Content about Pharmaceutical sciences

AUDIO Q&A: DSN caught up with Greg Bradley — president and CEO of Advantage Consumer Healthcare, a full turnkey solution center for over-the-counter medicines reaching the market — for an overview of the new marketing and sales solution company as it has recently brought to market OraSure Technologies' OraQuick Advance, a take-home HIV test kit that the Food and Drug Administration recently approved for the self

The year 2012 is coming to an end, and it's been a big year for generic drugs. It's the year that the most lucrative drug of all time became commoditized. It's the year that Watson bought Actavis for $5.6 billion. And it's the year the FDA released draft guidance for biosimilars regulations. All of these events speak to some of the most important trends in the world of generics — trends that are often interrelated.

Careers in Pharmacy prepares students and prospective students for a career in pharmacy with articles on the latest career options, how to prepare for a pharmacy career, pharmacy practice in the new healthcare system and a list of U.S. pharmacy colleges, as well as profiles of day-to-day responsibilities of pharmacists in different sectors of the pharmacy industry.

As part of its Executive Retailer Viewpoint series, DSN sat down with Chuck Wilson, VP pharmacy operations at Health Mart, at DSN's Industry Issues Summit to discuss opportunities for community pharmacy to improve patient outcomes.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug has introduced a new prescription-synchronization service, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Kerr, a regional chain based in Raleigh, N.C., announced the introduction of the new Simplify My Meds synchronized prescription refill service. The service uses the chain's new central-fill center in Kerr, and the company said it hoped the program would solidify customer loyalty by increasing convenience.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — More than two-thirds of patients with hepatitis C achieved sustained virologic response or cure after completing newer “triple therapy” treatment, according to a Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy study released Friday. 

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for a type of lung cancer.

Roche subsidiary Genentech and the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Astellas Pharma announced the approval of Tarceva (erlotinib) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have mutations that activate the epidermal growth factor receptor. The FDA also approved a test to detect the mutation.

The drug was already approved for advanced NSCLC that did not exhibit the mutation.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A new treatment for late-stage prostate cancer has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA announced Wednesday the approval of Bayer's Xofigo (radian Ra 223 dichloride) for men with symptomatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to the bones but not other organs, also known as metastasis. The drug is designed for men whose cancer has spread after receiving medical or surgical therapy to lower testosterone.

DUBLIN, Ohio — A new infographic released Tuesday created by the Cardinal Health Foundation and The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy helps illustrate prescription drug abuse in the United States.

Approximately 70% of people who abuse prescription medications get them from family or friends, often from medicine cabinets. On average, more than 10,000 people in the U.S. abuse prescription medications for the first time each day.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration means that generic versions of an opioid painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals can stay on the market, drawing criticism from the drug maker.

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation into law Monday that will allow patients using prescription eye drops to get early refills in order to prevent interruptions in therapy.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis is looking into the possibility of buying Warner Chilcott, the generic drug maker said Friday.

Actavis, the world's third-largest generic drug maker, said it had entered into early-stage discussions with Warner Chilcott about a potential combination of the two, but that no agreement had been reached, and that it wouldn't issue further comment about the matter.