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Medical News Today
6 days ago
- Health
- Medical News Today
Xeljanz for psoriatic arthritis
Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is a brand-name drug prescribed for psoriatic arthritis. This article covers topics such as side effects, dosage, and how Xeljanz is available in these forms: oral tablet, oral extended-release tablet (Xeljanz XR), and an oral solution. ('Extended release' means the drug contents are slowly released into your body over time.) Throughout this article, we'll use 'Xeljanz' to refer to all forms, except where noted otherwise when specific differences belongs to a drug class called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. The medication is not available in a generic version. Read on for more information about Xeljanz. You can also refer to this in-depth Xeljanz article. Xeljanz has boxed warnings. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the 'Before taking Xeljanz' section. Psoriatic arthritis explainedPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune condition where your body mistakenly attacks your healthy joints. This causes inflammation and can cause permanent joint damage over time without is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to rapidly turn over. This creates scaly lesions, called flare-ups, on your skin. About 30% of people with psoriasis also develop PsA. People with PsA typically develop psoriasis symptoms first, although this isn't the case for of psoriatic arthritisSymptoms of psoriatic arthritis will differ for each person and range from mild to general symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:tender, swollen joints on one or both sides of your bodyswollen fingers or toesjoint stiffness in the morningpain in your muscles and tendonsscaly skin patches that may worsen simultaneously with flaring joint painnails separating from the nail bedflaky scalpfatigueeye painWho Xeljanz is prescribed forXeljanz is prescribed to adults with psoriatic arthritis whose symptoms have not responded to treatment with, or who had intolerable side effects to, one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Examples of TNF blockers used to treat psoriatic arthritis include:adalimumab (Humira) and its biosimilars, such as adalimumab-ryvk (Simlandi)certolizumab (Cimzia)infliximab (Remicade) and its biosimilars, such as Avsola (infliximab-axxq)golimumab (Simponi and Simponi Aria)How Xeljanz treats psoriatic arthritis Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory condition. With PsA, your immune system mistakenly attacks your joints, causing pain, inflammation, and other you're prescribed Xeljanz to treat PsA, you may wonder how the medication works to treat your condition. How a drug works is also referred to as its mechanism of way Xeljanz worksXeljanz is a type of medication called a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme (a type of protein) called Janus kinase (JAK). The JAK enzyme plays a role in activating certain parts of your immune system, which send signals to increase inflammation that cause psoriatic arthritis (PsA) symptoms. Blocking the JAK enzyme helps decrease inflammation, easing PsA well Xeljanz works for psoriatic arthritisClinical studies found Xeljanz effective for treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. These studies specifically evaluated how well Xeljanz worked to treat PsA symptoms in adults whose symptoms did not respond to or who had intolerable side effects to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) way to gauge a medication's effectiveness is through clinical treatment guidelines. Xeljanz is a recommended treatment option for certain adults with psoriatic arthritis in guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and National Psoriasis Foundation. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information on how Xeljanz fits into these treatment Xeljanz for psoriatic arthritisIf you're prescribed Xeljanz for psoriatic arthritis, it's important to understand your dosage and how to take the treating psoriatic arthritis, the following table lists recommended doses for Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR:Xeljanz (oral tablet and oral solution)Xeljanz XR (extended-release oral tablet)Recommended dosage5 milligrams (mg) twice daily11 mg once dailyYour doctor may adjust your Xeljanz dosage if you take certain other medications, have certain medical conditions, or experience certain side effects. To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also learn more in the prescribing information for Xeljanz and Xeljanz In addition to treating psoriatic arthritis, Xeljanz has other uses. Keep in mind that the drug's dosage may differ when treating other conditions. To learn more, talk with your to take XeljanzXeljanz is available in three forms: oral tabletoral extended-release* tablet (Xeljanz XR)oral solutionYou may take Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR with or without XR extended-release oral tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not chew, crush, or split Xeljanz XR tablets.