Prescription Drug News and Research

RSS

Teenage girls more likely to perceive potential benefits of drug and alcohol use

Survey data released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation found that teenage girls are more likely than teenage boys to perceive potential benefits from drug use and drinking, making teen girls more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse.

29 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 29, 2010

In this Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "Sarah Rose Nordgren works 25 to 30 hours a week as a waitress at an upscale restaurant in Chapel Hill, N.C. She also tutors high- schoolers on their college entrance essays and has an editorial internship at a book publisher. But if something were to go seriously wrong with her health, she'd be in trouble because none of her three jobs offers health insurance" (Kaiser Health News).

29 Jun 2010

Rosiglitazone associated with increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with pioglitazone

A new study published online today by JAMA shows that among patients age 65 years and older, rosiglitazone (a medication for treating Type 2 diabetes) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality (death) when compared with pioglitazone (another medication for diabetes). The study was published online today in advance of an upcoming Food and Drug Administration meeting that will review the safety of rosiglitazone. The paper will appear in the July 28 print issue of JAMA.

29 Jun 2010

FDA's acceptance for filing of DM-1796 NDA triggers $10M milestone payment to Depomed

Depomed, Inc. today announced that it has received a $10 million milestone payment from Abbott Products, Inc., its licensee of DM-1796, for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's acceptance for filing of the New Drug Application (NDA) for DM-1796 for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or pain after shingles.

29 Jun 2010

Senate Dems continue Medicaid money, jobless benefits push

The Hill reports that Senate Democrats are pushing to keep a package of jobless benefits and aid to states for their Medicaid programs moving. "More than 1.2 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of June if Congress fails to work out a deal on an extension of unemployment benefits, according to the National Employment Law Project, a group studying the issue."

28 Jun 2010

Final results of VIAject vs. RHI Phase 3 study in type 2 diabetes patients presented at 70th ADA

The final results of a six-month, multi-center, open-label Phase 3 study of VIAject® (more-rapid-acting injectable human insulin) versus regular human insulin (RHI) in 471 patients with type 2 diabetes were presented today by Helena Rodbard, M.D., at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Rodbard was a principal investigator of this study, which was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VIAject® versus regular human insulin when used in combination with insulin glargine.

28 Jun 2010

Orexigen Therapeutics announces data from CORDiabetes trial for Contrave

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced data from the CORDiabetes trial for Contrave (naltrexone sustained release (SR)/bupropion SR) showing that after 56 weeks of treatment, overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes lost significantly more weight and achieved greater improvement in glycemic control than those treated with placebo.

28 Jun 2010

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Chiasma's Octreolin

Chiasma, Inc., a privately held biopharma company, announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation for Chiasma's investigational new drug, Octreolin, an oral form of octreotide acetate that uses the Company's proprietary Transient Permeability Enhancer technology for the oral treatment of acromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results from an excess of growth hormone.

28 Jun 2010

Kansas doctor and wife found guilty of prescribing painkillers, causing deaths

"A federal jury Thursday found a Kansas doctor and his wife guilty of conspiring to profit from illegally prescribing painkillers to dozens of patients who later died, in a case highlighting medical treatment of chronic pain sufferers and prescription drug abuse."

28 Jun 2010

Prescription Solutions introduces Clinical Vantage to improve health and well-being of members

Prescription Solutions, a leading pharmacy benefit management organization and a UnitedHealth Group company, has launched Clinical Vantage, a suite of clinical programs that enables clients to create specialized solutions to meet their particular needs to improve the health and well-being of members.

25 Jun 2010

HHS Secretary to speak about benefits of Affordable Care Act for women

Today, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will speak to the National Partnership for Women and Families about how the Affordable Care Act will benefit women.

25 Jun 2010

PMPRB report: Brand-name drug companies in Canada spent only 7.5% of revenues on R&D in 2009

Research and development spending in Canada by brand-name drug companies has dropped to its lowest level in 20 years, according to the latest annual report of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.

