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MonoSol Rx, APR expand film formulation development collaboration

MonoSol Rx, the developer of PharmFilm® technology and a drug delivery company specializing in proprietary pharmaceutical film products, and APR Applied Pharma Research s.a. ("APR") announced today an expansion of their relationship to identify and develop film formulations of prescription drug products beyond ondansetron and donepezil to include zolmitriptan. Zolmitriptan is currently commercially available for the acute treatment of migraine headache in adults, and facing initial patent expirations in 2012.

10 Jun 2010

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for America's seniors. President Obama held a tele-town hall with seniors in Wheaton, Md. today on the legislation's provisions to strengthen Medicare, close the 'donut hole,' and protect seniors from fraud.

9 Jun 2010

Health overhaul supporters plan $25 million promotion campaign

The New York Times: "Close allies of the Obama administration, seeking to rally the public behind President Obama's landmark health care bill, are planning to spend $25 million over the next five years to promote the measure and beat back mischaracterizations of it that could harm Democratic candidates. Mr. Obama's former communications director, Anita Dunn, and longtime Democratic strategist Andrew Grossman, have teamed up to form two new tax-exempt groups.

7 Jun 2010

Research roundup: Evidence-based medicine consumer/expert divide; Pay for performance limitations; Improving community health centers

Health Affairs: Evidence That Consumers Are Skeptical About Evidence-Based Health Care - This survey of more than 1,500 patients with employer-based insurance found "there is a fundamental disconnect between the central tenets of evidence-based health care and the knowledge, values, and beliefs held by many consumers."

5 Jun 2010

Obama sets town hall meeting with seniors to tout Medicare rebate checks

President Barack Obama has scheduled a televised town hall meeting Tuesday in Wheaton, Md., "to trumpet one of the most popular provisions of his landmark health care bill: a $250 rebate to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for prescription drugs. ... An estimated 80,000 checks are scheduled to be sent in June, with others to follow on a rolling basis, to Medicare beneficiaries who enter the so-called 'doughnut hole' - a gap in prescription drug coverage that requires them to pay out of pocket" (Stolberg, 6/3).

5 Jun 2010

Right Medicare choices for individuals over 65

For the thousands of people turning 65 in the coming months, it can be a milestone worth celebrating. There also are hurdles to overcome, including making the right Medicare choices, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare plan selection services.

4 Jun 2010

Today's Opinions: Never-events, Medicare 'propaganda' and drug copays

According to the Labor Department, overall inflation has averaged about 2.5 percent annually, and prescription drug prices have gone up about 3.6 percent each year, over that time frame. Co-pays, though, have increased four times faster than inflation (Peter J. Pitts, 5/28).

29 May 2010

Neptune's revenues increased by 8% for fiscal year ended February 28, 2010

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. today reports its consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010, announces the implementation of a shareholder rights plan and provides fiscal year highlights.

28 May 2010

First Edition: May 28, 2010

Today's health policy headlines focus on efforts by federal officials to get more insurance plans to move early on coverage for young adults as well as congressional Democrats' struggle to pass legislation to extend the COBRA benefit subsidy and to prevent a scheduled cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

28 May 2010

Medicare brochure mailing draws GOP ire

Republicans are criticizing a taxpayer-funded brochure sent to 40.2 million Medicare beneficiaries explaining changes to the program under the new health law.

28 May 2010

Benefits of new health insurance reform law for Medicare recipients discussed in news conference

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Barbara Kennelly of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and Dr. Ben Williamowsky of Silver Spring, Md., a Medicare recipient, held a news conference today to discuss benefits of and misconceptions about the Affordable Care Act and Medicare.

27 May 2010

FDA advises consumers, health care professionals about Xenical, Alli

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers and health care professionals about potential rare occurrences of severe liver injury in patients taking the weight-loss medication orlistat, marketed as Xenical and Alli.

