Content about Health & Wellness

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday announced support for the Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2011 (H.R. 1409), which was introduced last week by House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, in an effort to improve the quality of patient care by leveling the playing field between healthcare professionals and insurance companies in the healthcare industry.

BALTIMORE — Medication adherence among hepatitis C patients may improve when patients take antidepressants, according to a new analysis by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions presented Monday at the International Conference on Viral Hepatitis.

MIAMI — The utilization of specialty pharmacy is projected to steadily increase, Walgreens VP clinical affairs David Lorber told attendees Tuesday at the Pinsonault Associates Managed Markets Summit, which accentuates a need to augment patient compliance and help payers get a handle on what have become rapidly shifting economics.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A point-of-sale safety check may reduce the risk of patients unsafely receiving a drug for Type 2 diabetes that may increase their risk of heart attack, according to a new study conducted by pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics and scheduled for presentation at the 23rd annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy in Minneapolis.

JERUSALEM — An investigational drug made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Active Biotech for multiple sclerosis reduced disease relapses and prevented the progression of disability, according to late-stage clinical trial results announced Monday.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Endo Pharmaceuticals will buy American Medical Systems for $2.9 billion, the drug maker said Monday.

Endo said it and AMS had reached an agreement whereby Endo would acquire the maker of devices and therapies for pelvic health for $30 per share. AMS’ business focuses on men’s health, women’s health and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

TITUSVILLE, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for treating schizophrenia in adolescents.

J&J said Monday that the FDA had approved Invega (paliperidone) extended-release tablets for patients ages 12 to 17 years. The drug is marketed by J&J subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The drug originally was approved in 2006 for treating schizophrenia in adults.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral contraceptive made by Sandoz, the company said Friday.

Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval of Altavera (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) tablets, a generic version of Duramed’s Nordette.

Branded and generic versions of Nordette had sales of about $57.4 million during the 12-month period ended in February, according to IMS Health.

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services on Friday launched two plans aimed at reducing health disparities.

“For the first time, the United States has a coordinated road map designed to give everyone the chance to live a healthy life,” stated HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We all need to work together to combat this persistent problem so that we can build healthier communities and a stronger nation.”

HAYWARD, Calif., and HIGH POINT, N.C. — Impax Labs will collaborate with a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and manufacturing of unique gelatin-based dosage forms.

Impax said it has entered a deal with Banner Pharmacaps in respect to the supply and commercialization of two softgel capsule products.

The products and terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

NEW YORK — Nine people died in Alabama last month after taking a compounded injectable supplement contaminated with bacteria, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that the patients died of infections with Serratia marcescens bacteria in hospitals after receiving the intravenously administered supplement total parenteral nutrition from the Birmingham, Ala.-based compounding pharmacy Meds IV Pharmacy.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In anticipation of Earth Day 2011 on April 22, the National Community Pharmacists Association is encouraging community pharmacists to demonstrate their role as a respected and knowledgeable resource on all aspects of medications, from dispensing to disposal, the association announced Thursday.