Content about Pharmaceutical sciences

March 25, 2011

DAW Rxs drive up healthcare costs, study finds

"Dispense-as-written" prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — "Dispense-as-written" prescriptions are exacerbating medication nonadherence and costing the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark.

March 25, 2011

P&G, Teva deal: A complementary alignment

In the universe of business partnerships, a joint venture between Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Procter & Gamble is like two galaxies coming together.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — In the universe of business partnerships, a joint venture between Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Procter & Gamble is like two galaxies coming together.

(THE NEWS: P&G, Teva enter partnership. For the full story, click here.)

March 24, 2011

'60 Minutes' tackles counterfeits

Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec, but was, in fact, a crude knockoff seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru.

March 24, 2011

NewsBytes on WAG's community Rx conference, ABC CEO's retirement, CHPA's new chair and more

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens in March expanded Joseph Magnacca’s role. As president of daily living products and solutions, Magnacca — the former Shoppers Drug Mart vet who as chief merchant of Duane Reade proved instrumental in the reinvention of the New York drug store chain — will oversee Walgreens’ marketing and merchandising operations, led by chief marketing officer Kim Feil and chief merchandising officer Bryan Pugh, but will report directly to president and CEO Greg Wasson.

March 24, 2011

P&G, Teva enter partnership

Procter & Gamble and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will bring their over-the-counter product lines and capabilities together in a deal they expect to be completed this fall.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will bring their over-the-counter product lines and capabilities together in a deal they expect to be completed this fall.

March 23, 2011

Mylan to launch educational site about generic drugs

Though more than 7-in-10 drugs dispensed in the United States today are generics, and the Food and Drug Administration holds generics to the same standards as branded drugs, misgivings among the general public still exist, fed by the occasional media report of patients experiencing bad side effects after taking certain generic drugs.

PITTSBURGH — Though more than 7-in-10 drugs dispensed in the United States today are generics, and the Food and Drug Administration holds generics to the same standards as branded drugs, misgivings among the general public still exist, fed by the occasional media report of patients experiencing bad side effects after taking certain generic drugs.

March 21, 2011

GPhA responds to potential OGD funding cuts; announces exit of Gordon Johnston

The generic drug industry’s main lobby in Washington is hoping to head off cuts to the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Generic Drugs, which it said could have a “devastating impact” on those who rely on generics.

WASHINGTON — The generic drug industry’s main lobby in Washington is hoping to head off cuts to the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Generic Drugs, which it said could have a “devastating impact” on those who rely on generics.

Republicans in Congress have sought to reduce government spending by making large cuts to various domestic programs and agencies, including the FDA, which critics of the plan said could jeopardize food and drug safety.

March 21, 2011

Report: Mylan looks to block Ranbaxy from making generic Lipitor

Generic drug maker Mylan is suing the Food and Drug Administration in an effort to prevent Gurgaon, India-based competitor Ranbaxy Labs from launching its generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol medication Lipitor, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Generic drug maker Mylan is suing the Food and Drug Administration in an effort to prevent Gurgaon, India-based competitor Ranbaxy Labs from launching its generic version of Pfizer’s cholesterol medication Lipitor, according to published reports.

March 18, 2011

Congress should mull over options before implementing track-and-trace system

It's about time lawmakers start to understand the real threats posed by drug reimportation and unlicensed Internet pharmacy sites. About 20% of the current members of Congress are newly elected, and there is this recurring, cyclical fascination among politicians that we can fix everything with drug reimportation. But mandating electronic track and trace right now is a bad idea.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It's about time lawmakers start to understand the real threats posed by drug reimportation and unlicensed Internet pharmacy sites. About 20% of the current members of Congress are newly elected, and there is this recurring, cyclical fascination among politicians that we can fix everything with drug reimportation. But mandating electronic track and trace right now is a bad idea.

March 17, 2011

Arkansas PSE bill could spark fresh debate

SB 437, a bill passed Wednesday by the Arkansas House by a vote of 60-31, introduces a number of new issues to the debate on whether or not pseudoephedrine and similar ingredients should be sold behind the counter or by prescription only.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — SB 437, a bill passed Wednesday by the Arkansas House by a vote of 60-31, introduces a number of new issues to the debate on whether or not pseudoephedrine and similar ingredients should be sold behind the counter or by prescription only.

March 17, 2011

Gilead, Roche sue Natco Pharma over generic Tamiflu

Drug makers Gilead Sciences and Roche are suing Indian drug maker Natco Pharma concerning a generic version of an influenza treatment, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Drug makers Gilead Sciences and Roche are suing Indian drug maker Natco Pharma concerning a generic version of an influenza treatment, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that Gilead and Roche were accusing Natco of patent infringement due to its efforts to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a generic version of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). Natco became the first company to file for approval of a generic version in February.

March 17, 2011

Report: Arkansas House passes pharmacist-only PSE bill

The Arkansas House on Wednesday passed a bill that would restrict the behind-the-counter sale of pseudoephedrine to pharmacists only. In other words, pharmacy technicians no longer would be allowed to sell products containing PSE.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas House on Wednesday passed a bill that would restrict the behind-the-counter sale of pseudoephedrine to pharmacists only. In other words, pharmacy technicians no longer would be allowed to sell products containing PSE.

The measure by state Sen. Percy Malone passed 60-31, according to published reports.

March 15, 2011

Senators to FDA: Stop delaying generic drug approvals

Five senators have issued a letter to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg to expand Americans' access to affordable medications by avoiding the delay of generic drug approvals.

