Content about Pharmaceutical sciences

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has struck down a law in Vermont designed to encourage generic drug usage by limiting the sharing of information about what branded drugs doctors prescribe, so that drug companies could use it when crafting sales pitches, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A company best known for keeping credit scores on consumers is planning to rate their medication adherence as well, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that FICO developed the FICO Medication Adherence Score, designed to predict when patients might not use their medications properly or take their doses. Payers will use the scores, based on such data as homeownership and employment, to determine which patients should receive various reminders to take their drugs.

CVS Caremark will launch a pilot of a 
real-time, integrated electronic prior authorization capability, available to its pharmacy benefit management clients, to help speed access to prescription medications.



PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The National Consumers League recently launched the Script Your Future initiative to raise awareness among patients about the impact of not taking their medications as prescribed, and now the first-of-its-kind campaign is kicking off in several markets around the country.


Script Your Future is an important initiative, as 3-out-of-4 Americans fail to take their medications as prescribed by their doctors. This equates to an estimated $290 billion drain on the U.S. healthcare system each year — costs that are avoidable.


In its “2010 Drug Trend Report,” Express Scripts attributed much pharmacy-related waste to patients failing to follow three simple guidelines: Take medications as prescribed, take drugs that maximize clinical benefit for the lowest price and use the safest and cheapest delivery channel.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday informed the public that continued use of a Type 2 diabetes treatment made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals for more than one year may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

BRUSSELS — GlaxoSmithKline has garnered strong interest in its portfolio of legacy brands that were placed on the sales block earlier this year, according to a Reuters report published Tuesday. And that interest is likely to pick up in the coming months, GSK CEO Andrew Witty told reporters during a meeting of pharmaceutical industry executives.

The interest is coming from both established consumer healthcare companies, as well as private equity houses, the report noted.

WASHINGTON — More than 200 drugs are under development in the United States for treating skin diseases, according to the country’s largest pharmaceutical industry trade group.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said Monday that the country’s drug makers were developing 263 medicines for skin diseases that affect more than one-third of the U.S population. A study by the Lewin Group found that the annual total cost of skin diseases was $39.3 billion in 2005.

INDIANAPOLIS — A federal court has ruled in favor of drug maker Eli Lilly in a dispute with Amylin Pharmaceuticals over Lilly’s partnership with German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim.

PHILADELPHIA — Generic drug maker Lannett said that the Food and Drug Administration has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date for one of Lannett's drugs.

The FDA said it revised its PDUFA goal date of June 23 for Lannett's new drug application for morphine sulfate oral solution.

"With a revised PDUFA date in 17 days, we are preparing for the relaunch of our morphine sulfate oral solution product, if approved,” Lannett president and CEO Arthur Bedrosian said.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Kerr Drug is hosting the North Carolina launch of the National Consumer League’s “Script Your Future” medication adherence campaign, the regional retail pharmacy chain said.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Pfizer has filed suit against generic drug maker Impax Labs in connection with the latter’s attempt to market a generic drug for bladder problems.

Impax said Friday that Pfizer filed a patent infringement suit in the U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey in connection with Impax’s attempt to market a generic version of Detrol (tolterodine tartrate) immediate-release tablets in the 1-mg and 2-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.