New generics campaign to focus on safety around medicine brand choices The new phase of NPS Be Medicinewise campaign was launched in April and focuses on safety in the context of medicine brand choices.

The campaign aims to educate people about the difference between a brand name and the active ingredient in a medicine, and where to find the active ingredient on the medicine packet or label.

“Switching brands generally has little impact but for some people it can lead to confusion and subsequent medicine mishaps. It’s important people understand their medicine options and are able to make informed decisions for their personal circumstances. With a number of blockbuster medicines coming off patent in the next few years, it’s timely to pick up the conversation about medicine options again and build on our last award-winning generics campaign,” NPS clinical adviser, Danielle Stowasser said.

Health professionals should be aware NPS is providing information to consumers to explain the differences in medicines names and why there is a choice, and they should expect an increase in questions about this.

Latest edition of NPS RADAR

The April edition of NPS RADAR for 2011 has been pub- lished on the NPS website. It contains reviews of:
• Nicotine patches (Nicabate P, Nicorette, Nicotinell Step 1) for smoking cessation:The additional listing makes nicotine transdermal patches available to all smokers who participate in a support and counselling program. This listing covers one 12-week course of treatment per patient per year, which may not be in combination with varenicline or bupropion
• Varenicline (Champix) for smoking cessation: New PBS listing for extension to treatment. Smokers who are abstinent at 12 weeks after starting varenicline can now receive a further 12 weeks of treatment to improve their chance of longer-term abstinence
• Dutasteride (Avodart) for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: From 1 February 2011, dutasteride (Avodart) can be prescribed - together with an alpha blocker - for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Treatment must be initiated by an urologist but can be continued by a general practitioner
• Adapalene with benzoyl peroxide (Epiduo) for severe acne vulgaris: Adapalene with benzoyl peroxide is a fixed-dose combination gel for acute and maintenance treatment of severe acne vulgaris. Acute treatment is in combination with an oral antibiotic.
  • And a brief article on Vildagliptin with metform in (Galvumet) fixed-dose combination tablets PBS listed for type 2 diabetes.