Content about Hypercholesterolemia

May 6, 2013

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

Merck announced the approval of Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin). The drug combines two preexisting cholesterol drugs: ezetimibe, which Merck markets under the brand name Zetia, and atorvastatin, which Pfizer markets under the name Lipitor. Both drugs are available as generics, but because Liptruzet is a novel combination of them, it required FDA approval as a new drug.

April 3, 2013

Patients who adhere to generic statins have lower overall health costs compared with patients adherent to branded statins

Improving adherence to generic statin drugs for high cholesterol can reduce the costs of health care in a way that adherence to branded statins historically couldn't, according to a new study.

SAN DIEGO — Improving adherence to generic statin drugs for high cholesterol can reduce the costs of health care in a way that adherence to branded statins historically couldn't, according to a new study.

February 25, 2013

Mylan ships cholesterol drug

Mylan has begun shipping a generic drug for cholesterol, the company said Monday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has begun shipping a generic drug for cholesterol, the company said Monday.

Mylan said a subsidiary had started shipping fenofibrate capsules in the 43-mg and 130-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Lupin Atlantis Holdings Antara, used in combination with diet to reduce elevated bad cholesterol and other blood lipids and increase beneficial HDL cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia.

January 30, 2013

FDA approves Genzyme drug for rare cholesterol disorder

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating a rare cholesterol disorder, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating a rare cholesterol disorder, the agency said.

The FDA announced the approval of Kynamro (mipomersen sodium), made by Genzyme for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or HoFH. Kynamro has been approved as an orphan drug, a designation the FDA gives to drugs that treat diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people.

November 21, 2012

Lupin launches generic fenofibrate

Lupin Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic drug for cholesterol disorders, the company said.

BALTIMORE — Lupin Pharmaceuticals has launched a generic drug for cholesterol disorders, the company said.

Lupin announced the launch of fenofibrate tablets in the 48-mg and 145-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia.

The drug is a generic version of Abbott's Tricor, which had sales of $1.26 billion during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

October 5, 2012

Study: Hypercholesterolemia patients adherent to medication regimen may be healthier, but at a price

Patients with high cholesterol who take statins may be healthier than those who do not, but their overall healthcare costs may be slightly higher than their counterparts, according to a new study.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Patients with high cholesterol who take statins may be healthier than those who do not, but their overall healthcare costs may be slightly higher than their counterparts, according to a new study.

August 13, 2012

Cholesterol levels among youth see decline

In a study involving more than 16,000 U.S. children and adolescents, there has been a decrease in average total cholesterol levels over the past two decades, although almost 1-in-10 subjects had elevated total cholesterol in the 2007-2010 period, according to a study published in the Aug. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

CHICAGO — In a study involving more than 16,000 U.S. children and adolescents, there has been a decrease in average total cholesterol levels over the past two decades, although almost 1-in-10 subjects had elevated total cholesterol in the 2007-2010 period, according to a study published in the Aug. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

June 21, 2012

Pinpointing the cause of nonadherence

It’s been cited as one of the biggest health crises facing the United States and, if solved, the equivalent dollar value of a blockbuster drug. According to the latest statistics from pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts, poor medication adherence costs the country $317 billion per year, an upgrade from the $290 billion calculated in a study released in 2009 by the New England Healthcare Institute. 

June 18, 2012

CDC: Before 2010, only half of adults followed disease-prevention recommendations

Only about half of U.S. adults received selected preventive services — such as screenings, consultations and prescriptions — from a healthcare professional before 2010, according to a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ATLANTA — Only about half of U.S. adults received selected preventive services — such as screenings, consultations and prescriptions — from a healthcare professional before 2010, according to a study published last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

May 30, 2012

Walgreens study: Pharmacist intervention improves statin adherence

A Walgreens study released Wednesday has found that patients starting high cholesterol medication for the first time who participated in enhanced face-to-face counseling sessions with a community pharmacist demonstrated better medication adherence than those who did not participate in the sessions.

DEERFIELD Ill. — A Walgreens study released Wednesday has found that patients starting high cholesterol medication for the first time who participated in enhanced face-to-face counseling sessions with a community pharmacist demonstrated better medication adherence than those who did not participate in the sessions.

April 13, 2012

Mylan launches fluvastatin capsules

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for lipid disorders made by Mylan, the company said Friday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for lipid disorders made by Mylan, the company said Friday.

Mylan announced the approval and launch of fluvastatin capsules in the 20-mg and 40-mg strengths, a generic version of Novartis' Lescol. The drug is used to treat hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia, as well as prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The drug had sales of $27.9 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.

April 11, 2012

MinuteClinic providing free diabetes monitoring service this spring

MinuteClinic has announced that this spring it is offering a free monitoring visit for patients with diabetes to help keep their health in check between visits to a primary care provider.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic has announced that this spring it is offering a free monitoring visit for patients with diabetes to help keep their health in check between visits to a primary care provider.

The complimentary monitoring service, which is available seven days a week, is administered by a MinuteClinic nurse practitioner or physician assistant and includes:

Hemoglobin A1C and blood-glucose test (as needed);
Blood pressure check;
Body mass index (BMI);

February 16, 2012

Study: CholestOff helps reduce LDLs by 5%

A study published in the November 2011 International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition demonstrated a nearly 5% reduction in “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol when Pharmavite's CholestOff was added to the National Cholesterol Education Program therapeutic lifestyle changes diet, Pharmavite announced Wednesday.

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — A study published in the November 2011 International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition demonstrated a nearly 5% reduction in “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol when Pharmavite's CholestOff was added to the National Cholesterol Education Program therapeutic lifestyle changes diet, Pharmavite announced Wednesday.

February 14, 2012

Study: Genetic predisposition to dyslipidemia associated with Type 2 diabetes risk

People that are genetically predisposed to developing a condition that causes high blood cholesterol levels may be at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

ATLANTA — People that are genetically predisposed to developing a condition that causes high blood cholesterol levels may be at an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

February 8, 2012

Winn-Dixie to offer free cholesterol screenings, guides this month

Winn-Dixie is putting an emphasis on heart health by highlighting its pharmacy offerings.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie is putting an emphasis on heart health by highlighting its pharmacy offerings.

The company said guests can receive free cholesterol screenings at Winn-Dixie pharmacies and is partnering with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to offer a free treating high cholesterol guide, which is available in English and Spanish, in honor of American Heart Month.

October 7, 2011

Merck's Juvisync approved for Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that it called the first single-pill combination treatment for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that it called the first single-pill combination treatment for Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

The FDA approved Merck's Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin), manufactured by Merck subsidiary MSD International GmbH Clonmel Co., based in Tipperary, Ireland. Merck operates under the name MSD outside the United States and Canada in order to avoid confusion with Germany-based Merck KGaA.

September 14, 2011

NCPA, APhA members to play critical role in government's Million Hearts campaign

As part of the launch of the Department of Health and Human Services' Million Hearts campaign on Tuesday, HHS identified several key association partners, including the National Community Pharmacist Association and the American Pharmacists Association.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As part of the launch of the Department of Health and Human Services' Million Hearts campaign on Tuesday, HHS identified several key association partners, including the National Community Pharmacist Association and the American Pharmacists Association.

July 20, 2011

Dentists may help ID prediabetes, diabetes among undiagnosed patients

A visit to the dentist may offer a chance to catch prediabetes or diabetes in patients unaware that they have it, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — A visit to the dentist may offer a chance to catch prediabetes or diabetes in patients unaware that they have it, according to a new study.

Researchers at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine found that patients seeing a dentist could be identified as showing symptoms of the conditions, such as periodontal disease.

June 20, 2011

CVS fights disease in ethnic communities

CVS/pharmacy spent the last couple of months sponsoring nearly 300 free screening and consultation events in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia targeting African-American communities.  

Part of the chain’s To Your Health program, the events were an extension of the A Su Salud events targeting Hispanic customers in Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Miami. To Your Health started in Atlanta on April 17, moving on to Washington, D.C., on June 12 and Philadelphia on June 19. 

June 9, 2011

FDA recommends limiting use of simvastatin in 80-mg strength

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to limit the use of high doses of a drug for high cholesterol due to the risk of a muscle injury known as myopathy.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is seeking to limit the use of high doses of a drug for high cholesterol due to the risk of a muscle injury known as myopathy.

May 20, 2011

FDA committee recommends approval of Abbott's Trilipix, statin combination

A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has voted to recommend that the FDA retain approval of an Abbott drug for high cholesterol in combination with a statin.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has voted to recommend that the FDA retain approval of an Abbott drug for high cholesterol in combination with a statin.

The FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee met Thursday to discuss whether to recommend continued FDA approval of Trilipix (fenofibric acid) in combination with simvastatin in patients with mixed dyslipidemia and a high risk of heart disease. The FDA is not bound by advisory committee votes, but usually follows them.

April 27, 2011

Aegerion appoints new CFO

A biopharmaceutical company has appointed a new CFO.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A biopharmaceutical company has appointed a new CFO.

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals named Mark Fitzpatrick as the company's new CFO. Fitzpatrick joins the company, which is focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat severe lipid disorders, from Proteon Therapeutics, where he served as VP, CFO and assistant secretary.

April 25, 2011

CVS toasts ‘To Your Health’ with screenings

CVS/pharmacy is taking its focus on preventive care to the streets with its 2011 To Your Health program, staging more than 800 events around the country and screening patients for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, bone density and vision. Each To Your Health event offers customers access to as much as $150 worth of health screenings, as well as medical reviews with CVS pharmacists; consultations with doctors; dental and chiropractic screenings; and referrals for mammograms and pap smears in certain locations. 

April 25, 2011

ShopRite adds dietitians, mobile spaces

ShopRite is striving to help its shoppers shop right by focusing on health and wellness and added convenience. To help customers live healthier lives, the grocer has, at select locations, an on-site registered dietitian.  

Wakefern implemented the retail dietitian program in 2006, and today there are 20 retail dietitians working in 23 ShopRite locations. 

March 15, 2011

Aegerion's lomitapide granted orphan-drug status by FDA

A drug under investigation as a treatment for a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormally high triglyceride levels in the blood has received orphan-drug designation from the Food and Drug Administration.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A drug under investigation as a treatment for a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormally high triglyceride levels in the blood has received orphan-drug designation from the Food and Drug Administration.