The Long-Term Intervention on Fractures with Tibolone (LIFT) study demonstrated a reduced risk of vertebral fracture, breast cancer, and possibly colon cancer but a significantly increased risk of stroke in older postmenopausal women treated with tibolone versus those treated with placebo.

Merck has announced that they are discontinuing development of taranabant, an investigational selective blocker of the cannabinoid-1 (CB-1) receptor that was being studied for the treatment of obesity.

FDA announced that the agency has posted on its website a report listing drugs that are being investigated for potential safety concerns.

Genentech informed healthcare professionals that a 70-year-old patient who has been treated with efalizumab (Raptiva) for chronic psoriasis for >4 years has developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, progressive disease of the central nervous system that is usually fatal.

Labeling updates and warnings through October 2008 for adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), and rituximab (Rituxan).

A nested case-control analysis published in the Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrated an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with recently diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with ipratropium.

A retrospective cohort study published in the journal Stroke demonstrated an increased risk of stroke among users of rofecoxib and valdecoxib but not among users of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Labeling updates and warnings through September 2008 for intramuscular naltrexone (Vivitrol) amd for simvastatin (Zocor; generic simvastatin), ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin), and niacin extended-release/simvastatin (Simcor) when used concurrently with amiodarone (Cordarone; Pacerone; generic amiodarone)

Labeling updates and warnings through August 2008 for abacavir (Ziagen) and abacavir-containing agents (Epzicom, Trizivir) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro), ciprofloxacin extended-release (Cipro XR. Proquin XR), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin).