Content about Health & Wellness

February 25, 2011
Kroger puts spotlight on flu vaccinations

Kroger is highlighting immunization against the flu this season on the company's website.

CINCINNATI — Kroger is highlighting immunization against the flu this season on the company's website.

February 25, 2011
Life…supplemented kicks off 'Why You Want to Be Well' initiative

Life…supplemented on Thursday announced its fundraising initiative, “Why You Want to Be Well,” for Vitamin Angels for March, and will use Facebook to raise up to $5,000.

WASHINGTON — Life…supplemented on Thursday announced its fundraising initiative, “Why You Want to Be Well,” for Vitamin Angels for March, and will use Facebook to raise up to $5,000.

February 25, 2011
PCMA applauds Cuomo's Medicaid proposal

In his 2011-2012 budget, New York governor Andrew Cuomo included a proposal to update New York’s Medicaid program. The announcement comes at the heels of New Jersey governor Chris Christie's motion to modernize the state's Medicaid plan.

WASHINGTON — In his 2011-2012 budget, New York governor Andrew Cuomo included a proposal to update New York’s Medicaid program. The announcement comes at the heels of New Jersey governor Chris Christie's motion to modernize the state's Medicaid plan.

Similarly to New Jersey's plan, Cuomo said New York's “Proposal to Redesign Medicaid” could save state taxpayers $350 million though 2015 by managing prescription drug benefits similarly to those in Medicare and private-sector programs.

February 25, 2011
PhRMA: More than 400 rare disease treatments in development, pending approval

More than 400 drugs are in late-stage clinical development or awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval as treatments for rare diseases, according to a report by the drug industry lobby.

WASHINGTON — More than 400 drugs are in late-stage clinical development or awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval as treatments for rare diseases, according to a report by the drug industry lobby.

February 25, 2011
Type 1 diabetics continue to be at risk for kidney disease

Advances in kidney care have not led to successful efforts to improve therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

BOSTON — Advances in kidney care have not led to successful efforts to improve therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

February 24, 2011
HSAs saw dramatic growth in 2010, study finds

Health savings accounts surpassed $10 billion at year-end 2010, according to a survey and the resulting research report conducted by Devenir, an investment firm that specializes in providing investment options for HSAs.

MINNEAPOLIS — Health savings accounts surpassed $10 billion at year-end 2010, according to a survey and the resulting research report conducted by Devenir, an investment firm that specializes in providing investment options for HSAs.

February 24, 2011
King Kullen implements NuVal nutrition scoring system

New York-based supermarket retailer King Kullen announced that it is partnering with NuVal to provide customers with better insight of what foods they should be eating.

BETHPAGE, N.Y. — New York-based supermarket retailer King Kullen announced that it is partnering with NuVal to provide customers with better insight of what foods they should be eating.

NuVal's nutrition scoring system — in which store items receive a NuVal score from 1 to 100, making it easy for consumers to compare the overall nutrition of the foods they buy at a glance — will be implemented in all of King Kullen's stores, which are located throughout Long Island and Staten Island.

February 24, 2011
Novo Nordisk develops treatment for rarest bleeding disorder, seeks FDA approval

Novo Nordisk has filed for approval of a treatment for a rare genetic bleeding disorder, the Danish drug maker said Wednesday.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has filed for approval of a treatment for a rare genetic bleeding disorder, the Danish drug maker said Wednesday.

The company submitted to the Food and Drug Administration its application for recombinant factor XIII compound, for congenital factor XIII deficiency. Current treatments for FXIII deficiency use products derived from human blood plasma, which carries the risk of contamination.

February 24, 2011
Takeda seeks FDA approval for hypertension treatment

Drug maker Takeda has filed for regulatory approval of a drug to treat hypertension, the company said Wednesday.

OSAKA, Japan — Drug maker Takeda has filed for regulatory approval of a drug to treat hypertension, the company said Wednesday.

