Vancomycin vs TMP/SMX for MRSA – Not the Final Word

Vancomycin got a bad reputation since the early 90ies when it became clear that it was slow to provide clinical improvement and microbiologic cure in MRSA patients.  It was associated with prolonged bacteremia even when combined with rifampin [1].  And for MSSA, anti-staph penicillins like nafcillin were always the better choice. Then, Continue reading Vancomycin vs TMP/SMX for MRSA – Not the Final Word

Cattle and Pigs and Chickens, Oh Yeah!

When the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Final Rule was announced earlier this month by FDA, the accompanying press release called it a ‘major step towards judicious antibiotic use’ in veterinary medicine [1]. There are several elements which look good, at least on paper: As prescribers of any and all antibiotics it Continue reading Cattle and Pigs and Chickens, Oh Yeah!

Dosis Sola Facit Venenum – The TAB08 (aka TGN1412) Relaunch

It is a while ago (2006) when TeGenero ran its ill-fated Phase 1 study of TGN1412, a CD28 superagonist slated for studies in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and B-cell CLL. Unexpectedly, in this FIM study, TGN1412 generated a cytokine release syndrome (CRS), some called it “cytokine storm”, a massive T-cell Continue reading Dosis Sola Facit Venenum – The TAB08 (aka TGN1412) Relaunch