Medical News

Tattoo Removal Comes of Age

Drs. William Kirby and Rady Rahban share the latest strategies for safe and effective tattoo removal in this expert interview. Medscape Dermatology

Even Short Workout Could Extend Life Expectancy (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) — Working out for just 15 minutes a day may add about three years to your life, researchers said.

FDA OKs Late-Stage Melanoma Drug

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — The FDA has approved vemurafenib (Zelboraf) for the treatment of metastatic and unresectable melanoma along with a companion genetic mutation test.

Snuff Use Linked to Heart Failure (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) — Use of smokeless tobacco (or snuff) may increase the risk for heart failure, mainly of nonischemic origin and chiefly by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, a Swedish study found.

Generic Makers to Pay Fees Like Big Pharma Does

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — A new FDA user-fee program will require generic drugmakers to pay annual fees to speed up drug approvals and to increase inspections of foreign manufacturing plants.

Falling into Medicare Doughnut Hole Ups Nonadherence

(MedPage Today) — Seniors caught in the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the “doughnut hole” are twice as likely to stop taking their medication, a new study found.

FDA OKs Late-Stage Melanoma Drug

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — The FDA has approved vemurafenib (Zelboraf) for the treatment of metastatic and unresectable melanoma along with a companion genetic mutation test.

Emergent commences TRU-016 Phase 1b/2 combination trial in relapsed indolent NHL

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 1b/2 study (16011) of TRU-016 in combination with rituximab and bendamustine for patients with relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin’s B-cell lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma.