Kidney and Blood Stem Cell Transplantation that Eliminates Requirement for Immunosuppressive Drugs
The Stanford Medical Center Program in Multi-Organ Transplantation and the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation are enrolling patients into a research study to determine if blood stem cells injected after kidney transplantation will change the immune system such that immunosuppressive drugs can be completely withdrawn. Patients must have a healthy, completely human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched brother or sister as the organ and stem cell donor.
Please go to
http://transplantstudies.stanford.edu/ for additional information and how to participate
FDA Approves Once-Daily JANUVIA™, the First and Only DPP-4 Inhibitor Available in the United States for Type 2 Diabetes
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Oct. 17, 2006 -- Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved JANUVIA™ (sitagliptin phosphate), the first and only DPP-4 inhibitor available in the United States for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. JANUVIA has been approved as monotherapy and as add-on therapy to either of two other types of oral diabetes medications, metformin or thiazolidinediones (TZDs), to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in patients with type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise is not enough. The recommended dose of JANUVIA is 100 mg once daily. JANUVIA should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, as it would not be effective in these settings.
For more information, please visit
http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/product/2006_1017.html
Making Sense of the New Medicare Drug Benefit
Between "glitches" that have left patients across the country unsure of their coverage and the inevitable growing pains produced by a new program, the roll-out of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, which began January 1st, has been more than a little rocky. For kidney and transplant patients, who often rely on a wide variety of prescriptions to stay healthy, confusion regarding the new plan has been especially troublesome. With a program so important -- and at times so confusing -- where should concerned kidney patients and their loved ones look for critical drug benefit information?
The definitive source of information is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Its Medicare website,
medicare.gov, offers detailed information on the new program as well as lists of drug plan providers and other resources. CMS also offers help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
In addition to CMS, California Health Advocates, a non-profit education and advocacy organization for California's Medicare beneficiaries, offers unbiased information and counseling through its Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Information about the prescription drug benefit can be found online at
calmedicare.org and Medicare counseling is offered both over the phone at 1-800-434-0222 and in person at local HICAP offices (visit www.calmedicare.org to find the office in your area).
Finally, the NKF, in partnership with dozens of other kidney organizations and companies, has launched the website
kidneydrugcoverage.org to provide consistent, reliable and up-to-date information about the drug benefit as it applies specifically to kidney patients. The site offers numerous fact sheets, downloadable booklets and drug plan comparisons for kidney and transplant patients.
Ensuring that kidney patients continue to receive all necessary prescriptions is one of the NKF's top priorities. Continue to visit kidneynca.org for updated Medicare resources and updates on the program.
