Content about Pharmacy

May 8, 2013
Independent pharmacists conduct more than 500 meetings with legislators on the Hill

More than 300 independent community pharmacists from across the country met in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the 2013 National Community Pharmacists Association Conference on Legislation and Government Affairs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va.  — More than 300 independent community pharmacists from across the country met in Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the 2013 National Community Pharmacists Association Conference on Legislation and Government Affairs. The pharmacists conducted more than 500 meetings with congressional offices.

May 8, 2013
Merck submits FDA filing for ragweed allergy drug

Drug maker Merck is seeking regulatory approval for an experimental tablet placed under the tongue that could be used to treat ragweed allergies.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Drug maker Merck is seeking regulatory approval for an experimental tablet placed under the tongue that could be used to treat ragweed allergies.

Merck said the Food and Drug Administration accepted a regulatory application for its ragweed pollen sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet. Ragweed, also known as Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is a major cause of seasonal allergies in the United States. Merck also submitted an application for a similar drug, for Timothy grass pollen allergies, in March.

May 8, 2013
Perrigo: $10 billion in Rx sales may switch OTC through 2018

There is as much as $10 billion in branded pharmaceutical sales that could make the switch from prescription-only to over-the counter in the next five years, suggested Joseph Papa, Perrigo chairman, CEO and president, to analysts on Tuesday.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — There is as much as $10 billion in branded pharmaceutical sales that could make the switch from prescription-only to over-the counter in the next five years, suggested Joseph Papa, Perrigo chairman, CEO and president, to analysts on Tuesday. And as much as $5 billion in the next three years. 

May 8, 2013
Takeda to acquire Colo. maker of vaccines for tropical diseases

Japanese drug maker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. will buy Fort Collins, Colo.-based vaccine maker Inviragen for up to $250 million, the two companies said Wednesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Japanese drug maker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. will buy Fort Collins, Colo.-based vaccine maker Inviragen for up to $250 million, the two companies said Wednesday.

May 7, 2013
Amber Pharmacy to stage grand opening of expanded headquarters in June

Amid rapid growth over the last few years, Amber Pharmacy is more than doubling the size of its headquarters.

OMAHA, Neb. — Amid rapid growth over the last few years, Amber Pharmacy is more than doubling the size of its headquarters.

May 7, 2013
NCPA gearing up for busy two days on Capitol Hill tackling issues critical to community pharmacy

The National Community Pharmacists Association is expecting its highest turnout in two years for the association's 2013 Legislative and Government Affairs conference being held Tuesday and Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The National Community Pharmacists Association is expecting its highest turnout in two years for the association's 2013 Legislative and Government Affairs conference being held Tuesday and Wednesday. NCPA intends to address many key issues impacting community pharmacy with legislators during the two-day conference. 

May 7, 2013
Pharmasave Drugs appoints Carmen Churcott as CEO

Pharmasave Drugs, which has more than 400 independently operated community pharmacy locations in nine provinces, has appointed Carmen Churcott as CEO.

LANGLEY, British Columbia — Pharmasave Drugs, which has more than 475 community retail pharmacies across Canada, has appointed Carmen Churcott as CEO, effective May 1.

May 7, 2013
PrescribeWellness launches patient engagement tool through the American Pharmacy Allliance

PrescribeWellness on Tuesday announced a partnership with the American Pharmacy Alliance to provide independent retail pharmacies with a low-cost, easy-to-implement patient engagement solution.

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — PrescribeWellness on Tuesday announced a partnership with the American Pharmacy Alliance to provide independent retail pharmacies with a low-cost, easy-to-implement patient engagement solution. The APA is a consortium of leading pharmacy software providers for more than 12,000 independent and small chain pharmacies in the United States.

May 7, 2013
Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board to start offering certification exam in October

The outline of an exam that will be used to certify pharmacists working in the specialty channel has received approval from the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board, the group said.

TAMPA, Fla. — The outline of an exam that will be used to certify pharmacists working in the specialty channel has received approval from the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board, the group said Tuesday.

May 7, 2013
U.S. to contribute to 'rapid' biosimilar market growth through 2023, study finds

The global market for biosimilars will be worth nearly $2.5 billion this year, according to a new study.

LONDON — The global market for biosimilars will be worth nearly $2.5 billion this year, according to a new study.

The study, by British market research firm Visiongain, forecast that the $2.445 billion market size marked more than 20% of growth from 2012 and would account for about 2% of the overall market for biologics. The market is expected to grow rapidly through 2023 as biosimilars hit the market in the United States and European Union.

May 6, 2013
CVS handles back-end functions as Pfizer sells Viagra online

Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

The drug maker announced that it had launched Viagra (sildenafil citrate) home delivery, a prescription-fulfillment website for the drug, which is powered by CVS/pharmacy and accessible through Viagra.com.

May 6, 2013
FDA approves Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sustiva for HIV in infants, toddlers

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for HIV in infants and toddlers.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for HIV in infants and toddlers.

May 6, 2013
FDA approves Merck cholesterol drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

Merck announced the approval of Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin). The drug combines two preexisting cholesterol drugs: ezetimibe, which Merck markets under the brand name Zetia, and atorvastatin, which Pfizer markets under the name Lipitor. Both drugs are available as generics, but because Liptruzet is a novel combination of them, it required FDA approval as a new drug.

