Content about Medicine

May 30, 2013
DSN, CCA host 6th Retail Clinician Education Congress

The Drug Store News Group, in conjunction with the Convenient Care Association, hosted the sixth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino last month.

LAS VEGAS — The Drug Store News Group, in conjunction with the Convenient Care Association, hosted the sixth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress at the Planet Hollywood resort and casino last month. In addition to the annual CARE Awards (i.e., Clinician Achievement in Retail Excellence), which celebrate the excellence in patient care delivery at the nurse practitioner/physician assistant level, the event also featured a special roundtable discussion with top retail clinic leaders.

May 30, 2013
Generic drug reimbursement cuts draw anger, controversy in Canada

When does the double-edged sword of generic drug price reductions begin to cut the government agency or health system holding the sword?

That's the question many pharmacy leaders in Canada have for the provincial health system policy-makers who have embarked on a crusade to whack pharmacy reimbursement levels for many lower-cost generic medicines sold under the nation's publicly funded health system.

When does the double-edged sword of generic drug price reductions begin to cut the government agency or health system holding the sword?

That's the question many pharmacy leaders in Canada have for the provincial health system policy-makers who have embarked on a crusade to whack pharmacy reimbursement levels for many lower-cost generic medicines sold under the nation's publicly funded health system. The effort has drawn the ire of pharmacy advocates even as proponents in government and health policy circles tout its cost-saving benefits.

May 30, 2013
Independent study: Zephrex-D effective in thwarting meth production

Westport Pharmaceuticals announced findings from independent testing of their meth-resistant pseudoephedrine product, Zephrex-D.

ST. LOUIS — Westport Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced findings from independent testing of their meth-resistant pseudoephedrine product, Zephrex-D. The specially formulated pseudoephedrine product helps make it impractical and nearly impossible to illicitly manufacture methamphetamine.

According to the January 2013 "General Accounting Office Report," more than 87% of domestic meth labs utilize the One Pot meth-making method. Testing demonstrates that meth cannot be produced from Zephrex-D using this popular One Pot method. 

May 30, 2013
Mo. law expands pharmacy inspection authority

A new law in Missouri allows state regulatory officials to test drugs during inspections.

NEW YORK — A new law in Missouri allows state regulatory officials to test drugs during inspections.

Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law the bill, S.B. 306, which allows the Missouri Board of Pharmacy to establish a program for testing drugs, including compounded drugs, with testing paid for by the board. The law previously allowed the board only to inspect businesses selling drugs or chemicals.

A copy of the bill is here.

May 30, 2013
More women than men concerned by scars

Skin imperfections, such as scars and stretch marks, can impact one's self-confidence — especially among women.

Skin imperfections, such as scars and stretch marks, can impact one's self-confidence — especially among women.

It is no secret that many women feel societal pressure to maintain their youthful looks and slim figures, so it comes as little surprise that a recent survey conducted on behalf of Mederma, a maker of scar and stretch mark treatments, found that men and women have different views when it comes to skin imperfections.

May 30, 2013
Plan B heads toward family-planning aisle

The Food and Drug Administration last month announced that it has approved an amended application submitted by Teva Women's Health to market Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) for use without a prescription by women 15 years of age and older. That approval moved Plan B One-Step from behind the pharmacy counter into the family planning section of the pharmacy.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration last month announced that it has approved an amended application submitted by Teva Women's Health to market Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) for use without a prescription by women 15 years of age and older. That approval moved Plan B One-Step from behind the pharmacy counter into the family planning section of the pharmacy.

May 30, 2013
Push for greater immunization authority

When it announced its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2013 earnings in April, Rite Aid noted that it performed 2.4 million flu vaccinations, as well as 400,000 vaccinations for pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough. Walgreens administered more than 6.5 million immunizations in 2012, and CVS' totals reached more than 3.5 million.

When it announced its fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2013 earnings in April, Rite Aid noted that it performed 2.4 million flu vaccinations, as well as 400,000 vaccinations for pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough. Walgreens administered more than 6.5 million immunizations in 2012, and CVS' totals reached more than 3.5 million.

