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Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

“The Meda Group expects to achieve sales of about SEK 13,000 million and an EBITDA of about SEK 4,200 million for full-year 2009.”

16 Feb 2010

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

A case study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, demonstrates the positive impact of a diabetes management program designed to educate and motivate members to engage in their health care. The program was implemented by CVS Caremark and Polk County, Florida, a self-insured government employer client.

16 Feb 2010

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

Republican leaders are now saying they will not participate in the meeting unless the president takes his health reform plan off the table to start over. I understand their concerns with a variety of issues in the current bills, but where you start is not nearly as important as where you finish. After all, fees continue to skyrocket and millions remain uninsured, costing our country in many ways. ... There is no time like the present for Washington to show America that it is interested in governing, not just in campaigning. The cameras will be rolling, and we will be watching (Christine Todd Whitman, 2/12).

14 Feb 2010

Positive results from Shire's velaglucerase alfa Phase III study for Type 1 Gaucher disease

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today presented positive results from its first Phase III study (TKT 032) evaluating safety and efficacy of velaglucerase alfa, its investigational enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease. The data were presented in an oral presentation at the Lysosomal Disease Network (LDN) World Symposium in Miami, Florida.

12 Feb 2010

HealthSpring enters into $350M senior secured credit facility

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a new $350 million senior secured credit facility. The new agreement consists of $175 million in five-year term loans and a four-year, $175 million revolving credit facility, $25 million of which was drawn at closing. Outstanding loans under the new credit facility bear interest at a spread over a base rate or LIBOR (initially 325 basis points), depending on the Company’s total leverage ratio.

12 Feb 2010

'CARES by GSK' introduces oncology co-pay assistance program

GlaxoSmithKline today announced the launch of CARES by GSK, a comprehensive program that provides a single point of contact to GSK services and programs designed to improve access to GSK oncology and specialty medications. In addition to the comprehensive offerings that include specialty reimbursement services and free medicine, CARES by GSK now offers its first oncology co-pay assistance program to further help eligible patients with limited insurance coverage to have better access to GSK oral oncology and specialty medicines.

11 Feb 2010

CTI reports financial results for fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2009

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) today reported recent accomplishments and financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

11 Feb 2010

DTM programs increase adherence to injectable medications and treatment persistence in MS patients

A new study reveals that multiple sclerosis (MS) patients enrolled in a seven-month disease therapy management (DTM) program show greater adherence to injectable MS medications and treatment persistence than patients who receive injectable MS medications through a community pharmacy.

10 Feb 2010

Enrollment for SCAN Health Plan Arizona exceeds projections in Maricopa County

More than 6,300 Maricopa County residents selected SCAN Health Plan Arizona as their Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) for 2010, far exceeding SCAN's enrollment projections. Eligible individuals may continue to join SCAN until March 31, 2010.

10 Feb 2010

Elan announces fourth-quarter and full-year financial results ended December 31, 2009

Elan Corporation, plc today reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2009 financial results and provides financial guidance for 2010.

10 Feb 2010

Idaho Health Freedom Act: Passage will lead to loss of $1.6 billion in federal health care funding

As the Idaho House approved legislation today laying the groundwork to oppose a non-existent federal health care law, the long-term effects of the move could be felt for years to come. AARP is calling the Idaho Health Freedom Act (House Bill 391) a disastrous and problem-riddled piece of legislation that, if signed into law, could see Idaho lose nearly $1.6 billion in federal health care funding for the state and cost thousands of jobs.

10 Feb 2010

CVS Caremark reports fourth-quarter and fiscal 2009 results

CVS Caremark Corporation today announced record revenues, operating profit, and income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

8 Feb 2010

HealthSpring reports net income of $38.8M for fourth-quarter 2009

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

8 Feb 2010

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

Olive Branch, Miss. resident Glenn Lusk has a special perspective on the value of his Medicare Advantage plan. It was a HealthSpring-contracted nurse practitioner who discovered during a home visit in November that Lusk was experiencing serious heart trouble.

6 Feb 2010

URAC seeks public input for Pharmacy Quality Management Accreditation programs

As part of its commitment to a comprehensive review of its standards, URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation and education organization, today called for public comment on revisions to its suite of Pharmacy Quality Management® Accreditation programs.

6 Feb 2010

Health bill stall creates uncertainty for drug makers

"With the possible demise of health care legislation, getting back to business as usual may not be the best thing for the nation's drug makers," The New York Times reports. "After all, in return for the prospect of tens of millions of newly insured customers and a large degree of regulatory certainty, the pharmaceutical industry had agreed to pay a relatively small price: $8 billion a year in discounts and fees.

6 Feb 2010

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Research presented at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting provides early published data analyzing information gathered from California's prescription monitoring program, known as the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES). The analysis found a two-fold increase in the likelihood of individuals receiving opioids from multiple providers or "doctor shopping" when they were also being simultaneously prescribed a single additional class of a controlled substances, such as benzodiazepines or amphetamines.

5 Feb 2010

Report shows more Americans are buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions

The number of Americans buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions climbed over 50 percent, rising from 18.1 million to 29 million people between 1997 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

5 Feb 2010

Shire's clinical study results for treatment of Gaucher disease to be presented at LDN World Symposium

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that data from one of three Phase III clinical trials for velaglucerase alfa, the company's enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in development for the treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease, will be presented at the Lysosomal Disease Network (LDN) World Symposium, February 10-12, 2010 in Miami, Florida.

4 Feb 2010

LLS increases maximum benefit for myeloma patients to $10,000

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to announce that, effective Feb. 1, 2010, patients with myeloma and waldenstrom macroglobulinemia will now be able to receive up to $10,000 in support to help offset the costs of prescription drug co-pays and other insurance related expenses.

3 Feb 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

Positive results from Shire's velaglucerase alfa Phase III study for Type 1 Gaucher disease

HealthSpring enters into $350M senior secured credit facility

'CARES by GSK' introduces oncology co-pay assistance program

CTI reports financial results for fourth-quarter and year ended December 31, 2009

DTM programs increase adherence to injectable medications and treatment persistence in MS patients

Enrollment for SCAN Health Plan Arizona exceeds projections in Maricopa County

Elan announces fourth-quarter and full-year financial results ended December 31, 2009

Idaho Health Freedom Act: Passage will lead to loss of $1.6 billion in federal health care funding

CVS Caremark reports fourth-quarter and fiscal 2009 results

HealthSpring reports net income of $38.8M for fourth-quarter 2009

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

URAC seeks public input for Pharmacy Quality Management Accreditation programs

Health bill stall creates uncertainty for drug makers

'Doctor Shopping': Data from California's prescription monitoring program

Report shows more Americans are buying prescription drugs to treat digestive conditions

Shire's clinical study results for treatment of Gaucher disease to be presented at LDN World Symposium

LLS increases maximum benefit for myeloma patients to $10,000

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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