Content about Medicine

April 18, 2013

Nearly one-third of women don't fill new osteoporosis prescriptions, study finds

A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

PASADENA, Calif. — A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

April 18, 2013

Physician-authored article sees 'freeing' nurses as one answer to healthcare crisis

“It’s time to unlock the gates to the primary care club” and allow nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their education and training. That was a key message of a physician-authored article in Slate magazine.

NEW YORK — “It’s time to unlock the gates to the primary care club” and allow nurse practitioners to practice to the full extent of their education and training. That was a key message of a physician-authored article that recently ran in Slate magazine.

April 17, 2013

Catalina Health finds near-total interest in simplified medication information

Results of a survey indicate a positive response among patients to redesigned patient medication information distributed to patients at retail pharmacy chains in two states as part of an eight-week program.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Results of a survey indicate a positive response among patients to redesigned patient medication information distributed to patients at retail pharmacy chains in two states as part of an eight-week program.

Catalina Health said it launched the eight-week quality improvement initiative in August 2012 to disseminate the information focusing on three medications dispensed in stores in an unnamed "leading pharmacy chain" in California and Michigan.

April 17, 2013

Changes to REMS to allow dispensing of Vivus obesity drug in retail

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a modification to a program added to the labeling of an obesity drug to ensure patient safety.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a modification to a program added to the labeling of an obesity drug to ensure patient safety.

Vivus announced that the FDA had approved changes to the risk evaluation and mitigatin strategy for Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) extended-release capsules. The amendment to the REMS allows the drug to be dispensed through certified retail pharmacies in addition to the existing network of mail-order pharmacies.

April 17, 2013

FDA panel gives favorable vote to GSK, Theravance COPD drug

A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that the agency approve an experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies said.

LONDON — A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that the agency approve an experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies said.

The FDA Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-4 to recommend Breo Ellipta as a long-term maintenance treatment for airflow obstruction in patients with COPD and for reduction of COPD exacerbations in patients with a history of them. The drug is a once-daily inhaler that combines fluticasone furoate and vilanterol.

April 17, 2013

Hearing focuses on FDA response to meningitis outbreak

Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg faced strong criticism Tuesday in a hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to investigate the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy, but she conceded the agency could have done more.

WASHINGTON — Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg faced strong criticism Tuesday in a hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to investigate the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy, but she conceded the agency could have done more.

April 17, 2013

Jill Stack Naturals develops new Gold-n-SPF herbal vegan sunscreen

Jill Stack Naturals has announced the launch of Gold-N-SPF, an herbal vegan sunscreen made with sensitive skin in mind.

CHICAGO — Jill Stack Naturals has announced the launch of Gold-N-SPF, an herbal vegan sunscreen made with sensitive skin in mind.

April 16, 2013

FDA approves 200-mg strength of Warner Chilcott antibiotic

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new strength of an antibiotic made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

DUBLIN — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new strength of an antibiotic made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

Warner Chilcott announced the approval of the 200-mg strength of Doryx (doxycycline hyalite) delayed-release tablets, which the company plans to release in July 2013.

Doryx delayed-release tablets are already available in the 75-mg, 100-mg and 150-mg strengths.

April 16, 2013

Generic savings and U.S. health policy: Pulling the federal levers at both ends

Does the Obama administration “get it” when it comes to pharmacy’s vital interests and lowering health care costs?

One sometimes wonders. As much as I like the president and many of his ideas and instincts, I’m sometimes stumped by some of the lesser-understood facets of the administration’s health policy, and by the seemingly contradictory sets of priorities promoted by that policy.

Does the Obama administration “get it” when it comes to pharmacy’s vital interests and lowering healthcare costs?

April 16, 2013

J&J sales rise in first quarter 2013

Johnson & Johnson's sales increased by 8.5% to $17.5 billion in first quarter 2013, the healthcare products company said Tuesday.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson's sales increased by 8.5% to $17.5 billion in first quarter 2013, the healthcare products company said Tuesday.

The increase included a domestic sales increase of 11.2%. Profits for the quarter were $3.5 billion.

April 16, 2013

NABP hopes to curb rogue pharmacies with '.pharmacy' Web domain

Amid various strategies adopted to stop the proliferation of rogue online pharmacies, one group has proposed controlling what they can put at the end of their Web addresses.

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — Amid various strategies adopted to stop the proliferation of rogue online pharmacies, one group has proposed controlling what they can put at the end of their Web addresses.

April 16, 2013

Q&A: PBM evolution

DSN spoke at length with two Catamaran executives — Albert Thigpen, SVP pharmacy operations and industry relations, and Sumit Dutta, SVP and chief medical officer — about the PBM’s new approach to managed pharmacy care and the changes driving that strategy.

The health and pharmacy marketplace is undergoing rapid and fundamental transformation. To navigate profitably in tomorrow’s complex and shifting healthcare system, the pharmacy benefit management industry — along with the pharmacies and health plan payers allied with PBMs — are going to have to change and adapt as well.

April 16, 2013

Taro receives FDA approval for Topicort topical spray

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries reported last week that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its new drug application Topicort (desoximetasone) topical spray, 0.25%.

HAWTHORNE, N.Y. — Taro Pharmaceutical Industries reported last week that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its new drug application Topicort (desoximetasone) topical spray, 0.25%.

Topicort topical spray, 0.25% is a corticosteroid indicated for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in patients 18 years of age or older.

According to Taro, the corticosteroid spray market is approximately $100 million in annual sales in the United States.

April 16, 2013

Two compounding pharmacies start voluntary recall of sterile drugs

Two Dallas-based compounding pharmacies announced a recall of sterile drug products made at their facilities due to production conditions that could lead to contamination.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Two Dallas-based compounding pharmacies announced a recall of sterile drug products made at their facilities due to production conditions that could lead to contamination.

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that ApotheCure had recalled all sterile drug products made at its pharmacy, while NuVision Pharmacy had recalled sterile freeze-dried or lyophilized drug products made at its facility. Both recalls were described as voluntary.

April 15, 2013

Mission Pharmacal renews support for March of Dimes event

Drug maker Mission Pharmacal has raised nearly $850,000 for the March of Dimes since it began supporting the group, the company said, marking its fourth year of support for the organization.

SAN ANTONIO — Drug maker Mission Pharmacal has raised nearly $850,000 for the March of Dimes since it began supporting the group, the company said, marking its fourth year of support for the organization.

April 15, 2013

N.D. governor signs PBM bill into law

The governor of North Dakota has signed into law a bill that would require pharmacy benefit managers to inform pharmacies about how reimbursement for generic prescription drugs is calculated under maximum allowable cost benchmarks and provide a more detailed appeals process to pharmacies to contest the MAC reimbursement caps that PBMs set up.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The governor of North Dakota has signed into law a bill that would require pharmacy benefit managers to inform pharmacies about how reimbursement for generic prescription drugs is calculated under maximum allowable cost benchmarks and provide a more detailed appeals process to pharmacies to contest the MAC reimbursement caps that PBMs set up.

The bill, H.B. 1363, received unanimous support in both houses of the state's legislature, and Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed it into law Monday.

April 15, 2013

Similasan announces new hires to director team

Similasan North America today annouced the addition of two new team members to join the company at the director level.

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — Similasan North America today annouced the addition of two new team members to join the company at the director level.

April 15, 2013

Study finds relationship between higher vitamin D, lower risk of benign uterine tumors

Vitamin D significantly reduces women's risks of developing uterine fibroids, according to a new study.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Vitamin D significantly reduces women's risks of developing uterine fibroids, according to a new study.

April 12, 2013

Acadia Pharmaceuticals can apply for approval of Parkinson's disease psychosis drug early

The Food and Drug Administration is granting an expedited application process to a company that has developed a treatment for a condition related to Parkinson's disease, meaning that it can cancel a planned late-stage clinical trial, the company said.

SAN DIEGO — The Food and Drug Administration is granting an expedited application process to a company that has developed a treatment for a condition related to Parkinson's disease, meaning that it can cancel a planned late-stage clinical trial, the company said.

April 12, 2013

FDA approves Lupin generic contraceptive

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a contraceptive therapy made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, the Indian drug maker said Friday.

MUMBAI, India — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a contraceptive therapy made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, the Indian drug maker said Friday.

Lupin announced the approval of Daysee (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets and ethinyl estradiol tablets) in the 0.15-mg/0.03-mg and 0.01-mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of Teva's Seasonique. Various versions of the drug had sales of $161 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.

April 12, 2013

FDA investigation finds widespread problems at compounding pharmacies

An inspection of more than two-dozen compounding pharmacies by Food and Drug Administration officials has found widespread problems with sanitation and sterilization practices, FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg wrote in a blog post on the agency's website Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — An inspection of more than two-dozen compounding pharmacies by Food and Drug Administration officials has found widespread problems with sanitation and sterilization practices, FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg wrote in a blog post on the agency's website Thursday.

April 12, 2013

Homeostasis Labs' Diabetic Direct named 'Best New Product' at recent ECRM

Homeostasis Labs was named "Best New Product" by retail buyers attending the ECRM Home Health Care conference last month for a new sugar-free line of dietary supplements formulated to boost health for people with diabetes.

GREENWICH, Conn. — Homeostasis Labs was named "Best New Product" by retail buyers attending the ECRM Home Health Care conference last month for a new sugar-free line of dietary supplements formulated to boost health for people with diabetes.

April 12, 2013

NACDS, NCPA oppose pursuing new Medicaid cuts, urge completion of current rulemaking

A proposal to further reduce Medicaid drug reimbursement that was included in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget plan is “premature” and federal Medicaid officials should focus on modifying and completing already proposed regulations to set future federal upper limits for reimbursement of most generic drugs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A proposal to further reduce Medicaid drug reimbursement that was included in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget plan is “premature” and federal Medicaid officials should focus on modifying and completing already proposed regulations to set future federal upper limits for reimbursement of most generic drugs, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association argued on Friday.

April 12, 2013

Signs still point to growth for retail health clinics

A new Kalorama Information report found that most patients — 91% — who had used a retail clinic were either satisfied or very satisfied with their visit.

The findings are in line with prior studies, which have long been reported by Drug Store News, and are yet further evidence that retail clinics are playing a vital role in the U.S. healthcare system.

A new Kalorama Information report found that most patients — 91% — who had used a retail clinic were either satisfied or very satisfied with their visit.

The findings are in line with prior studies, which have long been reported by Drug Store News, and are yet further evidence that retail clinics are playing a vital role in the U.S. healthcare system.

April 12, 2013

Walgreens creating competitive advantage through outcomes approach to health management

Walgreens released a research article on how health care focused on outcomes could really contribute to lowering healthcare costs. The idea is that by improving individual patient experience, improving the health of the overall patient population and reducing the per capita cost of health care, you can realize better patient outcomes out of invested health resources.

If you take a real close look at what core competencies are necessary to better realize success in that approach, it becomes evident that retail pharmacy is an ideal setting for the process.