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Background and aim: Disproportionality analyses using reports of suspected adverse drug reactions are the most commonly used quantitative methods for detecting safety signals in pharmacovigilance. However, their methods and results are generally poorly reported in published articles and existing guidelines do not capture the specific features of disproportionality analyses. We here describe the development of a guideline (REporting of A Disproportionality analysis for drUg Safety signal detection using individual case safety reports in PharmacoVigilance [READUS-PV]) for reporting the results of disproportionality analyses in articles and abstracts. Methods: We established a group of 34 international experts from universities, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies, with expertise in pharmacovigilance, disproportionality analyses, and assessment of safety signals. We followed a three-step process to develop the checklist: (1) an open-text survey to generate a first list of items; (2) an online Delphi method to select and rephrase the most important items; (3) a final online consensus meeting. Results: Among the panel members, 33 experts responded to round 1 and 30 to round 2 of the Delphi and 25 participated to the consensus meeting. Overall, 60 recommendations for the main body of the manuscript and 13 recommendations for the abstracts were retained by participants after the Delphi method. After merging of some items together and the online consensus meeting, the READUS-PV guidelines comprise a checklist of 32 recommendations, in 14 items, for the reporting of disproportionality analyses in the main body text and four items, comprising 12 recommendations, for abstracts. Conclusions: The READUS-PV guidelines will support authors, editors, peer-reviewers, and users of disproportionality analyses using individual case safety report databases. Adopting these guidelines will lead to more transparent, comprehensive, and accurate reporting and interpretation of disproportionality analyses, facilitating the integration with other sources of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pharmacovigilance, disproportionality analyses based on individual case safety reports are widely used to detect safety signals. Unfortunately, publishing disproportionality analyses lacks specific guidelines, often leading to incomplete and ambiguous reporting, and carries the risk of incorrect conclusions when data are not placed in the correct context. The REporting of A Disproportionality analysis for drUg Safety signal detection using individual case safety reports in PharmacoVigilance (READUS-PV) statement was developed to address this issue by promoting transparent and comprehensive reporting of disproportionality studies. While the statement paper explains in greater detail the procedure followed to develop these guidelines, with this explanation paper we present the 14 items retained for READUS-PV guidelines, together with an in-depth explanation of their rationale and bullet points to illustrate their practical implementation. Our primary objective is to foster the adoption of the READUS-PV guidelines among authors, editors, peer reviewers, and readers of disproportionality analyses. Enhancing transparency, completeness, and accuracy of reporting, as well as proper interpretation of their results, READUS-PV guidelines will ultimately facilitate evidence-based decision making in pharmacovigilance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are an essential therapeutic option in the management of various solid tumors, particularly renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, post-marketing data regarding their potential cardiovascular toxicities are scant. Objective: To identify and characterize cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) of VEGFR-TKIs indicated for RCC. Patients and Methods: Disproportionality analysis of the US Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system (July 2014–December 2019) using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the lower bound of the Information component (IC) 95% credibility interval (IC025 > 0 is significant). Results: We identified 51,836 adverse event reports of sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib in the full database [36% women; median age 65 years (range 57–73)]. CVAEs accounted for 11,784 (23%) of the reports, with hypertension [n = 5548 (11%), ROR = 6.55 (95% CI 6.37–6.74), IC025 = 2.48] and hemorrhages [n = 3710 (7.2%), ROR = 1.28 (1.24–1.32), IC025 = 0.28] being the most frequent types. Additional CVAEs were over-reported with VEGFR-TKIs treatment, including aortic dissection [n = 61 (0.1%), ROR = 3.50 (2.71–4.51)], pericardial diseases [n = 173 (0.3%), ROR = 1.98 (1.70–2.30)], cardiomyopathy [n = 61 (0.1%), ROR = 1.89 (1.47–2.43)], heart failure [n = 868 (1.7%), ROR = 1.35 (1.26–1.44)], and venous thromboembolism [n = 604 (1.2%), ROR = 1.33 (1.23–1.45), all IC025 > 0]. The major pericardial disorder was non-malignant pericardial effusion [n = 134 (77%)]. Aortic dissections were also over-reported in patients without concomitant elevated blood pressure [ROR = 2.68 (1.97–3.63), IC025 = 0.91]. Finally, CVAEs were reported more often following lenvatinib and sunitinib treatment compared to other VEGFR-TKIs. Conclusions: In post-marketing surveillance data, VEGFR-TKIs are associated with increased reporting of various CVAEs, including pericardial diseases, particularly non-malignant pericardial effusion, and aortic dissections. Moreover, VEGFR-TKIs differ in their CVAE reporting patterns. Clinicians should be conscious of these findings in the care of VEGFR-TKIs recipients. Cardiovascular toxicities of VEGFR-TKIs in the FDA adverse events reporting system (FAERS) database. Post-marketing data of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-associated cardiovascular toxicities are scant. We identified 51,836 safety reports of VEGFR-TKIs (sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib) in the FAERS database, including 11,784 (23%) cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs). Hypertension, aortic dissections, and pericardial diseases had the highest reporting odds ratios. While the association of VEGFR-TKIs with hypertension is well established, pericardial diseases were not observed to date, and aortic dissection was reported in a small case series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventive vaccines are widely acknowledged as the best hope for protection against infectious pathogens such as avian flu, HIV and SARS. As a result, they have received much recent attention in the media that has exposed some of the challenges involved in optimally using vaccine technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]