Content about Pharmacy

May 13, 2013

FDA ruling on opioid painkiller deals blow to Endo

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.

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.

May 13, 2013

GPhA promotes lobbyist

The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has promoted Jason Money to associate VP federal government affairs, the trade group said Monday.

WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has promoted Jason Money to associate VP federal government affairs, the trade group said Monday.

Money, who has worked for the GPhA for six years, was previously the organization's senior director for federal affairs. In the new position, he will continue lobbying on behalf of the generic drug industry in Congress.

May 13, 2013

N.J. law designed to address prescription eye drop adherence

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

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.

May 13, 2013

Walgreens, CVS Caremark extend network pharmacy provider agreement

Walgreens extended its agreement as a network pharmacy provider in the CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit management national retail network.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday extended its agreement as a network pharmacy provider in the CVS Caremark pharmacy benefit management national retail network. The companies are not disclosing the financial and other confidential terms of the agreement.

May 10, 2013

Alliance Boots distributes equity interest in Galenica

Alliance Boots on Friday announced that it has distributed its equity interest in Galenica, its Swiss associate, to the group’s ultimate parent company, AB Acquisitions Holdings, in accordance with the terms of the agreement with Walgreens reached last year.

BERN, Switzerland — Alliance Boots on Friday announced that it has distributed its equity interest in Galenica, its Swiss associate, to the group’s ultimate parent company, AB Acquisitions Holdings, in accordance with the terms of the agreement with Walgreens reached last year.

Galenica continues as an associate of AB Acquisitions Holdings. Stefano Pessina, executive chairman of Alliance Boots, continues as non-executive director of Galenica while Etienne Jornod, executive chairman of Galenica, stays as a non-executive director of Alliance Boots.

May 10, 2013

Actavis in talks to combine with Warner Chilcott

Actavis is looking into the possibility of buying Warner Chilcott, the generic drug maker said.

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.

May 10, 2013

Congressional leaders are actively listening to what today's health and wellness leaders have to say

More than 300 community pharmacists helped educate their legislators over crucial small business issues as part of the NCPA's 2013 Legislative and Government Affairs conference. All told, the pharmacists conducted more than 500 meetings with congressional offices.

There is a reason why our industry is poised to play a larger role in health reform. Five years ago or more, the PBMs had Washington's ear. But today, pharmacy is doing a much better job of telling its story. Counting NACDS' recent RX Impact day, retail pharmacy has conducted more than 900 meetings with legislators in the past eight weeks or so.

May 10, 2013

Denovo Biomarkers, ALS-ETF to explore personalized medicine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A biotech company and a non-profit organization are looking into new ways to treat patients with the devastating degenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

SAN DIEGO — A biotech company and a nonprofit organization are looking into new ways to treat patients with the devastating degenerative disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The ALS Emergency Treatment Fund and Denovo Biomarkers announced Friday a deal to explore the use of personalized medicine in treating patients with the disease, known medically as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The two said the approach could accelerate drug development in ALS and other life-threatening disorders.

May 10, 2013

FDA approves Breo Ellipta for COPD

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the agency said Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Breo Ellipta (fluticasone furoate and vilanterol), a once-per-day inhaler made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance for long-term treatment of COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

May 10, 2013

FDA approves Novartis' Ilaris for rare childhood arthritis

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a biotech drug made by Novartis for treating a form of arthritis that affects children, the Swiss drug maker said Friday.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a biotech drug made by Novartis for treating a form of arthritis that affects children, the Swiss drug maker said Friday.

May 10, 2013

NASP helping to establish clarity within a fractured specialty pharmacy market

The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board will begin certifying specialty pharmacists who pass a comprehensive exam in October. The exam is designed to cover the entire specialty pharmacy process, including intake, clinical management, fulfillment and outcomes.

The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy, which oversees the SPCB, is bringing to bear some real advocacy and structure to the highly fragmented specialty pharmacy marketplace. The DSN Group, including its specialty pharmacy publication of the same name Specialty Pharmacy, applauds these efforts.

May 10, 2013

NCPA, McKesson to host three-day pharmacy ownership seminar

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday announced it will host its NCPA Ownership Workshop from May 17 to 19 at the Seattle Airport Marriott.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday announced it will host its NCPA Ownership Workshop from May 17 to 19 at the Seattle Airport Marriott. The Ownership Workshop, sponsored by McKesson and in part by Pharmacists Mutual and Live Oak Bank, gives prospective and current pharmacy owners an in-depth look at the industry and the financial, management and marketing skills needed to operate a successful pharmacy business. The three-day session also offers pharmacists 20 hours of continuing education credits.

