Briefly

Class action approvals: The Quebec Superior Court has approved a $50 million suit against Pfizer Inc. related to its contraceptive Depo-Provera, which allegedly causes a decrease in bone density in women. Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench has expanded a suit against Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. to allow non-residents of the province (except Quebecers) to join their action against the drug rofecoxib (Vioxx). In November 2007, Merck & Co. agreed to a US$4.85 billion settlements for rofecoxib plaintiffs in the United States.

2,4-D safe: Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency says a scientific re-evaluation of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) has concluded that it poses no risks to the health of children, adults, animals or the environment when used according to label instructions.

Antiretroviral access: About 3 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy in low-and middle-income countries in 2007, comprising roughly 31% of the 9.7 million who now need the life-saving HIV drugs, according to a new report (www.who.int) from the World Health Organization, UNAIDS and UNICEF. Although it took 2 years longer than once planned to achieve the “3 by 5” target, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan called it “a remarkable achievement for public health.”

Discarded needles: The city of Ottawa will spend $100 000 over the course of the summer of 2008 to hire summer students, who'll roam streets and parks picking up discarded drug needles, which critics say are littering the streets of the national capital as a result of a program to distribute some 343 000 needles a year. City council also launched a $50 000 safe syringe study.

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Photo by: Pete Birkinshaw