May 30, 2013
Rx Response 'ready for action,' group says

An organization set up to provide pharmacy services in the wake of natural disasters is prepared for what experts predict will be a particularly bad hurricane season.

WASHINGTON — An organization set up to provide pharmacy services in the wake of natural disasters is prepared for what experts predict will be a particularly bad hurricane season.

May 30, 2013
Stop & Shop offers Prescription Savings Card

Stop & Shop has launched a card to help customers save money on prescription drugs, days after sister-chain Giant Food of Landover, Md., did the same.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop has launched a card to help customers save money on prescription drugs, days after sister-chain Giant Food of Landover, Md., did the same.

Stop & Shop, owned by Ahold USA, announced the introduction of the Stop & Shop Prescription Savings Card. The card is available for a one-time enrollment fee of $10 and offers 30-day supplies of certain generic drugs for $3.99 and 90-day supplies for $9.99, as well as additional savings on products and services like diabetes testing supplies and flu shots.

May 30, 2013
Study finds higher childhood allergy rates in the United States

Children in the United States are more likely to experience allergies than those in other countries, according a new study.

CHICAGO — Children in the United States are more likely to experience allergies than those in other countries, according to a new study.

May 30, 2013
Study: Kids, adults consume less sugar-sweetened beverages

Researchers have found that both kids and adults are drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Researchers have found that both kids and adults are drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

May 30, 2013
The REAL tipping point

"A number of factors are driving the explosion in convenient care…." That's what a May 4 article, "Retail clinics at tipping point," on the website ModernHealthcare.com had to say about the growth of retail clinics, and the role the model can be expected to play as healthcare reform hits full stride.

"A number of factors are driving the explosion in convenient care…." That's what a May 4 article, "Retail clinics at tipping point," on the website ModernHealthcare.com had to say about the growth of retail clinics, and the role the model can be expected to play as healthcare reform hits full stride.

May 29, 2013
Effort to create special domain for online pharmacies makes progress

An effort to allow trusted online pharmacies to add ".pharmacy" to their URLs cleared a hurdle last week as it passed an initial evaluation by the body that regulates the web address suffixes, known as generic top-level domains.

NEW YORK — An effort to allow trusted online pharmacies to add ".pharmacy" to their URLs cleared a hurdle last week as it passed an initial evaluation by the body that regulates the web address suffixes, known as generic top-level domains.

May 29, 2013
FDA approves Perrigo overactive bladder drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for incontinence made by Perrigo Co., the drug maker said.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for incontinence made by Perrigo Co., the drug maker said Wednesday.

Perrigo announced the approval of trospium chloride extended-release capsules in the 60 mg strength, a once-daily treatment for overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. The drug is a generic version of Allergan's Sanctura XR, which has annual sales of $54 million, according to Symphony Health Solutions.

May 29, 2013
GSK buys Switzerland-based Okairos

British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has acquired Swiss vaccine development company Okairos for $325 million, GSK said Wednesday.

LONDON — British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has acquired Swiss vaccine development company Okairos for $325 million, GSK said Wednesday.

Privately owned Okairos develops technologies used to create vaccines, and GSK said it would use them in the development of the "next generation" of vaccines for preventing infections and for treatment of infections and diseases, saying it would allow the development of the "next generation.

May 29, 2013
Mylan Specialty promotes allergy awareness through baseball

Mylan Specialty is extending a marketing campaign around its line of emergency treatments for severe allergic reactions.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Mylan Specialty is extending a marketing campaign around its line of emergency treatments for severe allergic reactions.

May 29, 2013
NBTY donates nearly $500,000 in nutritional bars, vitamins to Oklahoma tornado victims

NBTY, a manufacturer and distributor of vitamins, supplements and sports nutrition, announced last week that it will donate nearly $500,000 of Good 'n Natural bars, Balance Bars and bottles of children's gummy vitamins to support tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma.

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — NBTY, a manufacturer and distributor of vitamins, supplements and sports nutrition, announced last week that it will donate nearly $500,000 of Good 'n Natural bars, Balance Bars and bottles of children's gummy vitamins to support tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma.

