Rising drug costs prompt new uses for old pills

Paclitaxel: new uses for an old drug

Paclitaxel (Taxol), one of the most important anticancer drugs, has been used for therapy of different types of cancers. Mechanistically, paclitaxel arrests cell cycle and induces cell death by stabilizing microtubules and interfering with microtubule disassembly in cell division. Recently, it has been found that low-dose paclitaxel seems promising in treating non-cancer diseases, such as skin ...

Ketamine: new uses for an old drug?

Over the years, ketamine has found many applications in paediatric anaesthesiology. Recent insights into the mechanism of its central action, and the pharmacology of its isomers have led to a re-evaluation of this drug, expanding the range of indications in adults. The best examples of the uses of ketamine as an analgesic are: in brief diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, during the post-opera...

Vivax malaria: old drug, new uses?

More than 40% of the world population is at risk for malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax [1]. Because this parasite rarely causes severe disease in travelers or populations in temperate climates, it has been regarded as a relatively benign infection. We now know that this is not the case; in the tropics, vivax malaria can be severe and fatal [2]. Moreover, P. vivax has a persistent liver stage t...

Rising drug costs: the impact on dermatology.

In the US prescription drug costs are rising faster than any other component of health care expenditures, and show no signs of slowing. Spending on prescription drugs has been estimated by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) to be rising by approximately 12% per year, more than twice the rate for national health care expenditures (5.1%). Factors driving the rise in prescription drug c...

New uses for old urine tests.