Content about Pharmaceutical drug

October 3, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antibiotic made by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Sagent said.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antibiotic made by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Sagent said.

The drug maker announced the approval of clindamycin injection, which the company said was the 12th product approved under its joint venture with Strides Arcolab, under which Strides is responsible for developing and supplying injectable products that Sagent markets in the United States.

The market for injectable clindamycin this year is about $65 million, according to IMS Health.

September 29, 2011

Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005. In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

NEW YORK — Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005.

In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

September 12, 2011


As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 



As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 


September 8, 2011

A group representing independent pharmacies is urging Congress to cut the deficit by reducing healthcare expenditures, but "without compromising patients' access to their pharmacy of choice or harming local jobs."

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A group representing independent pharmacies is urging Congress to cut the deficit by reducing healthcare expenditures, but "without compromising patients' access to their pharmacy of choice or harming local jobs."

September 8, 2011

Ranbaxy Labs will launch its generic version of the world's top-selling drug as originally planned, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Ranbaxy Labs will launch its generic version of the world's top-selling drug as originally planned, according to published reports.

Citing Japan's Nikkei daily, Reuters reported that Gurgaon, India-based Ranbaxy would launch a generic version of Pfizer's cholesterol medication Lipitor (atorvastatin) at the end of November.

September 1, 2011

Pfizer and Dr. Reddy's have reached a settlement over the latter's efforts to launch a generic version of the world's top-selling drug, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Pfizer and Dr. Reddy's have reached a settlement over the latter's efforts to launch a generic version of the world's top-selling drug, according to published reports.

September 1, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic skeletal muscle relaxant made by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Sagent said.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic skeletal muscle relaxant made by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Sagent said.

The generic drug maker announced the approval of orphenadrine citrate injection, which it will offer in 60-mg-per-2-mL, single-dose vials.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $4.3 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.

August 24, 2011

The final outcome of the battle between Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to buy Cephalon serves as a good illustration of why it helps to have a plan B.


The final outcome of the battle between Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Canada’s Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to buy Cephalon serves as a good illustration of why it helps to have a plan B.


In May, Teva beat out Valeant’s $5.7 billion offer to buy Frazier, Pa.-based Cephalon with a $6.8 billion offer of its own, acquiring Cephalon’s hefty pipeline in the process. And last month, Teva bought Taiyo Pharmaceutical Industry, Japan’s third-largest generics company, for $934 million.


August 19, 2011

Generic drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a new drug for neuromuscular disorders, the company said.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Generic drug maker Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a new drug for neuromuscular disorders, the company said.

Sagent announced the launch of vecuronium bromide, an injectable drug used to treat myasthenia gravis and Eaton-Lambert syndrome. The disorders cause muscle weakness and fatigue.

The market for vecuronium bromide is about $10 million in the United States, according to IMS Health.

August 16, 2011

In an effort to make it easy for customers to safely dispose of their unused, expired or unwanted medications, and help battle the estimated 200 million lbs. of unwanted medications improperly disposed every year, CVS/pharmacy now is offering Sharps Compliance’s Environmental Return System in all of its 7,200 locations.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In an effort to make it easy for customers to safely dispose of their unused, expired or unwanted medications, and help battle the estimated 200 million lbs. of unwanted medications improperly disposed every year, CVS/pharmacy now is offering Sharps Compliance’s Environmental Return System in all of its 7,200 locations.

August 10, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has granted tentative approval to a generic cholesterol drug made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Wednesday.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted tentative approval to a generic cholesterol drug made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, the company said Wednesday.

Watson announced the tentative approval of Watson's rosuvastatin zinc tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of AstraZeneca's Crestor. Tentative approval means that the drug meets the FDA's conditions for approval, but the agency can't allow it to be marketed because patents covering the branded version have yet to expire.

August 4, 2011

The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — The world's top-selling drug may become available over the counter, if its manufacturer has its way, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that Pfizer may be looking for Food and Drug Administration approval for an OTC switch for Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), a cholesterol-lowering medication. The Times quoted an unnamed source as providing the information, though Pfizer declined to comment.

August 3, 2011

Topco, a member-owned cooperative serving the food industry, recently kicked off an initiative substituting its TopCare-branded over-the-counter medicines for the equivalent prescription pharmaceutical, where appropriate, in an effort to save patient dollars and promote the TopCare brand.

SKOKIE, Ill. — Topco, a member-owned cooperative serving the food industry, recently kicked off an initiative substituting its TopCare-branded over-the-counter medicines for the equivalent prescription pharmaceutical, where appropriate, in an effort to save patient dollars and promote the TopCare brand.

July 22, 2011

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced Thursday that it has submitted comments to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging outlining the value of the pharmacist-patient interaction in helping improve health and reduce costs in the Medicare program, and urged the committee to support the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2011, which seeks to increase access to pharmacy services for Medicare beneficiaries.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced Thursday that it has submitted comments to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging outlining the value of the pharmacist-patient interaction in helping improve health and reduce costs in the Medicare program, and urged the committee to support the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2011, which seeks to increase access to pharmacy services for Medicare beneficiaries.

June 20, 2011

The overall growth in drug spending for 2010 was 3.7%, according to the latest drug trend report by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions. The lower increase 
was primarily due to higher rates of generic drug dispensing — more than 71% of drugs dispensed were generics. 


