Content about Federal Trade Commission

NEW YORK — Pharmacists are urging New York governor Andrew Cuomo to give the green light to legislation that would prevent health insurers from requiring patients to receive their drugs via mail order, according to published reports.

According to the reports, local pharmacists said at a press conference that the bill would help stop losses of pharmacies and jobs.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — This isn't just about mail order in New York state. This is about the future of the pharmacy benefit management market and what payers are more likely to spend their money on. It's about choice. And because of that, this is just another story in what has been a very busy news cycle on the PBM front, driven primarily by the anti-mandatory mail-order bill battle in New York, reactions to two contradictory studies on patients regarding mail order and adherence, and continued challenges to the proposed ESI-Medco merger.

So, who’s afraid of a bigger, badder Express Scripts-Medco?  Apparently not its competitors.

CVS Caremark president and CEO Larry Merlo isn’t worried about a combined ESI-Medco. “Assuming that the proposed transaction is completed, I am more confident than ever that CVS Caremark can and will effectively compete in this vibrant industry,” Merlo said to open his company’s Aug. 4 earnings call with analysts.

WASHINGTON — The ink has barely dried on the acquisition agreement between pharmacy benefit management giants Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, but several groups already are seeing smudges — most recently, a trade organization representing independent specialty pharmacy providers.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission announced on Wednesday that it has reached a settlement with Beiersdorf, the maker of Nivea, regarding advertising claims of its Nivea My Silhouette! skin cream.

The FTC administrative complaint charged Beiersdorf with falsely claiming that by regularly applying Nivea My Silhouette! cream to the skin, consumers could slim down. According to the complaint, Beiersdorf marketed the skin cream in nationwide television ads and through sponsored search results on Google. As part of the settlement, Beiersdorf has agreed to pay $900,000.

JERUSALEM and FRAZER, Pa. — Before they can move ahead with their deal, drug makers Teva and Cephalon must provide the Federal Trade Commission with additional information related to Teva's pending acquisition of Cephalon.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Catalyst Health Solutions and Walgreens on Monday announced that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, in connection with Catalyst’s previously announced proposed acquisition of Walgreens Health Initiatives, the pharmacy benefit management subsidiary of Walgreens.

Completion of the proposed acquisition remains subject to other closing conditions. The companies continue to expect to complete the transaction in the first half of 2011.

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and RYE BROOK, N.Y. — In connection with the previously announced $1.25 billion acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American by CVS Caremark, both companies have announced that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of second quarter 2011 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of Universal American shareholders and state regulatory approvals.

WASHINGTON — The National Consumer League on Wednesday filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission that called into question advertising and labeling claims made by Glacéau’s Vitaminwater.

The NCL identified print and television advertisements that suggested that Vitaminwater can replace flu shots and prevent illness as “dangerously misleading.”

WASHINGTON — Yogurt brand Dannon agreed to drop what government officials are calling "exaggerated health claims" for two of its products.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Independent pharmacists are hailing a move in Congress to exempt pharmacies from burdensome accounting requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission.