Content about pharmaceutical

September 14, 2011

The American Pharmacists Association has appointed Stacia Spridgen as director of its federal pharmacy program, the group said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association has appointed Stacia Spridgen as director of its federal pharmacy program, the group said Wednesday.

The APhA said Spridgen, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, would be responsible for all aspects of the APhA's federal pharmacy programs, including coordination of the annual Federal Forum and oversight management of the Department of Defense Joint Forces Pharmacy Seminar, fostering a collaborative alliance between the APhA and the federal pharmacy sector and developing relationships in the pharmaceutical industry.

September 14, 2011

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday expressed its concerns over track-and-trace systems in its comments submitted to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, “Securing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.”

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday expressed its concerns over track-and-trace systems in its comments submitted to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, “Securing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.”   

September 6, 2011

Impax Labs has appointed a new president of its generic pharmaceutical division.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs has appointed a new president of its generic pharmaceutical division.

The drug maker said that Carole Ben-Maimon will be responsible for expanding the generic business. Recently, Ben-Maimon served as Qualitest Pharmaceuticals' SVP corporate strategy consulting. Additionally, she served as the chairman of the board of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association from 2000 to 2003.

Ben-Maimon will report to Impax's president and CEO Larry Hsu.

September 6, 2011

Francesco International on Tuesday released a Rx-to-OTC projection report covering potential switches through 2016.

LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Francesco International on Tuesday released a Rx-to-OTC projection report covering potential switches through 2016. The potential switches include drugs prescribed for chronic use or for asymptomatic conditions — two switch hurdles that to date have not cleared the Food and Drug Administration approval process.

August 30, 2011

A federal court has acted in favor of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in the drug maker's patent infringement case against several generic drug companies seeking to market versions of its multiple sclerosis drug.

JERUSALEM — A federal court has acted in favor of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in the drug maker's patent infringement case against several generic drug companies seeking to market versions of its multiple sclerosis drug.

August 24, 2011


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. In response, federal drug safety overseers and such drug manufacturers as Pfizer are working to shore up the integrity of drug supplies and stop production of fake and adulterated pharmaceuticals at their source.


August 19, 2011

Canada-based drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has acquired a Kaunas, Lithuania-based specialty pharmaceutical company.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canada-based drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has acquired a Kaunas, Lithuania-based specialty pharmaceutical company.

Valeant said it completed its acquisition of Sanitas Group, which operates in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia markets.

The deal, which initially was announced by Valeant in May, was valued at EUR314 million (about $450 million) in cash.

August 8, 2011

Kinney Drugs, which operates 91 stores in central and northern New York and Vermont, has announced the recent promotion of 30-year company veteran Owen Halloran to SVP pharmacy procurement.

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. — Kinney Drugs, which operates 91 stores in central and northern New York and Vermont, has announced the recent promotion of 30-year company veteran Owen Halloran to SVP pharmacy procurement.

August 3, 2011

A generic pharmaceutical company announced that its CFO has resigned.

PHILADELPHIA — A generic pharmaceutical company announced that its CFO has resigned.

Lannett said that Keith Ruck has exited the company to pursue other interests. The company expects to name a successor soon.

“During his tenure, Keith improved the performance of our accounting and financial reporting team,” Lannett president and CEO Arthur Bedrosian said. “In addition, he was instrumental in upgrading our internal controls and business processes. I would like to thank Keith for his hard work and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

August 3, 2011

Topco, a member-owned cooperative serving the food industry, recently kicked off an initiative substituting its TopCare-branded over-the-counter medicines for the equivalent prescription pharmaceutical, where appropriate, in an effort to save patient dollars and promote the TopCare brand.

SKOKIE, Ill. — Topco, a member-owned cooperative serving the food industry, recently kicked off an initiative substituting its TopCare-branded over-the-counter medicines for the equivalent prescription pharmaceutical, where appropriate, in an effort to save patient dollars and promote the TopCare brand.

August 2, 2011

The VP distribution operations for Omnicare's RxCrossroads business has stepped into a new role, Omnicare announced Tuesday.

COVINGTON, Ky. — The VP distribution operations for Omnicare's RxCrossroads business has stepped into a new role, Omnicare announced Tuesday.

Dan Thomas was appointed to the role of SVP and general manager for RxCrossroads, an Omnicare division that provides specialized solutions specifically tailored to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Thomas, who has worked in the unit for 27 years, will have full operational responsibility in his new role and report to Nitin Sahney, EVP and president of Omnicare’s Specialty Care Group.

July 26, 2011

Healthcare technology company Supplylogix has signed an agreement with an unnamed healthcare provider in the Midwest to provide pharmaceutical inventory management and demand forecasting.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Healthcare technology company Supplylogix has signed an agreement with an unnamed healthcare provider in the Midwest to provide pharmaceutical inventory management and demand forecasting.

Supplylogix will provide the services for the provider’s 80 pharmacies and central-fill facility, and the provider recently completed a 45-day full deployment of the company’s services.

July 25, 2011

Good Neighbor Pharmacy last week recognized five Good Neighbor Pharmacy operators at the National Healthcare Conference and Exposition.

LAS VEGAS — Good Neighbor Pharmacy last week recognized five Good Neighbor Pharmacy operators at the National Healthcare Conference and Exposition.

Liss Pharmacy in Newark, N.J., was named the 2011 Good Neighbor Pharmacy “Pharmacy of the Year” for its commitment to the Newark community. Led by owner Matthew Parisi, the pharmacy has created programs in conjunction with both the city of Newark and the Heinz Family Philanthropies to provide pharmaceutical services and generic medications at a reasonable cost, for example.

July 25, 2011

Speech-recognition software developer VoicePort and mobile-applications-as-a-service company Unwired Nation have entered an agreement to port the former’s customer service software to smartphones and tablets, the companies said.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Speech-recognition software developer VoicePort and mobile-applications-as-a-service company Unwired Nation have entered an agreement to port the former’s customer service software to smartphones and tablets, the companies said.

Rochester, N.Y.-based VoicePort and Austin, Texas-based Unwired Nation will use VoicePort’s Kinita and PharmaPhonetics platform to create mobile apps. VoicePort’s software uses advanced speech recognition self-service technology to automate interactions for the pharmacy and pharmaceutical industries.

July 22, 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire San Diego-based Amira Pharmaceuticals for $325 million, the two companies said Friday.

NEW YORK — Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire San Diego-based Amira Pharmaceuticals for $325 million, the two companies said Friday.

Amira develops pharmaceutical drugs for treating inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, and the deal includes milestone payments of up to $150 million on top of the upfront purchase price. Amira’s drugs include AM152, an investigational treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, currently in early-stage clinical trials and set to enter mid-stage trials.

July 18, 2011

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board said that its certification and advanced training programs, developed by the Pharmacy Technician Workforce Coalition of the Triad, support the development of a highly skilled pharmacy technician workforce in North Carolina.

WASHINGTON — The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board said that its certification and advanced training programs, developed by the Pharmacy Technician Workforce Coalition of the Triad, support the development of a highly skilled pharmacy technician workforce in North Carolina.

July 7, 2011

Generic drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal reported its fourth-quarter net sales increased 45% to $57.2 million from the year-ago period.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — Generic drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal reported its fourth-quarter net sales increased 45% to $57.2 million from the year-ago period.

Net income for Hi-Tech totaled $12.7 million, or 98 cents per diluted share, compared with $6.5 million, or 50 cents per diluted share in fourth quarter 2010.

July 7, 2011

Johnson & Johnson on Thursday announced that the company has entered into an agreement to become a global sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, becoming the eighth and final FIFA World Cup Sponsor.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson on Thursday announced that the company has entered into an agreement to become a global sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, becoming the eighth and final FIFA World Cup sponsor.

With this sponsorship, Johnson & Johnson will be the exclusive and official healthcare sponsor, with the ability to promote across their consumer, medical devices and diagnostics, and pharmaceutical businesses.

July 5, 2011

H. D. Smith, the fourth-largest national pharmaceutical wholesaler, on Tuesday named Mark de Bruin to the post of corporate VP managed care.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith, the fourth-largest national pharmaceutical wholesaler, on Tuesday named Mark de Bruin to the post of corporate VP managed care.

In his new position at H. D. Smith, 29-year industry veteran de Bruin will be responsible for the company's third party network, creating and maintaining an alliance of prescription and healthcare service providers.

July 5, 2011

McKesson sparked its McKesson IdeaShare Conference at the Moscone Convention Center from June 29 through July 2 with a number of programs designed to bolster the competitiveness and profitability among independent pharmacies.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson sparked its McKesson IdeaShare Conference at the Moscone Convention Center here from June 29 through July 2 with a number of programs designed to bolster the competitiveness and profitability among independent pharmacies.

June 30, 2011

Perrigo on Wednesday announced that its closing date to complete the acquisition of Paddock Labs — a generic pharmaceutical and specialty over-the-counter products manufacturer — has been delayed by an extended Federal Trade Commission review.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Wednesday announced that its closing date to complete the acquisition of Paddock Labs — a generic pharmaceutical and specialty over-the-counter products manufacturer — has been delayed by an extended Federal Trade Commission review.

June 29, 2011

A specialty pharmaceutical company has appointed a new VP human resources.

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — A specialty pharmaceutical company has appointed a new VP human resources.

Cheryl Patnick, who has more than 20 years of experience in human resources and mergers/acquisitions, will lead and manage Tris Pharma's human resource activities, the company said Wednesday.

June 22, 2011

Impax Labs has expanded its senior management team with two appointments.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs has expanded its senior management team with two appointments.

The generic drug maker said that Mark Fitch has joined the company as SVP operations, while Jeff Nornhold will become SVP quality affairs. Fitch, who joins Impax from Nycomed US, brings more than 35 years of pharmaceutical experience to his role. Nornhold, who most recently served as VP quality operations at drug maker Watson, is a 20-year pharmaceutical industry veteran.

Both Fitch and Nornhold will report to Impax president and CEO Larry Hsu.

June 22, 2011

Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., on Monday propositioned a bill that would allow independent drug stores to band together in an effort to increase their collective pharmaceutical buying power.

KINGSTON, Pa. — Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., on Monday propositioned a bill that would allow independent drug stores to band together in an effort to increase their collective pharmaceutical buying power.

June 15, 2011

A healthcare services company will continue to serve as the primary pharmaceutical supply chain partner for a pharmacy benefit manager's mail-order business.

DUBLIN, Ohio and ST. PAUL, Minn. — A healthcare services company will continue to serve as the primary pharmaceutical supply chain partner for a pharmacy benefit manager's mail-order business.