May 6, 2013
FDA gives breakthrough therapy designation to experimental hepatitis C regimen

An experimental drug regimen under development by AbbVie could change the way hepatitis C is treated, according to a special designation it received from the Food and Drug Administration.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — An experimental drug regimen under development by AbbVie could change the way hepatitis C is treated, according to a special designation it received from the Food and Drug Administration.

May 6, 2013
Florida legislature passes biosimilar substitution bill

Florida's state legislature approved a bill last week that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for brand name biotech drugs.

NEW YORK — Florida's state legislature approved a bill last week that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for brand name biotech drugs.

The bill, which was approved last Tuesday and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, institutes requirements for pharmacists to substitute biosimilars when they are determined to be biosimilar to and interchangeable with the brand name product, while also requiring the state board of pharmacy to maintain a current list of interchangeable products.

May 6, 2013
New Jersey attorney general's office releases anticrime best practices for pharmacy

Retail pharmacies, drug makers and law enforcement have a variety of methods used to fight organized crime, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has drawn up a list of best practices that pharmacies can use to keep stores, drugs, staff and customers safe.

NEW YORK — Retail pharmacies, drug makers and law enforcement have a variety of methods used to fight organized crime, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has drawn up a list of best practices that pharmacies can use to keep stores, drugs, staff and customers safe.

May 6, 2013
Pregnant women shouldn't use valproate drugs to prevent migraines, FDA warns

Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned Monday.

In addition to being used to prevent migraines, valproate drugs are used for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder and include related drugs such as divalproex sodium and valproic acid. Most are available in generic form as well as under brand names like AbbVie's Depacon and Depakote and others.

May 3, 2013
Actavis sales up 24% in first quarter 2013

Actavis' had $1.9 billion in sales in first quarter 2013, the drug maker said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis' had $1.9 billion in sales in first quarter 2013, the drug maker said.

The latest figure represented a 24% increase from first quarter 2012's $1.52 billion. "The new Actavis is off to a strong start in 2013, and as a result, we are increasing our 2013 forecast based on the strong performance and execution against our objectives to date," president and CEO Paul Bisaro said.

May 3, 2013
April sales up 3.8% across Walgreens

Walgreens on Friday posted April sales of $6 billion, an increase of 3.8% as compared to the same month in fiscal 2012.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday posted April sales of $6 billion, an increase of 3.8% as compared to the same month in fiscal 2012. 

Total front-end sales decreased 2.9%, while comparable store front-end sales decreased 4.3%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 5.9% while basket size increased 1.6%.

May 3, 2013
Expansion of in-store health kiosks setting stage for pharmacy web of improved-outcome solutions

Kinney Drugs, with its almost-100 locations located primarily in upstate New York, is the latest pharmacy to capitalize on the robust offerings available through in-store health kiosks. Because it isn't only about taking that random blood pressure check anymore.

No, the in-store health kiosks going into stores today are designed to augment outcomes-based health care. For example, through the use of "smart cards," PharmaSmart helps track historical health metrics across its trademarked Blood Pressure Tracker web portal.

Kinney Drugs, with its almost-100 locations located primarily in upstate New York, is the latest pharmacy to capitalize on the robust offerings available through in-store health kiosks. Because it isn't only about taking that random blood pressure check anymore. 

May 3, 2013
Higher rate of pelvic pain found among women taking low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives

Women who take low-dose oral contraceptives may be at increased risk of chronic pelvic-pain symptoms and pain during sexual climax, according to a new study.

SAN DIEGO — Women who take low-dose oral contraceptives may be at increased risk of chronic pelvic-pain symptoms and pain during sexual climax, according to a new study.

The study, scheduled for presentation to reporters at the American Urological Association's annual scientific meeting in San Diego on Tuesday, was conducted by researchers at New York University and the Waitemata District Health Board in Auckland, New Zealand, compared CPPS in young women who used oral contraceptives with the condition in those who didn't.

May 3, 2013
IMS Health acquires Semantelli Corp.

Healthcare analytics firm IMS Health has acquired social media analytics company Semantelli Corp., saying the purchase would allow it to provide real-time monitoring and delivery of insights into consumer and physician behavior and sentiments.

DANBURY, Conn. — Healthcare analytics firm IMS Health has acquired social media analytics company Semantelli Corp., saying the purchase would allow it to provide real-time monitoring and delivery of insights into consumer and physician behavior and sentiments.

May 3, 2013
NCPA lobbies Hawaii governor to sign two 'pharmacy-friendly' pieces of legislation

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday urged Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie to sign two bills into law that the association asserts will "protect patient pharmacy choice."

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday urged Hawaii Gov.

May 3, 2013
Prasco to host NCCAA Division I and II baseball World Series

Ohio pharmaceutical company Prasco will host the National Christian College Athletic Association championships at Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, in May, the company announced today.

MASON, Ohio — Ohio pharmaceutical company Prasco will host the National Christian College Athletic Association championships here at Prasco Park in May, the company announced today.

College teams from all over the country will descend on Prasco Park to compete in its Division World Series May 8 to 11, and May 15 to 18.

May 3, 2013
Study finds testicular cancer rates on the rise among males aged 15-34

Rates of testicular cancer among young men have risen significantly over the last two decades across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study, and researchers are wondering what accounts for it.

SAN DIEGO — Rates of testicular cancer among young men have risen significantly over the last two decades across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study, and researchers are wondering what accounts for it.