May 29, 2013
NCPA partners with RxWiki to offer digital solutions to community pharmacies and patients

The National Community Pharmacists Association and RxWiki, a leading pharmacy media network, announced a new partnership that will offer digital solutions to more than 23,000 community pharmacies across the country.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association and RxWiki, Inc., a leading pharmacy media network, announced today a new partnership that will offer digital solutions to more than 23,000 community pharmacies across the country. Through this strategic partnership, NCPA will incorporate RxWiki's Digital Pharmacist offering as a new, cost-free benefit for its members. The Digital Pharmacist suite includes website, social media, and mobile solutions for pharmacists to deliver medication information to patients.

May 29, 2013
Study: Omega-3 supplement improves lung function of exercise-induced asthma

An Indiana University study has found that a unique omega-3 supplement derived from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel significantly improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in asthmatics who experience exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, also called exercise-induced asthma.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — An Indiana University study has found that a unique omega-3 supplement derived from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel significantly improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in asthmatics who experience exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, also called exercise-induced asthma.

May 29, 2013
Study: Walmart, Safeway rank high on consumer charity donations

Cause Marketing Forum named America’s Checkout Charity Champions, a first-of-its-kind study ranking the largest consumer checkout donations in the U.S. last year.

CHICAGO — Cause Marketing Forum on Wednesday named America’s Checkout Charity Champions, a first-of-its-kind study ranking the largest consumer checkout donations in the United States last year.

May 29, 2013
The Best of OTC

Over-the-counter health-and-wellness items play a key role in bridging a supermarket retail pharmacy to the rest of the food store. And with extensive outcomesbased medicines on the horizon, more health-seeking consumers will look to make that link between pharmacy and nutrition.

Over-the-counter health-and-wellness items play a key role in bridging a supermarket retail pharmacy to the rest of the food store. And with extensive outcomesbased medicines on the horizon, more health-seeking consumers will look to make that link between pharmacy and nutrition.

 

May 28, 2013
Advancing pharmacy management service

Pharmacy Intelligence applies application-based data analytics, computer-animated graphic process simulation and Lean Six Sigma principles to enable a new level of more advanced modeling and forecasting.

Like drinking from a fire hose. That’s one way some pharmacy retailers might describe their efforts to manage the flood of data unleashed every day by their prescription dispensing operations. The goal: to turn that data flow into actionable information they can use to better manage pharmacy workflow and staff resources, boost profitability, reduce customer wait times and make more informed decisions about the capital every retail pharmacy must allocate to technology and staffing.

May 28, 2013
Armada Health Care achieves full URAC accreditation

Armada Health Care, a specialty pharmacy channel management organization, announced that the organization has been awarded Health Call Center, Health Web Site and Health Content Provider accreditation from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Armada Health Care, a specialty pharmacy channel management organization, announced that the organization has been awarded Health Call Center, Health Web Site and Health Content Provider accreditation from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

May 28, 2013
AstraZeneca to buy Omthera for $323 million

Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca will buy Omthera Pharmaceuticals for $323 million, the two companies said.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Anglo-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca will buy Omthera Pharmaceuticals for $323 million, the two companies said Tuesday.

Omthera, based in Princeton, N.J., develops drugs for dyslipidemia, conditions that result in abnormal levels of lipids in the blood. Its lead products include Epanova, an experimental drug for patients with high triglycerides that's based on omega-3 fatty acids; Omthera has finished late-stage clinical trials of the drug and plans to file for Food and Drug Administration approval in mid-2013.

May 28, 2013
Bayer discontinues "complete relief" claims for Alka-Seltzer remedy

Bayer Healthcare last week reported it has discontinued certain advertising claims made in broadcast advertising for Alka-Seltzer Plus Severe Sinus Congestion and Cough, a sinus medication, following a challenge made by Procter & Gamble to the National Advertising Division, an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation.

NEW YORK — Bayer Healthcare last week reported it has discontinued certain advertising claims made in broadcast advertising for Alka-Seltzer Plus Severe Sinus Congestion and Cough, a sinus medication, following a challenge made by Procter & Gamble to the National Advertising Division, an investigative unit of the advertising industry’s system of self-regulation.

The express and implied claims at issue included: