Ann Barbier

New component of circadian clock functions in redox-state-dependent manner

Two articles published in Science identified a new component of the circadian clock in the mammalian forebrain. NPAS2 (neuronal PAS domain 2 protein), a transcription factor highly homologous to the circadian factor CLOCK, was shown to possess functions similar to CLOCK in the regulation of the biological clock. In a companion paper, the same authors show that the DNA binding activity of the transcription complexes containing CLOCK or NPAS2 is modulated by the redox state of the NAD cofactor. These results raise the possibility that fluctuations in the intracellular redox state could influence biological rhythms. [Reick, M. et al. (2001) Science 293, 506–509; Rutter, J. et al. (2001) Science 293, 510–514] AB

Caffeine protects against Parkinson's disease?

A large prospective study, based on the Health Professionals’ Follow-Up and Nurses’ Health Study cohorts, reports an inverse association between coffee consumption and risk for Parkinsons disease in men and women. Similar results were obtained when the caffeine consumption from other sources was investigated. Because earlier studies have shown that addition of high-dose caffeine to other drugs used in the treatment of Parkinsons disease does not provide additional benefits, the effect of caffeine seems to be preventive rather than curative. It is known that caffeine, an antagonist at the adenosine A2 receptor, protects against chemically induced neurotoxicity in an animal model of Parkinsons disease, and that it might have a role in the modulation of dopamine-mediated transmission. [Ascherio, A. et al. (2001) Prospective study of caffeine consumption and risk of Parkinsons disease in men and women. Ann. Neurol. 50, 56-63]. AB

Medicare fraud crackdown

TAP Pharmaceuticals, a joint venture between Abbott Laboratories and Takeda Pharmaceuticals, agreed to pay a

FDA approves new hormone-based contraceptive

875 million fine and plead guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy to violate the Prescription Drug Marketing Act. The indictment described a scheme in which TAP salespeople provided doctors with free samples of Lupron (leuprolide acetate), a prostate cancer drug, which were fraudulently billed to Medicare. According to the indictment, the company offered physicians generous ‘freebies’ to convince them to switch to Lupron. Six TAP employees and five physicians have been indicted. The US Government says Medicare rip-offs amount to as much as

Insurance for birth control pills

100 billion per year, and has announced its intention to investigate other cases of alleged drug-pricing fraud. AB

Cardiovascular risks of COX-2 inhibitors

Women who are tired of taking the contraceptive pill every day might soon have an alternative. The FDA recently approved a device called NuvaRing, a flexible ring of approximately three inches in diameter that releases estrogen and progestin. The ring is inserted into the vagina at a specific point in the menstrual cycle and remains in place for 21 days. The FDA considered that the product had the same effectiveness, and the same risks and side-effects as oral contraceptives. Organon, the products maker, plans to start marketing the NuvaRing in mid-2002. AB

Teaching schoolchildren about Ectasy

The struggle to obtain insurance coverage for contraceptives in the USA gained a significant victory in June, when a federal judge ruled that the health insurance plans in a Seattle-based company must cover contraceptives if it covered other prescription drugs. The lawsuit was brought under Title VII, a federal anti-sex-discrimination law. Although the ruling pertains only to this specific company, it might serve as a precedent for other employees in companies covered by Title VII. Womens groups were recently moved to take action when some insurance plans began to cover Viagra while still denying coverage for contraception. The annual cost of birth control pills is ∼US

NIH releases stem cell report

300, and a study carried out in 1994 showed that women spend 68% more on health care during their reproductive years than do men. AB

Japanese mad cow

The cardioprotective properties of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well established, but the effects of selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors on the cardiovascular system are not fully known. Because COX-1 produces the prothrombotic thromboxane A2 whereas COX-2 is responsible for the synthesis of prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), a vasodilator and antiplatelet aggregation factor, the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors might tip the clotting cascade towards a prothrombotic state. A meta-analysis of several clinical trials found evidence that chronic use of COX-2 inhibitors might be associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events. Given the widespread use of COX-2 inhibitors, the authors propose that clinical studies should evaluate this potential risk and urge caution with the use of COX-2 inhibitors in patients at risk of cardiovascular morbidity. [Mukherjee, D. et al. (2001) Am. J. Med. Assoc. 286, 954–959]

Lawsuit over Medicare drug discount card

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has made an information package on the pharmacology of MDMA (‘Ectasy’) available on its website. The package consists of 20 slides and a suggested outline for a talk that is intended to educate a teenage audience about the short- and long-term effects of the popular stimulant. The colourful slides detail the interaction of MDMA with the 5-HT transporter and show the various brain regions affected by long-term abuse. Positron emission tomography (PET) images from brains of former MDMA users are also provided. The slides can be viewed at http://www.drugabuse.gov. AB