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FDA recommends approval for UI Pharmaceuticals to manufacture an aseptically filled sterile drug product

In September 2009, the Kansas City District Office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) submitted a recommendation of approval to the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for The University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals (UIP) to manufacture and test an aseptically filled, sterile prescription drug product for a commercial client. The drug product contains a new chemical entity and is a sterile solution that is aseptically filled into vials.

14 Oct 2009

Seniors and people with disabilities to choose new healthcare coverage

More than 600,000 seniors and people with disabilities will be required to choose new healthcare coverage during the upcoming Medicare annual enrollment because their current plan is being eliminated. However, millions more could benefit by changing to a plan that better fits their needs, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare services.

14 Oct 2009

Catalyst Health Solutions enters into an amended agreement with Wachovia Bank to extend its credit facility

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., a pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company, announced today that it has entered into an amended agreement with Wachovia Bank, N.A., a Wells Fargo Company, to extend and increase its secured revolving credit facility. The new credit facility will mature on October 9, 2012 and has been increased from $50 million to $100 million.

14 Oct 2009

Financial advisers help wealthy Americans navigate Medicare

Wealthy Americans are increasingly seeking help on how to navigate the Medicare system from financial advisers.

14 Oct 2009

Prescription drug ads drive up U.S. health costs

NPR reports on how prescription drug advertising drives up consumer demand, which drives up medical costs. The story, done in partnership with the public radio program, This American Life, is the third in a three-part series about why American health care costs are so high. "Prescription drug spending is the third most expensive cost in the U.S. health care system.

13 Oct 2009

Sanofi-aventis collaborates with Merrimack Pharmaceuticals for rights to human monoclonal antibody MM-121

Dyax Corp. announced today new developments involving drug candidates identified using the Company’s proprietary phage display technology as a result of two deals recently announced by sanofi-aventis.

13 Oct 2009

Health care reform should include transparency requirements for PBMs: Consumer groups

More than 30 groups representing consumer, labor and Medicare beneficiaries have joined a growing coalition urging Congress to support transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress.

13 Oct 2009

Generic medicines and mail-service pharmacies are viable options for reducing health care costs

Many consumers looking for ways to reduce their health care costs are taking potentially dangerous steps such as foregoing prescription drug medications altogether or skipping necessary refills, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports.

9 Oct 2009

Educational Summit to address healthcare and pharmacies’ role in the coming years

The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP), a not-for-profit pharmacy standards development organization, announced its upcoming Educational Summit, Looking Ahead: Healthcare in the Next Decade, November 3, 2009 in New Orleans.

9 Oct 2009

Coburn opposes Medicare Part B premiums freeze, Mccain calls drug pact 'unsavory'

Health care news is emerging from the Senate besides the Finance Committee bill.

9 Oct 2009

NAMM to provide Humana members with convenient access to quality care

North American Medical Management California, Inc. (NAMM) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today a long-term agreement enabling Humana’s Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization (HMO) members to receive medical care through PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. (PrimeCare), an affiliate of NAMM and operating in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

9 Oct 2009

Privately insured African-Americans HMO enrollees more likely to use emergency rooms

Health insurance, and the access it provides to a primary care physician, should reduce the use of a major driver of health care costs: the emergency room.

8 Oct 2009

Employers make substantial changes to employees' medical plan for 2010

As employees flip through their open enrollment packets, they may notice substantial changes to their medical plan for 2010, from increases to employee contributions to introducing a wellness program, according to the 2009 Benefits & Talent Survey by Aon Consulting, the human capital consulting firm of Aon Corporation.

8 Oct 2009

Utah Drug Card statewide prescription assistance program to commence

Utah residents will have access to a new statewide prescription assistance program starting tomorrow. The Utah Drug Card is a free discount prescription drug card program that will offer residents savings of up to 75% on prescription drugs at retail pharmacies.

8 Oct 2009

Labopharm's trazodone API supplier Angelini resolves manufacturing facility deficiencies

Labopharm Inc. today announced that it has been informed by Angelini, the manufacturer of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the Company's novel trazodone formulation, that it has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that Angelini has appropriately addressed all deficiencies cited by the FDA following its inspection of the manufacturing facility in June and July of this year.

8 Oct 2009

Effective use of economic incentives and clinical tools help employers to control drug benefit costs

Employers are effectively controlling drug benefit costs and utilization, according to research findings in the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute's (PBMI) 2009-2010 Prescription Drug Benefit Cost and Plan Design Report. PBMI's employer survey shows the average rate of increase in drug costs has dropped to 4.4%, the lowest rate of increase since PBMI began conducting the study in 1995.

8 Oct 2009

New book from Fraser Institute discusses the government-run health insurance in Canada

As Americans debate the merits of a “public option” for health insurance, a new book published by the Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading economic think tanks, documents the many significant problems with government-run health care in Canada, providing valuable comparative information for U.S. policy-makers at a crucial moment.

8 Oct 2009

2010 Medco Medicare Prescription Plan to identify lower-cost medication options

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) is helping seniors in this tough economy find smart solutions for getting the most value out of their Medicare prescription drug plan.

7 Oct 2009

FDA reviews Fibrocell Science's BLA for azfibrocel-T

Isolagen, Inc. has reorganized and emerged from bankruptcy as Fibrocell Science, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: FCSC), a biotechnology company focused on developing regenerative fibroblast cells for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications.

7 Oct 2009

DestinationRx celebrates 10th anniversary

DestinationRx celebrated the company’s 10th anniversary with an announcement at the Health 2.0 Conference today. Even as sweeping healthcare reform is debated in Congress, this observance marks an important milestone for the health plan and drug comparison industry leader.

7 Oct 2009

Prescription Drug News and Research

FDA recommends approval for UI Pharmaceuticals to manufacture an aseptically filled sterile drug product

Seniors and people with disabilities to choose new healthcare coverage

Catalyst Health Solutions enters into an amended agreement with Wachovia Bank to extend its credit facility

Financial advisers help wealthy Americans navigate Medicare

Prescription drug ads drive up U.S. health costs

Sanofi-aventis collaborates with Merrimack Pharmaceuticals for rights to human monoclonal antibody MM-121

Health care reform should include transparency requirements for PBMs: Consumer groups

Generic medicines and mail-service pharmacies are viable options for reducing health care costs

Educational Summit to address healthcare and pharmacies’ role in the coming years

Coburn opposes Medicare Part B premiums freeze, Mccain calls drug pact 'unsavory'

NAMM to provide Humana members with convenient access to quality care

Privately insured African-Americans HMO enrollees more likely to use emergency rooms

Employers make substantial changes to employees' medical plan for 2010

Utah Drug Card statewide prescription assistance program to commence

Labopharm's trazodone API supplier Angelini resolves manufacturing facility deficiencies

Effective use of economic incentives and clinical tools help employers to control drug benefit costs

New book from Fraser Institute discusses the government-run health insurance in Canada

2010 Medco Medicare Prescription Plan to identify lower-cost medication options

FDA reviews Fibrocell Science's BLA for azfibrocel-T

DestinationRx celebrates 10th anniversary

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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