27 May 2010

HHS 'special mailing' on health law's immediate Medicare benefits sparks GOP grumbles

CQ HealthBeat: "Education or propaganda? Or 'beyond propaganda?' The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Monday that it will soon send Medicare beneficiaries a special mailing on 'the immediate benefits they may see' from the health care overhaul law. Getting accurate information about key provisions of the law will help Medicare enrollees 'to be on the alert for any scams asking for personal information,' explained acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in an agency news release Monday.

25 May 2010

Medtronic fiscal year 2010 revenue up 8% to $15.817 billion

Medtronic, Inc. today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 30, 2010.

25 May 2010

Experts question 'doc fix' as Reid threatens weekend work on bill with COBRA, Medicare provisions

Politico: Experts are questioning the virtues of the three-year Medicare "doc fix" that would stave off cuts to Medicare doctors' pay but set up a larger fight down the road. ... In health policy circles, the 'doc fix' has become emblematic of Washington's worst habits: a potentially solvable policy problem run amok for about a decade now, bogged down in pure politics and accounting gimmicks. The 'doc fix,' a last-minute infusion of funds to head off a looming doctor pay cut under Medicare, hits the floor this week via the tax extenders bill ..."

25 May 2010

FDA grants priority review for Alkermes' VIVITROL sNDA for opioid dependence

Alkermes, Inc. today announced that the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for VIVITROL® (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) for opioid dependence has been designated a priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

25 May 2010

Repligen's RG2833 granted orphan drug designation for treatment of Friedreich's ataxia

Repligen Corporation announced today that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to RG2833, a selective histone deacetylase 3 inhibitor for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia. Orphan drug designation qualifies Repligen to receive seven years of marketing exclusivity in the United States if the company is the first to obtain marketing approval for RG2833 for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia.

24 May 2010

Research roundup: Lessons from Medicare Part D; Evaluating medical homes; Insuring young adults

Lessons Learned: Who Didn't Enroll In Medicare Drug Coverage In 2006, And Why? - With data from the 2005 and 2006 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, this study examines enrollment of those who were previously without either public or private sources of prescription drug coverage. The authors report "63 percent of all eligible seniors and 69 percent of low-income beneficiaries were enrolled in Part D in 2006.

24 May 2010

African-Americans, Hispanics less likely to meet MTM eligibility requirements: Study

Medicare's Part D prescription medication management program, also known as Medication Therapy Management, could be off limits to some of the patients who need it most — older African-Americans and Hispanics — a new study finds.

21 May 2010

Universal American selects MedVentive's technology to enable increased collaboration among members, physicians

MedVentive announced today that Universal American Corp., a leading provider of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, recently selected MedVentive's technology to enable increased collaboration among members, physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals as a way to improve member health and confidence - and reduce member cost.

21 May 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

MonoSol Rx, APR expand film formulation development collaboration

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Health overhaul supporters plan $25 million promotion campaign

Research roundup: Evidence-based medicine consumer/expert divide; Pay for performance limitations; Improving community health centers

Obama sets town hall meeting with seniors to tout Medicare rebate checks

Right Medicare choices for individuals over 65

Today's Opinions: Never-events, Medicare 'propaganda' and drug copays

Neptune's revenues increased by 8% for fiscal year ended February 28, 2010

First Edition: May 28, 2010

Medicare brochure mailing draws GOP ire

Benefits of new health insurance reform law for Medicare recipients discussed in news conference

FDA advises consumers, health care professionals about Xenical, Alli

HHS 'special mailing' on health law's immediate Medicare benefits sparks GOP grumbles

Medtronic fiscal year 2010 revenue up 8% to $15.817 billion

Experts question 'doc fix' as Reid threatens weekend work on bill with COBRA, Medicare provisions

FDA grants priority review for Alkermes' VIVITROL sNDA for opioid dependence

Repligen's RG2833 granted orphan drug designation for treatment of Friedreich's ataxia

Research roundup: Lessons from Medicare Part D; Evaluating medical homes; Insuring young adults

African-Americans, Hispanics less likely to meet MTM eligibility requirements: Study

Universal American selects MedVentive's technology to enable increased collaboration among members, physicians

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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