Absolute risk remains low but women should be advised accordingly, say researchers Women who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers alongside hormonal contraception appear to be at a small increased risk of blood clots known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), finds a large Danish study published by The BMJ today. The risk was greater in ...

This press release was updated on 31 August 2023 to reflect further information provided by Eurofins County Pathology and to include a statement from the company Potentially unreliable online tests for oestrogen were sold for many months despite questions raised over their accuracy Misleading results could impact decisions around drugs ...

Results suggest need for greater awareness when considering steroid treatment Two new studies published by The BMJ today examine the potential health risks for infants of giving steroid drugs to women who are at risk of giving birth early.  Taken together, the results highlight the need for doctors to be aware of ...

But payments are not always made public and critics say voluntary industry transparency initiatives don’t go far enough Royal colleges in the UK have received more than £9 million in marketing payments from drug and medical devices companies since 2015, but do not always disclose the payments publicly, finds an ...

Review suggests that costs tend to rise and quality falls at acquired healthcare providers Private equity ownership of healthcare services such as nursing homes and hospitals is associated with harmful impacts on costs and quality of care, suggests a review of the latest evidence published by The BMJ today. No consistently beneficial ...

Patients need better treatments, not just more of the same, says expert New drugs are often used not only for one disease (first approved indication) but also for other diseases (supplemental indications). But a study published by The BMJ today finds that less than half of approved first indications for new drugs ...

Did new antibiotic meet the legal standard for approval? Are US drug regulatory rules being bypassed? Drugs approved in the US require “substantial evidence” that they are effective. But an investigation by The BMJ into the recent approval of the antibiotic Recarbrio from Merck suggests that these standards are being ...

Pfizer says vaccine is safe and effective, but trial results prompt calls for further analysis of data and post-approval monitoring Experts have called for further scrutiny of a new Pfizer vaccine given during pregnancy to prevent respiratory infection in infants, after trials of a similar GSK vaccine were stopped after ...