* 'Extended release' means the drug contents are slowly released into your body over often to take XeljanzIf you're prescribed Xeljanz oral tablet or oral solution, you'll likely take Xeljanz twice per day. Xeljanz XR extended-release tablets are usually taken once per more information about dosing schedules for Xeljanz, see this Xeljanz dosage side effects The use of Xeljanz for psoriatic arthritis may cause side effects that are mild or serious. Xeljanz is also approved to treat the following conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (RA)ankylosing spondylitis (AS)ulcerative colitispolyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) It's important to note that side effects from Xeljanz may differ slightly depending on the condition it's used to lists below include some of the main side effects that have been reported with Xeljanz. For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our side effect article about Xeljanz or refer to Xeljanz's prescribing After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Xeljanz and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call side effects of XeljanzMild side effects reported by people who took Xeljanz to treat psoriatic arthritis in clinical trials include:upper respiratory infection, such as sinusitisrunny nose, coughing, and sneezingdiarrheaheadacheinsomniafatigueabdominal painindigestionnausea and vomitingincreased cholesterol levelsThese side effects of Xeljanz may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if they last longer than this, bother you, or become severe, it's important to talk with your doctor or side effects of XeljanzWhile not common, serious side effects with Xeljanz are possible. These include:blood cell problems, including: low lymphocyte countlow neutrophil countlow red blood cell count (anemia)high blood pressureincreased liver enzymes, which can be a sign of drug-induced liver damageperforations (holes) in your stomach or intestinesrisk of serious infection*increased risk of death in certain people*risk of cancer and lymphoproliferative disorders*risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, in certain people*risk of blood clots*Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while using Xeljanz. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.* Xeljanz has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the 'Before taking Xeljanz' section. ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Xeljanz can cause an allergic general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or to manageFor mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They'll also let you know whether you should keep taking the severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care as they can become life threatening. If you've had a serious allergic reaction to Xeljanz drug, your doctor may recommend a different medication taking XeljanzBefore you take Xeljanz, there's some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Some of these are mentioned warningsThis drug has boxed warnings about the risk for serious infections, an increased risk of death in certain people, risk of cancer, risk of serious cardiovascular side effects in certain people, and the risk of blood clots. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Risk of serious infection: Treatment with Xeljanz lowers the ability of your immune system to fight off infections. This can raise your risk for serious infections, including herpes zoster (shingles) and tuberculosis (TB). Before you begin taking Xeljanz, your doctor will test you for TB. If you have TB or another infection, your doctor may want to treat it before you begin taking Xeljanz. If you develop symptoms of an infection while taking Xeljanz, immediately let your doctor know. They may want to pause your Xeljanz treatment until the infection risk of death in certain people: In studies, people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were age 50 or older, had at least one cardiovascular risk (heart and blood vessel) factor, and took Xeljanz had a small but increased risk of death compared to people receiving tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker therapy. Your doctor can assess the benefits and risks of Xeljanz treatment and discuss this with you before you begin taking the medication. Due to this risk, your doctor likely will not prescribe a Xeljanz dosage of 10 milligrams (mg) twice per day or a Xeljanz XR dosage of 22 mg once per day to treat your psoriatic of cancer and lymphoproliferative disorders: Lymphoma and other types of cancer have been reported in studies of people taking Xeljanz. This risk may be higher if you use tobacco or have in the past. Taking Xeljanz can also increase the risk for lymphoproliferative disorders if you've received a kidney transplant and take certain other medications that decrease immune system of this risk, your doctor likely will not prescribe a Xeljanz dosage of 10 mg twice per day or a Xeljanz XR dosage of 22 mg once per day to treat your psoriatic your doctor if you have or have had cancer before you start taking Xeljanz. They can determine whether Xeljanz is safe for you to of serious cardiovascular side effects, in certain people: According to studies where Xeljanz was used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, certain people may have an