WASHINGTON — Five senators have issued a letter to Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg to expand Americans' access to affordable medications by avoiding the delay of generic drug approvals.

March 15, 2011

Study: $4 generic programs could help save society close to $6 billion

Patients that opt to fill their prescriptions through a $4 generic program could help garner societal savings of nearly $6 billion, a new study found.

PITTSBURGH — Patients that opt to fill their prescriptions through a $4 generic program could help garner societal savings of nearly $6 billion, a new study found.

March 15, 2011

Walgreens' Pegus discusses evolving role of pharmacists at colloquium

The evolving role of the pharmacist and the growing impact of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes were discussed Tuesday by Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus at the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The evolving role of the pharmacist and the growing impact of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes were discussed Tuesday by Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus at the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium in Philadelphia.

March 14, 2011

PTCB's CREST Summit emphasized pharmacy's role in health care

By 2015, “pharmacists will be the healthcare professionals responsible for providing patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes.” That was the consensus reached in the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners' vision statement at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s Consumer Awareness, Resources, Education, State Policy and Testing Summit last month.

WASHINGTON — By 2015, “pharmacists will be the healthcare professionals responsible for providing patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes.” That was the consensus reached in the Joint Commission of Pharmacy Practitioners' vision statement at the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s Consumer Awareness, Resources, Education, State Policy and Testing Summit last month.

March 14, 2011

Rite Aid implements medication disposal program

Rite Aid is working with Sharps Compliance to help customers dispose of unused medications, the retailer said Monday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is working with Sharps Compliance to help customers dispose of unused medications, the retailer said Monday.

Customers can buy a Sharps Compliance medication-disposal envelope at a Rite Aid store for $3.99, place unused prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs inside and then send it via the U.S. Postal Service to the incinerator.

March 14, 2011

TV program reveals harsh reality of drug counterfeiting

Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec but was, in fact, a crude knock-off seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru. The "60 Minutes" segment came as no surprise to Drug Store News, which has argued for many years that drug counterfeiting is the key reason lawmakers need to forget the recurring pipe dream they share that rogue Internet sites and drug reimportation is a legitimate solution to rising healthcare costs.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec but was, in fact, a crude knock-off seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru.

(THE NEWS: '60 Minutes' examines drug counterfeit problem. For the full story, click here)

March 11, 2011

GSK develops community pharmacy team

GlaxoSmithKline said it is establishing a dedicated team to support community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — GlaxoSmithKline said it is establishing a dedicated team to support community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals.

Effective March 28, GSK said its community pharmacy liaisons will provide information and tools to help community pharmacists communicate with their patients about chronic diseases and the appropriate use of medicines and vaccines.

March 10, 2011

CRN participates in DSN's Pharmacist Society

The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced a partnership with Drug Store News to provide content about the dietary supplement industry to thousands of pharmacists participating in the media company’s new professional networking website.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced a partnership with Drug Store News to provide content about the dietary supplement industry to thousands of pharmacists participating in the media company’s new professional networking website.

March 10, 2011

FDA backs NCL's medication adherence campaign

The Food and Drug Administration is putting its weight behind a campaign by the National Consumers League to combat poor medication adherence.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is putting its weight behind a campaign by the National Consumers League to combat poor medication adherence.

March 9, 2011

Lilly head continues call for medical innovation

Eli Lilly leader John Lechleiter has become something of an evangelist for medical innovation lately. On Wednesday, the Lilly chairman, president and CEO spoke to the U.S./Japan Business Council in Tokyo to call for changes and policies in the biopharmaceutical industry that encourage innovation, or “reinventing invention,” as he called it.

TOKYO — Eli Lilly leader John Lechleiter has become something of an evangelist for medical innovation lately.

On Wednesday, the Lilly chairman, president and CEO spoke to the U.S./Japan Business Council in Tokyo to call for changes and policies in the biopharmaceutical industry that encourage innovation, or “reinventing invention,” as he called it.

March 9, 2011

Purdue offers grant to fund Fla. Rx monitoring program

Drug maker Purdue Pharma is giving a $1 million grant to the state of Florida to help fund the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, the company said Wednesday.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Drug maker Purdue Pharma is giving a $1 million grant to the state of Florida to help fund the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, the company said Wednesday.

Purdue said the program was designed to combat illegal diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. Purdue is the maker of OxyContin (oxycodone), an extended-release opioid painkiller that often is a target of abuse.

March 3, 2011

February flu benefit not as big as billed for Walgreens

Walgreens on Thursday posted sales growth of 8.7% to $18.5 billion for its second quarter ended Feb. 28.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday posted sales growth of 8.7% to $18.5 billion for its second quarter ended Feb. 28.

Comparable-store sales were up 4%, with a 4% increase across front-end same-store sales. Prescriptions filled grew by 4.5%; quarterly same-store pharmacy sales were not provided.

March 3, 2011

NACDS responds to reimportation legislation

In a letter penned Thursday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the association stated that while it shares the goal of reducing prescription drug costs, authorizing the reimportation of prescription medications — as sought in S.319, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 — raises concerns about patient health and safety.

ALEXANDRI, Va. — In a letter penned Thursday by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores to Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the association stated that while it shares the goal of reducing prescription drug costs, authorizing the reimportation of prescription medications — as sought in S.319, the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2011 — raises concerns about patient health and safety.