Takeda announced that it had submitted an application with the Food and Drug Administration for the fixed-dose drug azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone. Azilsartan medoxomil is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB, that lowers blood pressure by blocking the angiotensin II hormone.

February 24, 2011
To your health: Light to moderate drinking may lower heart disease risk, researchers find

The Spaniards drink Rioja wine with a hearty “Salud!,” while the Irish knock back Jameson whiskey and Guinness beer with “Slainte.” Nobody can say who coined the two calls to imbibe, both of which mean “health,” but according to two recent studies, it looks as though they were on to something.

NEW YORK — The Spaniards drink Rioja wine with a hearty “Salud!,” while the Irish knock back Jameson whiskey and Guinness beer with “Slainte.” Nobody can say who coined the two calls to imbibe, both of which mean “health,” but according to two recent studies, it looks as though they were on to something.

February 24, 2011
Weis Lifestyle Initiatives now part of pharmacy division

Weis Markets streamlined its internal connection between wellness and pharmacy earlier this year with an organizational restructure that folded the Weis Lifestyle Initiatives department, led by registered dietitian Karen Buch, into the grocer’s pharmacy division.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets streamlined its internal connection between wellness and pharmacy earlier this year with an organizational restructure that folded the Weis Lifestyle Initiatives department, led by registered dietitian Karen Buch, into the grocer’s pharmacy division.

February 23, 2011
Onglyza gets label update

The makers behind a popular Type 2 diabetes treatment have included data from two clinical studies in an update to the drug's prescribing information.

PRINCETON, N.J., and WILMINGTON, Del. — The makers behind a popular Type 2 diabetes treatment have included data from two clinical studies in an update to the drug's prescribing information.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca said the Food and Drug Administration approved the labeling update for Onglyza (saxagliptin), which now includes efficacy and safety information about the drug's effects on patients with renal impairment or end-stage renal disease.

February 23, 2011
Study: Amphetamine use could pose Parkinson's disease risk

Use of amphetamines could increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Use of amphetamines could increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study.

February 23, 2011
Study: Hemoglobin A1C may not effectively diagnose kids with diabetes

A convenient blood-glucose test commonly used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes may not be the best way to diagnose children, according to a new study.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A convenient blood-glucose test commonly used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes may not be the best way to diagnose children, according to a new study.

February 22, 2011
Kmart emphasizes flu shots at its pharmacies

Kmart on Monday implemented a discounted offer on flu shots to those who have not yet been vaccinated.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart on Monday implemented a discounted offer on flu shots to those who have not yet been vaccinated.

Kmart said it is offering customers $15 flu shots, while supplies last, and also will offer 15,000 points (a $15 value) to members of its Shop Your Way Rewards loyalty program, when a vaccination is purchased.

The flu shots are available at more than 500 Kmart Pharmacy locations and are administered by trained practitioners.

February 22, 2011
Medco's Q4, fiscal-year sales rise

Sales at Medco Health Solutions increased to $16.9 billion during fourth quarter 2010 and to $66 billion for the fiscal year as a whole, representing respective 11.1% and 10.3% increases over the same periods the year before, the pharmacy benefit manager said Tuesday.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Sales at Medco Health Solutions increased to $16.9 billion during fourth quarter 2010 and to $66 billion for the fiscal year as a whole, representing respective 11.1% and 10.3% increases over the same periods the year before, the pharmacy benefit manager said Tuesday.

Profits for the quarter were $378.5 million, a 10.8% increase over fourth quarter 2009, while profits for the year were $1.4 billion, an 11.5% increase over fiscal year 2009.

February 22, 2011
New cardiovascular risk calculator now available online

In line with American Heart Month, Boehringer Ingelheim's Micardis has introduced a cardiovascular risk-reduction calculator, designed to assess patients' cardiovascular risk.

NEW YORK — In line with American Heart Month, Boehringer Ingelheim's Micardis has introduced a cardiovascular risk-reduction calculator, designed to assess patients' cardiovascular risk.

The calculator, which can be accessed at MicardisPro.com, is an interactive, useful tool for healthcare professionals to assist patients in reaching their cardiovascular risk-reduction goal, the company said.

Micardis (telmisartan) is a drug designed to treat hypertension.

February 22, 2011
Report: Arkansas considers switching PSE to Rx only

Arkansas on Friday became the fourth state this year to entertain making the popular decongestant pseudoephedrine available only by prescription.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas on Friday became the fourth state this year to entertain making the popular decongestant pseudoephedrine available only by prescription.

February 22, 2011
Road to Healthy Skin Tour kicks off once again

The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by Aveeno and Rite Aid, hits the road once again in March, providing free full-body skin cancer screenings and informing the public on the latest skin cancer information.

NEW YORK — The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by Aveeno and Rite Aid, hits the road once again in March, providing free full-body skin cancer screenings and informing the public on the latest skin cancer information.

February 22, 2011
Survey: Docs aren’t telling obese patients to lose weight

A new Harris Poll published Tuesday suggested that many doctors are doing little or nothing to help their overweight patients to lose weight.

NEW YORK — A new Harris Poll published Tuesday suggested that many doctors are doing little or nothing to help their overweight patients to lose weight.

Using classifications defined by the World Health Organization, 19% of those who are morbidly obese (with a body mass index of 35 or greater), 46% of those who are obese (BMI of between 30 and 34) and 72% who are overweight but not obese (BMI of between 25 and 29), said that their doctors have never told them to lose weight.

February 22, 2011
Zipnosis, Park Nicollet Health Services team up with Minn. service cooperative

Zipnosis, which offers online access to mainstream medicine by providing consumers with simple and convenient online diagnosis and treatment of common health needs, and Park Nicollet Health Services have announced a new initiative with Resource Training and Solutions that will bring online health care to people living in central Minnesota.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Zipnosis, which offers online access to mainstream medicine by providing consumers with simple and convenient online diagnosis and treatment of common health needs, and Park Nicollet Health Services have announced a new initiative with Resource Training and Solutions that will bring online health care to people living in central Minnesota.

February 18, 2011
Boiron reports illness levels rise 6.4%

Nearly 39 million people are feeling the effects of cold and flu as illness levels continue to climb across the nation, Boiron reported Friday.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Nearly 39 million people are feeling the effects of cold and flu as illness levels continue to climb across the nation, Boiron reported Friday.

The latest figures reflect an increase of 6.4% from last week. Some of the most prevalent indications are fever (10.8%) and influenza-like symptoms, such as chills, body aches and headache (22.2%).

February 18, 2011
CVS Caremark saluted for Pharmacy Advisor program

CVS Caremark announced on Friday that the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute awarded the company and its PBM client, ArcelorMittal, the 2011 Rx Benefit Innovation Award. The award recognizes the Pharmacy Advisor program, which was developed by CVS Caremark to manage costs, improve medication adherence and close gaps in care for members with diabetes.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced on Friday that the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute awarded the company and its PBM client, ArcelorMittal, the 2011 Rx Benefit Innovation Award. The award recognizes the Pharmacy Advisor program, which was developed by CVS Caremark to manage costs, improve medication adherence and close gaps in care for members with diabetes.

February 18, 2011
FDA wants terbutaline to carry boxed warning label

An asthma drug widely available as a generic should not be used for preventing or treating preterm labor in pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration warned.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — An asthma drug widely available as a generic should not be used for preventing or treating preterm labor in pregnant women, the Food and Drug Administration warned.

February 18, 2011
Impax granted FDA approval for generic Adoxa

A generic drug maker received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its generic version of a bacterial infection treatment.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs received regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its generic version of a bacterial infection treatment.

The drug maker on Friday said it received final approval of its abbreviated new drug application for doxycyline monohydrate capsules in the 150-mg strength. The drug, which is a tetracycline antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, is a generic version of Adoxa. Adoxa is manufactured by PharmDerm, a Nycomed subsidiary.

Impax said its generic division, Global Pharmaceuticals, will launch the product.