And at least 20 experimental drugs are being tested to prevent the growth of blood vessels tumors need to grow and spread. Vaccines are in development to rally the immune system in patients suffering from malignant melanoma to colon cancer. One vaccine, in use in the Netherlands, may eventually come on the market in the United States. Cardiovascular Refludan, synthesized from leech saliva, is being used after surgery to fight clots. A drug approved just last month for atrial fibrillation is Tikosyn, which blocks the outflow of potassium in only one channel of the heart.
Beta blockers are in a renaissance.
A growing number of cardiologists now recommend that patients on a wide variety of cardiovascular medications also take beta blockers to boost their effectiveness. FDA-approved Avandia appears to provide Rezulin's benefits with much less risk of liver toxicity. Type 2 diabetics also can benefit from FDA-approved Glucophage, which lowers blood glucose in part by decreasing its production in the liver and absorption through the intestines. Glucophage has the added benefit of helping to foster weight loss in many patients. Glucose monitor GlucoWatch is pending FDA approval.