May 18, 2011

Kerr Drug said that it will offer customers a solution to properly dispose of their unused or expired medications.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug said that it will offer customers a solution to properly dispose of their unused or expired medications.

The pharmacy chain said that Sharps Compliance's TakeAway Environmental Return System envelopes will be available in all stores May 23. The envelopes sell for $3.99.

May 9, 2011

A West Virginia company has released a medication disposal product designed to allow environmentally safe disposal of unused medicines and render the medicines undesirable to potential drug abusers.

BECKLEY, W.Va. — A West Virginia company has released a medication disposal product designed to allow environmentally safe disposal of unused medicines and render the medicines undesirable to potential drug abusers.

V23, a subsidiary of Vaught, announced the launch of Element MDS. The product consists of a tamper-evident bottle into which unused drugs can be placed and then mixed with a special powder and tap water, which turn them into an undesirable, solid gelatinous substance.

April 18, 2011

A letter educating healthcare providers regarding a drug-drug interaction between prescription anticlotting drug Plavix (clopidogrel) and a proton-pump inhibitor has resulted in a reduction in the number of patients combining the two therapies, according to a new study by Prime Therapeutics released Monday.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A letter educating healthcare providers regarding a drug-drug interaction between prescription anticlotting drug Plavix (clopidogrel) and a proton-pump inhibitor has resulted in a reduction in the number of patients combining the two therapies, according to a new study by Prime Therapeutics released Monday.

April 15, 2011

Whoever named the genus to which ragweed plants belong “ambrosia” had a terrific sense of irony. The name, derived from Greek, refers to the food of the gods, but the plant is more like punishment from the gods, considering that it’s the main culprit in seasonal allergies.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Whoever named the genus to which ragweed plants belong “ambrosia” had a terrific sense of irony. The name, derived from Greek, refers to the food of the gods, but the plant is more like punishment from the gods, considering that it’s the main culprit in seasonal allergies.

(THE NEWS: Allergy season to last longer this year. For the full story, click here)

April 14, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Dr. Reddy's version of an allergy medication that recently received Rx-to-OTC switch approval, the generic drug maker said.

HYDERABAD, India — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Dr. Reddy's version of an allergy medication that recently received Rx-to-OTC switch approval, the generic drug maker said.

Dr. Reddy's fexofenadine HCl tablets are bioequivalent versions of Sanofi-Aventis’ Allegra, which received Rx-to-OTC switch approval from the FDA in January.

The fexofenadine HCl Rx market had branded and generic sales of approximately $452 million for the 12 months ended last December, according to IMS Health.

April 11, 2011

Winn-Dixie on Monday announced that its pharmacy will offer specially designed medication disposal envelopes to help its customers safely dispose of unused, outdated or unwanted medications.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Monday announced that its pharmacy will offer specially designed medication disposal envelopes to help its customers safely dispose of unused, outdated or unwanted medications.

The specially designed TakeAway Environmental Return System envelopes, made by Sharps Compliance, offer a convenient, safe and environmentally responsible method to dispose of unused, expired or unwanted noncontrolled prescription or over-the-counter medications, the grocer stated.

April 6, 2011

Sharps Compliance's TakeAway envelope solution is making its way to Kroger and its family of stores.

HOUSTON — Sharps Compliance's TakeAway envelope solution is making its way to Kroger and its family of stores.

Kroger, which operates stores under several banners across 31 states, will offer the the medication disposal envelopes at its pharmacy counters. The goal: to offer a safe and environmentally responsible means of disposing unused, expired or unwanted noncontrolled prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Kroger joins such retailers as Rite Aid, which recently implemented Sharps Compliance's TakeAway program in its stores.

April 5, 2011

Studies have indicated that proton-pump inhibitors, used for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, reduce the efficacy of a popular blood-thinning drug, but Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America announced on Tuesday the results of a new study indicating that its own PPIs may have less of an effect.

NEW ORLEANS — Studies have indicated that proton-pump inhibitors, used for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, reduce the efficacy of a popular blood-thinning drug, but Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America announced on Tuesday the results of a new study indicating that its own PPIs may have less of an effect.

April 4, 2011

PL Developments on Monday announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to sell and distribute store-brand over-the-counter versions of omeprazole sodium bicarbonate capsules, the generic version of Merck’s Zegerid OTC.

WESTBURY, N.Y. — PL Developments on Monday announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to sell and distribute store-brand over-the-counter versions of omeprazole sodium bicarbonate capsules, the generic version of Merck’s Zegerid OTC.

Par Pharmaceutical currently has approval for the prescription product and has filed for the OTC version. Upon FDA approval and upon favorable resolution of intellectual property litigation, PL Developments will begin marketing the new store-brand proton-pump inhibitor, the company stated.

March 29, 2011

Tris Pharma on Tuesday announced its relaunch of the MyKidz Iron product line, which includes two supplement products and one prescription-only product.

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Tris Pharma on Tuesday announced its relaunch of the MyKidz Iron product line, which includes two supplement products and one prescription-only product.

MyKidz Iron was launched in 2007 by NextWave Pharmaceuticals. In August 2010, NextWave partnered with Tris on developing medicines focused on the central nervous system. As part of that partnership, all non-CNS over-the-counter products were acquired by Tris.