Content about HIV

April 2, 2013
Advantage Consumer Healthcare brings competitive edge with OTC focus

DSN caught up with Greg Bradley — president and CEO of Advantage Consumer Healthcare, a full turnkey solution center for over-the-counter medicines reaching the market — for an overview of the new marketing and sales solution company as it has recently brought to market OraSure Technologies' OraQuick Advance, a take-home HIV test kit that the Food and Drug Administration recently approved for the self-care market, and Westport Pharmaceuticals' Zephrex-D, a pseudoephedrine product with a unique point of differentiation.

AUDIO Q&A: DSN caught up with Greg Bradley — president and CEO of Advantage Consumer Healthcare, a full turnkey solution center for over-the-counter medicines reaching the market — for an overview of the new marketing and sales solution company as it has recently brought to market OraSure Technologies' OraQuick Advance, a take-home HIV test kit that the Food and Drug Administration recently approved for the self

December 27, 2012
Managing HIV/AIDS treatment

The Obama administration recently stressed the importance of increasing coverage of HIV treatment, as well as increasing access to HIV testing and counseling. It's an initiative that Walgreens, with more than 700 HIV-specialized pharmacies and over 2,000 pharmacists with special HIV/AIDS-accredited educational training, follows closely. Walgreens' senior manager for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis pharmacy services Glen Pietrandoni talked with DSN on the scope of Walgreens' HIV/AIDS services.

AUDIO Q&A: Walgreens' senior manager for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis pharmacy services Glen Pietrandoni talked with DSN on the scope of Walgreens' HIV/AIDS services.The Obama administration recently stressed the importance of increasing coverage of HIV treatment, as well as increasing access to HIV testing and counseling.

June 13, 2013
National HIV Testing Day: Walgreens to provide free HIV testing in nearly 175 stores across 54 cities

Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS are teaming with health departments and local AIDS organizations across the country to provide free HIV testing in support of National HIV Testing Day, June 27, according to a release from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

WALGREENS — Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS are teaming with health departments and local AIDS organizations across the country to provide free HIV testing in support of National HIV Testing Day, June 27, according to a release from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

This marks the third consecutive year Walgreens has teamed with Greater Than AIDS and local organizations to help bring free HIV testing to communities. This year, more than three times the number of stores and testing partners are participating compared with 2012.

June 5, 2013
Illinois Lottery game to fund HIV/AIDS programs

The Illinois Lottery will use the net proceeds from a new game to promote HIV/AIDS education, prevention and support, the agency said Wednesday.

CHICAGO — The Illinois Lottery will use the net proceeds from a new game to promote HIV/AIDS education, prevention and support, the agency said Wednesday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health and several HIV/AIDS organizations in the state announced the launch of Spread the Word, the only lottery in the country with a game whose profits will be used exclusively to fund HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.

May 31, 2013
Calif. HIV patient, specialty pharmacy case against Anthem Blue Cross settled

Anthem Blue Cross patients with HIV can continue receiving their drugs through community specialty pharmacies under a settlement of a lawsuit filed against the healthcare company by an advocacy organization.

NEW YORK — Anthem Blue Cross patients with HIV can continue receiving their drugs through community specialty pharmacies under a settlement of a lawsuit filed against the healthcare company by an advocacy organization.

In mid-November, Anthem Blue Cross adopted a policy that would require specialty pharmacy patients in California, most of them HIV patients, to receive their drugs via mail order through CuraScript, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts' in-house specialty pharmacy, in order to receive coverage.

April 30, 2013
FDA delays approval of Gilead HIV drugs

The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve two drugs for HIV made by Gilead Sciences for which the company was seeking approval for use as part of treatment regimens.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve two drugs for HIV made by Gilead Sciences for which the company was seeking approval for use as part of treatment regimens.

March 4, 2013
Sequester will hamper disease-prevention efforts, report warns

Automatic spending cuts stemming from the failure of Congress and the White House to reach a budget deal will likely harm the disease-preventing capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a new report.

NEW YORK — Automatic spending cuts stemming from the failure of Congress and the White House to reach a budget deal will likely harm the disease-preventing capabilities of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a new report.

GlobalData, a market research and analytics firm, said the slashing of the CDC's funding by $450 million, or 8%, due to the sequester would both hamper its ability to prevent infectious diseases through immunization, surveillance and response programs while also failing to accomplish the goal of decreasing federal spending.

February 19, 2013
Anthem suspends controversial Calif. mail-order specialty pharmacy policy

Anthem Blue Cross will indefinitely suspend a policy that would require many specialty pharmacy patients in California, most of them HIV patients, to receive their drugs via mail order in order to receive coverage for them, drawing criticism from patients and retail pharmacies.

NEW YORK — Anthem Blue Cross will indefinitely suspend a policy that would require many specialty pharmacy patients in California, most of them HIV patients, to receive their drugs via mail order in order to receive coverage for them, drawing criticism from patients and retail pharmacies.

February 19, 2013
FDA grants priority review to ViiV drug for HIV

The Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review to an experimental drug made by ViiV Healthcare for HIV, the company, a joint venture between British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and American drug maker Pfizer, announced.

LONDON — The Food and Drug Administration has granted priority review to an experimental drug made by ViiV Healthcare for HIV, the company, a joint venture between British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and American drug maker Pfizer, announced.

The FDA gave the designation to dolutegravir, designed for use in combination with other antiretrovirual drugs in adults and adolescents. The agency gives priority review to drugs that offer significant improvement compared with products already on the market.

January 15, 2013
Switching to multi-pill generic HIV treatment could diminish effectiveness, study finds

While replacing a single combination pill for HIV with generics would save the healthcare system money, it could also diminish the effectiveness of treatment, a new study suggests.

NEW YORK — While replacing a single combination pill for HIV with generics would save the healthcare system money, it could also diminish the effectiveness of treatment, a new study suggests.

The study, led by investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, and published in the Jan. 15 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, found $1 billion in potential savings, but the more complicated treatment regimen might result in more patients missing doses and a loss of drug effectiveness.

January 2, 2013
First anti-diarrheal drug for HIV/AIDS patients receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines used to treat HIV infection.

SPRING SPRING, Md. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines used to treat HIV infection. Diarrhea is experienced by many HIV/AIDS patients and is a common reason why patients discontinue or switch their antiretroviral therapies.

December 19, 2012
Nutra Pharma to introduce 'military-strength' painkiller

Nutra Pharma will introduce a stronger version of its OTC pain reliever, the company said Wednesday.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — Nutra Pharma will introduce a stronger version of its OTC pain reliever, the company said Wednesday.

Nutra Pharma — which is developing treatments for such diseases as HIV, multiple sclerosis and adrenomyeloneuropathy — announced the planned introduction of Nyloxin Military Strength in order to combat opiate abuse and overuse of NSAIDs by military personnel.

December 18, 2012
FDA approves generic HIV drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved two generic versions of a drug to treat HIV, according to agency records.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved two generic versions of a drug to treat HIV, according to agency records.

The FDA approved abacavir sulfate tablets in the 300-mg strength made by Apotex and Aurobindo.

The drug is a generic version of Viiv Healthcare's Ziagen.

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December 12, 2012
Specialty patients in Los Angeles could be forced to use mail-order, advocates say

Thousands of patients in Los Angeles with serious, chronic diseases could soon find themselves unable to get their drugs from community pharmacies, advocates for the pharmacies said.

NEW YORK — Thousands of patients in Los Angeles with serious, chronic diseases could soon find themselves unable to get their drugs from community pharmacies, advocates for the pharmacies said.

November 30, 2012
OraSure prepares nationwide TV promotion campaign for in-home HIV test

HIV test maker OraSure Technologies has appointed a new executive to head its consumer marketing division as it prepares to launch a nationwide TV campaign on Saturday.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — HIV test maker OraSure Technologies has appointed a new executive to head its consumer marketing division as it prepares to launch a nationwide TV campaign on Saturday.

The TV campaign will be timed to coincide with World AIDS Day on Saturday and will air on MTV, A&E, BET, E!, Bravo and Logo, as well as on the NBC reality show "The Voice" on Dec. 17.

November 29, 2012
PhRMA: More than 70 drugs, vaccines under development for HIV/AIDS

Drug companies have made "remarkable progress" in treatment options for patients with HIV and AIDS, according to two new reports from a drug industry trade group.

WASHINGTON — Drug companies have made "remarkable progress" in treatment options for patients with HIV and AIDS, according to two new reports from a drug industry trade group.

November 28, 2012
Walgreens to focus on importance of HIV testing, early treatment on World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Walgreens will encourage communities to focus on the importance of HIV testing and early treatment, both services addressed through its more than 700 HIV-specialized pharmacies coast to coast, the company announced Wednesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — On World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Walgreens will encourage communities to focus on the importance of HIV testing and early treatment, both services addressed through its more than 700 HIV-specialized pharmacies coast to coast, the company announced Wednesday. 

October 22, 2012
Sanofi Pasteur presents influenza vaccine trial data

Sanofi Pasteur announced Monday the presentation of three clinical trials of an experimental influenza vaccine.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi Pasteur announced Monday the presentation of three clinical trials of an experimental influenza vaccine.

October 19, 2012
FDA gives tentative approval to Cipla combo pill for HIV

The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to a new drug for HIV made by an Indian company.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to a new drug for HIV made by an Indian company.

FDA records show that the agency gave tentative approval tablets and oral suspension that combine lamivudine, nevirapine and zidovudine in the 30-mg/50-mg/60-mg strength.

September 25, 2012
Helping patients where they live and work

Patients diagnosed with serious disease have enough on their minds. So Walgreens is doing all it can to make it easier for them to obtain, administer and pay for their specialty and infused medicines, said Mike Ellis, VP specialty pharmacy and infusion.


Patients diagnosed with serious disease have enough on their minds. So Walgreens is doing all it can to make it easier for them to obtain, administer and pay for their specialty and infused medicines, said Mike Ellis, VP specialty pharmacy and infusion.


“The concept is to go where patients are diagnosed and where they reside. We have a large sales force who call on physicians who prescribe these types of medications. But like everything else at Walgreens, it starts with the patient.”


September 12, 2012
New, simplified HIV patient-assistance program application offered

Drug maker Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday that patients applying for its HIV drug assistance program would have a more streamlined application process.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Drug maker Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday that patients applying for its HIV drug assistance program would have a more streamlined application process.

August 28, 2012
2012 off to 'soft start' as patent cliff continues

While the growth in healthcare costs remains a threat in the United States, the growth in drug expenditures is moderating, but numerous opportunities exist for retail, according to a speech delivered Tuesday morning at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' 2012 Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Denver by Doug Long, VP industry relations of healthcare industry research firm IMS Health.

DENVER — While the growth in healthcare costs remains a threat in the United States, the growth in drug expenditures is moderating, but numerous opportunities exist for retail, according to a speech delivered Tuesday morning at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' 2012 Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Denver by Doug Long, VP industry relations of healthcare industry research firm IMS Health.

August 28, 2012
FDA approves new combination pill for HIV treatment for some patients

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-a-day combination pill to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have never been treated for HIV infection.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new once-a-day combination pill to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have never been treated for HIV infection.

August 21, 2012
AIDS Healthcare Foundation acquires MOMS Pharmacy

The largest nonprofit organization focused on HIV and AIDS has acquired a group of specialty pharmacies.

LOS ANGELES — The largest nonprofit organization focused on HIV and AIDS has acquired a group of specialty pharmacies.

August 6, 2012
Mylan launches Indian operations

Generic drug maker Mylan has begun commercial operations in India, focusing on drugs to treat HIV and AIDS, the company said Monday.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has begun commercial operations in India, focusing on drugs to treat HIV and AIDS, the company said Monday.

The company is launching 18 antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS in India, which has the world's third-largest population of people with the disease, according to the National AIDS Control Organization.