increased risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from taking the medication. These side effects include heart attack and stroke. To help lower your risk for these side effects, your doctor likely will not prescribe a Xeljanz dosage of 10 mg twice per day or a Xeljanz XR dosage of 22 mg once per day to treat your psoriatic arthritis. If you experience serious cardiovascular side effects during treatment, your doctor will likely have you stop taking sure to tell your doctor if you've had a heart attack or stroke in the past before you begin treatment with Xeljanz. You're also at higher risk for serious cardiovascular side effects from taking Xeljanz if you use tobacco or have in the past. Having heart problems, including heart disease, can also increase this of blood clots: Treatment with Xeljanz may increase your risk for blood clots. Due to this risk, your doctor likely will not prescribe a Xeljanz dosage of 10 mg twice per day or a Xeljanz XR dosage of 22 mg once per day to treat your psoriatic arthritis. Get immediate medical treatment if you think you have symptoms of a blood clot while taking Xeljanz. If you experience this side effect, your doctor will likely have you stop taking you begin taking Xeljanz, let your doctor know if you have a blood clot or have had one in the past. If this applies to you, or you have other risk factors for blood clots, your doctor may prescribe a different treatment for psoriatic warningsIn addition to boxed warnings, Xeljanz has other warnings. If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before taking Xeljanz:if you use or have used tobaccoif you have liver problemsif you have kidney problemsif you have or have had diverticulitisif you have or have had ulcers in your stomach or intestinesif you currently have abdominal painif you have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccinepregnant or breastfeedingalcohol consumptionif you've had an allergic reaction to Xeljanz or any of its ingredientsFrequently asked questionsBelow are answers to some frequently asked questions about psoriatic arthritis, does Xeljanz have other indications?Yes, Xeljanz does have other indications besides psoriatic arthritis. (An indication refers to the condition or conditions that a drug is approved to treat.)Besides psoriatic arthritis, other Xeljanz indications include:rheumatoid arthritis (RA)ankylosing spondylitis (AS)ulcerative colitispolyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the conditions Xeljanz is approved to Xeljanz come as an injection?No, Xeljanz isn't available as an injection. Xeljanz is available in these forms: oral tablet, oral extended-release tablet (Xeljanz XR), and an oral are injectable medications for psoriatic arthritis available. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information if you'd like to learn how they compare to cost and coupons The cost of Xeljanz is based on several factors. These include your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your is a brand-name drug that currently is not available as a generic. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
Medical News Today
17-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
All about the Inflation Reduction Act and Medicare
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) aims to address the increasing costs of prescription medications, particularly under Medicare. It also authorizes Medicare drug price negotiations and manufacturer Joe Biden signed the IRA in 2022 to minimize the effects of growing healthcare costs in the United Inflation Reduction Act provides free vaccinations and caps on many out-of-pocket drug expenses for people with act also allows Medicare to negotiate some drug prices with drug manufacturers, which is a historical the Inflation Reduction Act impacts MedicareSince President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, changes have and continue to be implemented, with more due over the coming years. These include:Drug manufacturers to make rebates to Medicare: From 2023 onward, drug manufacturers started paying Medicare rebates for medications included in Part D prescription drug plans if the price increases for those drugs exceeded the rate of inflation. This has meant a much slower overall cost increase for many cost caps: Under the Medicare prescription medication benefit, insulin prices were capped at $35 from October 1, 2022, until January 1, 2024. After this date, insulin was either capped at $35 or 25% of a plan's negotiated price, whichever was less. This applies even if a person has not met their Part D prescription drug plan Help availability has increased: In 2024, Medicare's Extra Help program changes meant more people were eligible and experienced greater savings on prescription drugs. If a person qualifies for Extra Help, they will pay a $0 premium and deductible for their Part D prescription drug plan, as well as the following out-of-pocket expenses: No more than $4.90 for generic more than $12.15 for brand-name individuals have paid a total of $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, they will pay no further medication costs for the remainder of the calendar year. This is predicted to rise to $2,100 in price negotiationsMedicare