25 Jun 2010

JZP-6 to be reviewed at joint meeting for treatment of fibromyalgia

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Arthritis Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee will review JZP-6 (sodium oxybate) for the treatment of fibromyalgia at a joint meeting on August 20, 2010.

25 Jun 2010

Conn. AG launches probe of CVS prescription plan termination threat

Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut attorney general and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, announced an investigation of CVS Caremark after the corporation threatened to terminate a discount prescription drug program, Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports.

25 Jun 2010

New poll illustrates difficult situations cancer patients face in affording needed health care

A new poll illustrates the difficulty that cancer patients, survivors and their families face in affording needed health care and paying for other basic necessities such as food and heat, underscoring the need to strongly implement the Affordable Care Act so that it works for people with cancer.

24 Jun 2010

FDA schedules Advisory Committee meeting to review Orexigen's Contrave NDA

Orexigen® Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tentatively scheduled a Division of Metabolic and Endocrine Drug Products Advisory Committee meeting on December 7, 2010 to review the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for Contrave® (naltrexone sustained release (SR)/bupropion SR) for the treatment of obesity.

24 Jun 2010

Rite Aid first-quarter revenues decrease 2.1% to $6.4 billion

Rite Aid Corporation today reported financial results for the first quarter ended May 29, 2010.

23 Jun 2010

Extenders bill in limbo, placing COBRA subsidy and Medicaid enhanced funding in even deeper jeopardy

Efforts to renew the COBRA subsidy extension to help workers who have been recently laid off afford to keep their former employer's health insurance remains in limbo as lawmakers work at a measured pace to extend unemployment benefits and a tax package.

22 Jun 2010

Health reform implementation: Risk pool nears enrollment date; Seniors anxious about Medicare changes; Benefits reportable

As high-risk insurance pools are preparing to enroll the chronically ill July 1, officials should heed the Florida experience. "Plagued by exorbitant medical costs and skimpy revenue, the Florida Comprehensive Health Association, by order of the Legislature, stopped accepting new enrollees in 1991, eight years after it was created." The pool once covered about 7,000 Florida residents; now only a few hundred remain as premiums are double the standard rate.

22 Jun 2010

Cadence Pharmaceuticals to acquire Incline Therapeutics

Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing and commercializing proprietary product candidates principally for use in the hospital setting, announced today that it has signed an agreement providing Cadence with an exclusive option to acquire Incline Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company.

22 Jun 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

Teenage girls more likely to perceive potential benefits of drug and alcohol use

First Edition: June 29, 2010

Rosiglitazone associated with increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with pioglitazone

FDA's acceptance for filing of DM-1796 NDA triggers $10M milestone payment to Depomed

Senate Dems continue Medicaid money, jobless benefits push

Final results of VIAject vs. RHI Phase 3 study in type 2 diabetes patients presented at 70th ADA

Orexigen Therapeutics announces data from CORDiabetes trial for Contrave

FDA grants orphan drug designation for Chiasma's Octreolin

Kansas doctor and wife found guilty of prescribing painkillers, causing deaths

Prescription Solutions introduces Clinical Vantage to improve health and well-being of members

HHS Secretary to speak about benefits of Affordable Care Act for women

PMPRB report: Brand-name drug companies in Canada spent only 7.5% of revenues on R&D in 2009

JZP-6 to be reviewed at joint meeting for treatment of fibromyalgia

Conn. AG launches probe of CVS prescription plan termination threat

New poll illustrates difficult situations cancer patients face in affording needed health care

FDA schedules Advisory Committee meeting to review Orexigen's Contrave NDA

Rite Aid first-quarter revenues decrease 2.1% to $6.4 billion

Extenders bill in limbo, placing COBRA subsidy and Medicaid enhanced funding in even deeper jeopardy

Health reform implementation: Risk pool nears enrollment date; Seniors anxious about Medicare changes; Benefits reportable

Cadence Pharmaceuticals to acquire Incline Therapeutics

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Latest News