Content about Ektron

DENVER A cholesterol-lowering drug made by Merck appears to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiac death in patients with chronic kidney disease, according to results of a new study.

Merck said results of a 9,000-patient clinical study showed that Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) reduced the risks by 16.1% compared with placebo. Results of the study were presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nephrology.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for preventing skeletal injuries in patients whose cancer has spread to the bone.

The FDA announced Friday the approval of Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based biotech company Amgen’s Xgeva (denosumab) for bone metastases.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. The customer care team of CVS Caremark's pharmacy benefit management business earned a silver medal for its customer service by Contact Center World, CVS announced Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO — A new analysis indicated that retailers should expect a modest increase in sales despite wavering consumer confidence.

The report, developed by global management consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates, projected 2.1% to 2.6% growth in personal consumption expenditures for fourth quarter 2010. The analysis also showed spending on durable and nondurable goods will continue to outpace spending on services this holiday season.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Regional supermarket chain Fresh & Easy has kicked off its in-store food drive for the holiday season.

The food drive, which will benefit food banks in the California, Nevada and Arizona markets, asked customers to donate canned and boxed goods at any store location through Christmas Eve. Between donations from customers and Fresh & Easy stores, more than $1 million in food will be given to local food banks and charities to help fight hunger this holiday season, the retailer said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — No matter how you slice it, the flexible spending account changes that are part of the overall Affordable Care Act aren’t doing a whole lot by way of saving healthcare dollars, at least not for patients. Indeed, about the only benefactors are those folks who have to make dollars and cents out of what might become the first casualty of the Obamacare healthcare package — those who have to explain how the administration plans to pay for this package, you know, by not raising taxes.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The fact that CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic was highlighted as an innovator of healthcare delivery by the World Economic Forum's Innovation Health Care Delivery Project is important on several fronts. Not only does the recognition further illustrate the important role that convenient care clinics are playing in U.S. health care, but perhaps even more importantly, this forum also was a global stage for the clinic operator.

NEW YORK — Pfizer got promising results from a late-stage clinical trial of a cancer treatment, the drug maker said Friday.

Pfizer announced results of the phase-3 “AXIS 1032” trial of the kidney cancer drug axitinib, saying that it “significantly” extended the lives of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma compared with Nexavar (sorafenib), made by Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals.

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. government are suing two generic drug makers to stop them from launching a generic drug for HIV, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that Tibotec, a subsidiary of J&J, and the government were separately suing Mylan and Lupin over a generic version of the drug Prezista (darunavir ethanolate), alleging patent infringement.

NEW YORK — Adding pharmacists to a primary care team could help diabetics better manage associated risks, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta.

Among 153 hypertensive Type 2 diabetes patients studied, 82 who had advice from a pharmacist were more likely to reach blood pressure treatment targets recommended by the Canadian Diabetes Association.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. Arctic Ease on Thursday announced the launch of its Arctic Ease cryotherapy pads and wraps. The cold therapy products can be used at room temperature, conform to the body and adhere directly to the skin, the company said.

"The wraps and pads conform to the affected area, allow a full range of motion and provide a cooling therapy that is simple, convenient and incredibly effective," stated Carol Forden, president and CEO of Arctic Ease.

DUBLIN, Ohio Cardinal Health is looking to expand the pharmaceutical segment of its business by acquiring a pharmaceutical distributor serving the New York metropolitan area.

The company said its acquisition of Kinray for $1.3 billion in an all-cash transaction would significantly expand its ability to serve retail independent pharmacies in the northeastern United States. Kinray currently serves more than 2,000 retail independent pharmacy customers as a distributor of both branded and generic pharmaceuticals.