now has the legal authority to directly negotiate prices of specific, high cost medications. Starting in 2026, these Medicare-negotiated drug prices will begin to take medications have been selected for negotiation over the coming years. There are 10 drugs for the 2026 negotiations, and 15 drugs for the 2027 negotiations. These are:10 drugs for 2026 Medicare negotiationsEliquis, which prevents and treats blood clotsEnbrel, which treats rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasisEntresto, which treats heart failureFarxiga, which treats diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney diseaseFiasp, Fiasp FlexTouch, Fiasp PenFill, NovoLog, NovoLog FlexPen, NovoLog PenFill, which treat diabetesImbruvica, which treats different kinds of blood cancerJanuvia, which treats diabetesJardiance, which treats diabetes and heart failureStelara, which treats psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitisXarelto, which prevents and treats blood clots, and reduces risks for people with coronary or peripheral artery disease15 drugs for 2027 Medicare negotiationsAustedo and Austedo XR, which treat chorea in Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesiaBreo Ellipta, which treats asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCalquence, which treats chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphomaJanumet and Janumet XR, which treat type 2 diabetesIbrance, which treats breast cancerLinzess, which treats chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipationOfev, which treats idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisOtezla, oral ulcers in Behçet disease, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritisOzempic, Rybelsus,and Wegovy, which treat type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetes with cardiovascular disease, and obesity with cardiovascular diseasePomalyst, which treats Kaposi sarcoma and multiple myelomaTradjenta, which treats type 2 diabetesTrelegy Ellipta, which treats asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseVraylar, which treats bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophreniaXifaxan, which treats hepatic encephalopathy and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrheaXtandi, which treats prostate cancerStarting from 2028, Medicare will include some Part B prescription medications in its drug negotiations. The specific drugs have not yet been Inflation Reduction Act seeks to save people money on their prescription drugs in many ways, and these cost savings should continue in the near future.A greater number of older adults with limited income and resources can access Medicare's Extra Help, and the drug negotiations taking place until 2029 could result in higher drug savings for everyone with Medicare.
Al Jazeera
16-07-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Trump claims China may give death penalty for fentanyl crimes involving US
United States President Donald Trump has said that China may start sentencing people to death for involvement in the manufacture or distribution of fentanyl, whose trafficking Trump has sought harsh measures to counteract. Speaking as he signed anti-drug legislation on Wednesday, the US president said that the need to combat fentanyl was one of the reasons for his imposition of tariffs on countries across the world. 'I think we're going to work it out so that China is going to end up going from that to giving the death penalty to the people that create this fentanyl and send it into our country,' Trump said. 'I believe that's going to happen soon.' China, which has long imposed severe penalties on people involved with drug distribution, including capital punishment, has been at the centre of Trump's ire over the opioid that helped fuel an overdose epidemic in the US. The country raised outrage when it executed four Canadian dual citizens earlier this year for drug-related offences, despite pleas for clemency from the Canadian government. Experts have questioned whether such penalties will help address the distribution of fentanyl, which China has said is driven largely by demand from people in the US. Trump has previously linked his tariffs on countries such as Mexico and Canada to fentanyl, although trafficking from the latter into the US is close to nonexistent. Drug overdoses in the US have been a subject of concern and political debate for years, with the country's opioid epidemic beginning with the aggressive promotion of painkillers by pharmaceutical companies but later being mostly driven by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Overdose deaths have started to drop in recent years, giving experts cause for optimism after years of communities being ravaged by opioids. Overdoses over a 12-month period ending in June 2024 dropped by 12 percent compared with the same period the previous year, down from 113,000 to 97,000.
ABC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Federal politics live: Donald Trump's pharmaceutical tariff threat causing uncertainty
US President Donald Trump's threat to slap pharmaceutical exports with a 200 per cent tariff is causing uncertainty, the peak body for Australia's drug manufacturers says. Follow all the updates in our live blog.
