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PCMA statements on mail-service pharmacies

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement on a consumer “poll” on mail-service pharmacies released today by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

19 Sep 2009

Mark Farrah develops new database tool for comparative analysis of Medicare Advantage and PDP benefit packages

In a recent customer update, Mark Farrah Associates confirmed that Medicare Advantage membership continues to climb, prior to the 2010 open enrollment season.

19 Sep 2009

SXC Health Solutions to raise $176.6 million from sale of common shares

SXC Health Solutions Corp. ("SXC" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SXCI, TSX: SXC) announced today the pricing of its previously announced public offering of common shares. Under the offering, SXC will sell 4,500,000 common shares at a price to the public of $41.50 per share.

18 Sep 2009

LifeWise Health Plan expands individual health-plan benefits

LifeWise Health Plan of Washington is announcing the expansion of individual health-plan benefits to provide consumers with more choices and greater coverage.

18 Sep 2009

PCMA to support Chairman Baucus’ efforts to find common ground and advance bipartisan legislation

“PCMA supports Chairman Baucus’ continuing efforts to find common ground and advance bipartisan legislation. We look forward to reviewing Chairman Baucus’ proposal in greater detail and working constructively with the Finance Committee.

17 Sep 2009

NCPA: Patients will not benefit from new mail order prescription program

When Wal-Mart launched a pilot program for mail order prescriptions in Michigan last May, we highlighted the unintended consequences of steering patients away from using community pharmacies.

17 Sep 2009

Unemployed and uninsured to have easy access to free medicines from GSK

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) today announced that it is making free medicines easier to obtain for patients who are unemployed, uninsured or struggling to make ends meet.

17 Sep 2009

FDA Advisory Committee recommends marketing approval for Auxilium's XIAFLEX to treat Dupuytren's contracture

Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AUXL), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee appointed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended by a unanimous vote of 12 to 0 that XIAFLEX™ (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), a novel, first-in-class, orphan-designated, biologic, be granted marketing approval by the FDA for the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture.

17 Sep 2009

CEO of WageWorks issues statement on health care reform plan

Following today's introduction of a health care reform plan by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Joe Jackson, chairman of Save Flexible Spending Plans and CEO of WageWorks, a benefits company based in San Mateo, California, issued the following statement:

17 Sep 2009

BioSpecifics Technologies' XIAFLEX receives marketing approval from FDA

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp. (Nasdaq: BSTC), a biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class collagenase-based products, today announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee appointed by the U.S.

17 Sep 2009

FDA provides Orphan-Drug designation for Keryx' KRX-0401 to treat multiple myeloma

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that KRX-0401 (perifosine) has received Orphan-Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In August, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement with the FDA regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) on the design of a Phase 3 trial in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and that the study is expected to start by year-end.

16 Sep 2009

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals receives orphan-drug designation for a multiple myeloma drug

AEterna Zentaris Inc., ("the Company") a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, today announced that Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., its partner and licensee for perifosine in the North American market, has received orphan-drug designation for this compound from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

16 Sep 2009

Tips for saving health care costs

Lifescript.com, the leading women’s health website, today published its list of top 100 tips for slashing your family’s health care costs.

16 Sep 2009

Breast cancer prevention drugs may negatively affect patients

Three drugs, including tamoxifen, reduce a woman's chance of getting breast cancer, but each drug carries distinct potential harms of its own, according to a new report from HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

16 Sep 2009

Phase III EXTEND trial results of pixantrone announced

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) today released updated 18-month follow-up clinical data for its phase III EXTEND (PIX 301) trial of pixantrone (BBR2778) for patients with advanced, relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Responses were evaluated by an Independent Assessment Panel that was blinded to patient assignment.

16 Sep 2009

eHealthInsurance's key questions to help women purchase health insurance plans

eHealthInsurance, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, today released a list of answers to questions frequently asked by women who call its customer care center. The customer care center includes a call center staffed with licensed insurance agents.

15 Sep 2009

Free medication reminder service launched for patients

Prescription medications are widely used in the U.S., with 47% of Americans using at least one prescription drug, according to the Center for Disease Control's report "Health, United States, 2008." Prescription drug use is even more widespread among the senior population, with 66% of those in the 45-65 age group and 87% of those aged 65 years and older on prescription medications.

15 Sep 2009

HealthInsight unveils value-based solutions to reduce health care costs

HealthInsight, provider of the only value-based health care administration platform, officially unveils a set of technology and services for health insurers, third-party administrators and employers that are proven to lower overall medical costs while improving the quality of care. The new platform will be used to determine and track health actions that are directly tied to benefit designs, which is instrumental in lowering health care costs.

15 Sep 2009

A.P. Pharma and Merial sign license and development agreement for a long-acting pain management product

A.P. Pharma (Nasdaq:APPA), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into a license and development agreement with Merial, a world leading animal health company, for a long-acting pain management product.

15 Sep 2009

SXC collaborates with Allscripts to enhance e-prescribing solutions

SXC Health Solutions Corp. ("SXC" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SXCI, TSX: SXC), today announced it has entered into a strategic relationship with Allscripts (NASDAQ: MDRX) to enhance the electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) options available to SXC's healthcare benefits management customers.

15 Sep 2009