New Products

Care Kit made especially for victims of domestic violence in upscale families A resource guide, called the Care Kit, specifically designed for victims of domestic violence in affluent families and for the professionals who work with them, recently debuted. Developed by the Weitzman Center, the Care Kit contains resources for getting help, questions to ask professionals, perspectives from professionals and survivors, and referral guidelines.

The Weitzman Center, a not-for-profit organization developed in 2001, is committed to helping victims with upper socioeconomic status in whom domestic violence and abuse is often overlooked.

Drug reformulated to treat endometriosis pain Pfizer has announced FDA approval of the first new treatment for managing the pain of endometriosis since 1990. Depo-subQ provera 104 (medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension), already approved for birth control in the United States, was found to provide effective pain relief with less loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and significantly fewer menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, compared to Lupron (leuprolide acetate), according to Pfizer. The long-acting injectable contraception is a new formulation of medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is the same active ingredient as in Depo-Provera contraceptive injection.

In an 18-month study of 274 patients, Depo-subQ provera 104, given every 3 months, was statistically equivalent to Lupron, given every 3 months, across all endometriosis-associated pain categories, including pelvic pain, pelvic tenderness, painful periods, painful intercourse, and hardening/thickening of tissue. Women treated with leuprolide acetate for depot suspension showed significant decreases from baseline in both femur and lumbar spine BMD at month 18, while patients taking Depo-subQ provera 104 did not. The product is given by subcutaneous injection four times a year to halt menstruation, which results in thinner, more compact endometrial tissue. By halting the growth of endometrial implants, it relieves pain associated with endometriosis.

The company cautions that Depo-subQ provera 104 may still cause significant BMD loss, which becomes greater the longer it's used and may not be totally reversible, and advises using the product for long-term birth control only if other birth control methods are inadequate. For more information, visit the company Web site at http:// http://www.pfizer.com/.