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Articles on Pharmaceuticals

Displaying 121 - 140 of 201 articles

World Health Organisation director-general Margaret Chan at the launch of a new global campaign against antibiotic resistance. Reuters/Pierre Albouy

Seven hard facts we all need to swallow about antibiotics

More than 700,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections. The World Health Organisation is trying to end the age of ignorance to protect this global common good.
Off-label use is when an approved medicine is prescribed for a different reason, at a different dose, or in different patient groups than originally intended. Benny Lin/Flickr

Explainer: why are off-label medicines prescribed?

The off-label use of medicines is not illegal and it doesn’t mean regulators have specifically “disapproved” its use. But there are a number of issues to consider before using a medicine off-label.
Generic medicine is essential to regions like the Southern African Development Community where HIV is endemic and cheap drugs are needed. shutterstock

Explainer: the problem drug patents pose for developing countries

The generic drug industry has become essential to developing countries that need access to cheaper drugs to treat their heavy burdens of communicable diseases.
Insulin, which is used for controlling diabetes and has been in the market for 30 years, was the first biologic. Yusmar Yahaya/Flickr

Explainer: what are biologics and biosimilars?

Biologics are widely accepted as the most effective way of treating certain diseases. They have become the fastest-growing class of therapeutic compounds, with about 300 now available for human use.
Horse-rider Potso Seoete makes an HIV-drug delivery to the Molika-liko health clinic in a remote district of Lesotho. EPA/Jon Hrusa

Why a regional approach could help end drug stockouts in southern Africa

Medicine shortages in southern Africa, particularly of anti-retrovirals for HIV patients, require urgent attention. A regional approach to distribution has been tried in South America and could work for the region.

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