May 10, 2013

Rite Aid finds its niche 'well'

Rite Aid announced Wednesday that it has converted nearly all its stores in the Buffalo, N.Y., area to the Wellness store format, breaking the news with an event in the nearby village of Williamsville that included president, chairman and CEO John Standley, COO Ken Martindale and fitness expert Denise Austin.

Just as writers find their voices, Rite Aid has paved its road with wellness. Evidence of that was clear when it announced its latest last month, raking in a $123.1 million profit for the fourth quarter and a $118.1 million profit for the fiscal year, its first profitable year since 2007.

May 10, 2013

SPCB appoints new education director

The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board has appointed Terri Smith Moore as the education director, the group said.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board has appointed Terri Smith Moore as the education director, the group said Friday.

Moore is the senior manager for product development at healthcare accreditation organization URAC, where she manages the group's accreditation programs and revisions and maintenance of related accreditation documentation.

May 9, 2013

Cancer practices hit hard by sequester, study finds

Cuts to Medicare payments due to the budget sequester have hit reimbursements for cancer drugs, according to a nonprofit group.

WASHINGTON — Cuts to Medicare payments due to the budget sequester have hit reimbursements for cancer drugs, according to a nonprofit group.

May 9, 2013

CVS launches nationwide new Total Home line of household essentials

CVS/pharmacy announced the official launch of Total Home, a new home care product line built on performance, reliability and premium quality that is now available exclusively at CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Today, CVS/pharmacy announced the official launch of Total Home, a new home care product line built on performance, reliability and premium quality that is now available exclusively at CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide.

May 9, 2013

DEA collects more than 740,000 pounds of unused drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration collected more than 371 tons of unused medications last month as part of its sixth annual drug take-back program, the agency said.

WASHINGTON — The Drug Enforcement Administration collected more than 371 tons of unused medications last month as part of its sixth annual drug take-back program, the agency said.

May 9, 2013

Former Eli Lilly executive appointed to top technology post at Sears Holdings

Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna as EVP and chief information officer, the Kmart parent company said Thursday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has appointed Jeff Balagna as EVP and chief information officer, the Kmart parent company said Thursday.

Balagna was previously chief information officer for drug maker Eli Lilly and will be responsible for Sears Holdings' technology and infrastructure initiatives in its support centers and in-store.

May 9, 2013

Generic use reached 84% in 2012, study finds

Declining use overall of healthcare services drove down spending on medicines in the United States by 3.5% per capita last year, according to a new study.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Declining use overall of healthcare services drove down spending on medicines in the United States by 3.5% per capita last year, according to a new study.

May 9, 2013

NCPA favors Medicare Prescription Drug Program Integrity and Transparency Act

Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

May 9, 2013

New Michigan store marks major milestone for Meijer

Meijer will open its 200th store next week, the mass merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will open its 200th store next week, the mass merchandise retailer said Thursday.

Calling the opening of the Swartz Creek, Mich., store a "milestone," the company said it will open on May 16. The store is the first of six new stores the chain plans to open this year in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

May 9, 2013

OxyContin patent expires, fears of abuse return

The November 2011 expiration of Pfizer's patent on the cholesterol drug Lipitor and Ranbaxy Labs' release of the generic version received significant play in the media, particularly due to the theretofore status of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) as the drug with the highest sales in the country, $7.7 billion in the United States, according to healthcare analytics firm IMS Health.

May 9, 2013

Senators propose legislation to carve out 'compounding manufacturers' subject to FDA regulation

One of the difficulties that federal regulators ran into during the nationwide scandal surrounding the New England Compounding Center — the Massachusetts-based pharmacy blamed for a nationwide fungal meningitis epidemic that has sickened hundreds and killed dozens — was the issue of when such pharmacies cross the line from compounding to manufacturing.

WASHINGTON — One of the difficulties that federal regulators ran into during the nationwide scandal surrounding the New England Compounding Center — the Massachusetts-based pharmacy blamed for a nationwide fungal meningitis epidemic that has sickened hundreds and killed dozens — was the issue of when such pharmacies cross the line from compounding to manufacturing.

May 9, 2013

The beauty of health and wellness

While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, this month's Patient Views seeks to better understand beauty in the eye of the patient.

While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, this month's Patient Views seeks to better understand beauty in the eye of the patient. AccentHealth viewers — 73% of which are female — were surveyed as to the relationship between health and beauty, as well as their purchasing of personal care products in the areas of hair care, body care, oral care, cosmetics and more.

May 8, 2013

Healthcare reform law provisions could affect pharmaceutical innovation, Bristol-Myers Squibb exec says

Drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb foresees significant effects on its business from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, company executives told attendees of its recent shareholder meeting.

WASHINGTON — Drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb foresees significant effects on its business from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, company executives told attendees of the its recent shareholder meeting.