News.com.au
09-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Screw over': Truth about Donald Trump's plan to impose crippling 200 per cent tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals
US President Donald Trump's plan to drop a 200 per cent tariff bomb on Australian pharmaceuticals is set to 'screw over' the sickest and most vulnerable in the United States suffering rare and life-threatening conditions including burns patients. As the Albanese Government scrambles to secure more information about the US government's latest plans, Australian officials are sounding the alarm given that pharmaceutical exports are worth over $2 billion a year. All plasma products collected in Australia stay here and are not exported to the US. Instead, the export issue relates to vaccines and blood products collected overseas and sent to Australia for processing before being returned to the US. President Donald Trump has threatened to introduce 200 per cent tariffs on pharmaceuticals – one of Australia's biggest exports to the US. Speaking to the media before a cabinet meeting, the President suggested the 'very, very high' levies on pharmaceuticals would not go into effect immediately, saying he would give drug manufacturers 'about a year, year and a half' to respond and relocate their operations to the US. 'They're going to be tariffs at a very high rate, like 200 per cent,' Mr Trump told reporters. 'We'll give them a certain period of time to get their act together,' he added, seemingly referring to drug manufacturers bringing back manufacturing into the US. Australia is subject to a 10 per cent 'baseline' tariff, which was the minimum rate imposed on all US trading partners by Mr Trump earlier this year. Australia's plasma exports to the US One of the biggest sections of the market includes blood products such as plasma products including exports linked to CSL Plasma which collects blood plasma in the United States. In 2023, Australia exported $1.42 billion of vaccines, blood, antisera, toxins and cultures, making it the 20th largest exporter of 208 in the world. Blood collection is a commercial operation in the United States, with plasma donors typically paid for their blood. CSL Plasma operates one of the world's largest and most sophisticated plasma collection networks, with nearly 350 plasma collection centers in the US and elsewhere. The blood products are mostly processed in the US but some are sent back to Australia to manufacture therapies for a variety of rare and life-threatening conditions. These conditions include primary immunodeficiencies, bleeding disorders like hemophilia, neurological disorders, and critical care needs like those arising from trauma or burns. One Australian official predicted that demand for the products would continue but the tariffs would 'screw over' patients relying on the notorious US healthcare system. Vulnerable patients will be hit with cost increases because the tariffs are paid by importers, not Australian exporters. CSL has a factory in Melbourne Biotech giant CSL has a plasma fractionation facility in Broadmeadows in Melbourne. The impact of the threatened tariffs relates to the commercial arm of CSL. which uses US blood products which are sourced in America and then processed in Australia before being sent back. 'Plasma manufacturing is a really fragile supply chain because it starts in a human vein,'' an industry source said. 'It's not a tap that you can turn on or off. You need people to vote with their feet to go into a facility that is enabled to collect plasma, and the demand for plasma products is growing globally each year.' 'Tariffs on pharmaceuticals impact the end user.' Treasurer Jim Chalmers 'very concerned' The Treasurer said on Wednesday that Washington's latest announcement was 'very concerning'. 'These are obviously very concerning developments,' Mr Chalmers told the ABC, adding that it had 'been a feature of recent months that we've had these sorts of announcements out of DC'. 'It's still early days. Obviously, we'll make a more detailed assessment of what's come out of the US in the usual way.' 'Our pharmaceuticals industry is much more exposed to the US market, and that's why we're seeking - urgently seeking - some more detail on what's been announced. 'But I want to make it really clear once again … our Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme is not something that we're willing to trade away or do deals on – that won't change.' 'We've made it very clear that we think these tariffs are bad for the US, bad for Australia and bad for the global economy.' Mr Chalmers said one of the things the Albanese Government was 'most concerned' about was in addition to the direct impact on Australian workers and industries caused by this tariff, was the 'impact on global demand more broadly'. 'That's why we've been … at every opportunity, making the case that these tariffs are unjustified, they should be removed in line with our free trade agreement,' he said. The Prime Minister has described the taxes on Australian exports to the US as an 'act of economic self-harm'. 'Tariffs are a penalty on the country that is imposing them, because what they require is for goods to be purchased with a tax on top, and the US has made that decision,' the Prime Minister said. How plasma exports are used to help patients CSL Behring uses a process called plasma fractionation to separate the collected plasma into different components, such as immunoglobulins, coagulation factors, and other proteins. One example is helping people with bleeding disorders, with doctors utilising coagulation factors that are used to help patients with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. Plasma-derived products are also used in emergency situations like severe trauma, burns, and shock to replace lost blood volume and proteins. For now, Australian officials concerned about the impact on blood product exports don't have full clarity on how it will impact the supply chain process.
