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Eight million US women skip cervical cancer screening in the past five years

Despite evidence that cervical cancer screening saves lives, about eight million women ages 21 to 65 years have not been screened for cervical cancer in the past five years, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than half of new cervical cancer cases occur among women who have never or rarely been screened.

6 Nov 2014

Avanir Pharmaceuticals to publish AVP-825 phase III study results in the journal 'Headache'

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of results from TARGET, a pivotal phase III study evaluating the efﬁcacy and safety of AVP-825 22mg in the January 2015 issue of Headache (Early access is now available).

30 Oct 2014

Penn Medicine-developed drug gets FDA orphan status for PNH treatment

A Penn Medicine-developed drug has received orphan status from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare, life-threatening disease that causes anemia due to destruction of red blood cells and thrombosis.

28 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Fund CHIP; media overdrive on Ebola; slowdown in Medicare costs

In what may be a hopelessly quixotic effort, supporters of the federal Children's Health Insurance Program are trying to persuade Congress to renew its funding almost a year in advance -; and in a lame-duck session. Nevertheless, lawmakers ought to heed that call. The program plugs a troubling gap between Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's subsidized plans, and states need to know whether they can count on federal funding or whether they will have to spend far more dollars of their own (10/21).

24 Oct 2014

Loyola University Health System to hold medication take-back day

Loyola University Health System will partner with the Cook County Sheriff's Department to hold a medication take-back day.

21 Oct 2014

NIH announces 11 awards to improve public health outcomes related to substance use, addiction

More than $11 million over three years will be used to support research exploring the use of social media to advance the scientific understanding, prevention, and treatment of substance use and addiction.

20 Oct 2014

Genome Canada awards $6M grant to CAMH and Assurex Health

Assurex Health and Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) today announced they have received a $6 million grant from Genome Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, to study the benefits of genetic testing to guide medication decisions for patients with depression or schizophrenia.

17 Oct 2014

Johnson & Johnson's sales increase 5.1% to $18.5 billion in Q3 2014

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $18.5 billion for the third quarter of 2014, an increase of 5.1% as compared to the third quarter of 2013. Operational results increased 5.8% and the negative impact of currency was 0.7%. Domestic sales increased 11.6%. International sales decreased 0.3%, reflecting operational growth of 1.0% and a negative currency impact of 1.3%.

14 Oct 2014

Medicare Advantage plans marked by shortcomings

The New York Times reports that these problem areas include rejection of claims for medical services and limits on prescription drug coverage. News outlets also report on ACOs grades and Medicare Advantage rate shifts.

14 Oct 2014

Isavuconazole demonstrates successful outcomes in treatment of mucormycosis

Astellas reported today that isavuconazole demonstrated successful outcomes in the treatment of mucormycosis according to data from the phase 3 isavuconazole VITAL study being presented at IDWeek on October 10, 2014, in Philadelphia, Pa.

8 Oct 2014

Connecture launches private health insurance exchange solution, On Ramp

Connecture, Inc. ("Connecture"), a leading provider of web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces, today announced the immediate availability of On Ramp, a full service, private health insurance exchange solution and corresponding benefits portal that provides the functionality needed to dramatically enhance the delivery of employee benefits and empower consumers to make more informed health insurance decisions with ease.

7 Oct 2014

Acacia Pharma reports positive results from APD421 Phase 3 studies for management of PONV

Acacia Pharma announces positive Phase 3 results with APD421 for the management of post-operative nausea & vomiting (PONV). The data generated demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of PONV with APD421 compared to placebo in adult surgical patients at moderate to high risk of suffering PONV (PONV is defined as any episode of emesis or use of antiemetic rescue medication in the first 24 hours after surgery).

7 Oct 2014

Bristol-Myers Squibb, MD Anderson partner to evaluate multiple immunotherapies

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a novel clinical research collaboration to evaluate multiple immunotherapies, including Opdivo (nivolumab), Yervoy (ipilimumab) and three early-stage clinical immuno-oncology assets from Bristol-Myers Squibb, as potential treatment options for acute and chronic leukemia as well as other hematologic malignancies.

6 Oct 2014

State highlights: Fla. toughens drug compounding laws; Conn. hospitals leave largest insurer

A selection of health policy stories from Florida, Connecticut, New York, Michigan, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Arkansas.

1 Oct 2014

Agingcare.com introduces Prescription Drug Assistance Locator tool

Paying for prescription medications just got easier for families who frequent AgingCare.com, the go-to destination for family caregivers.

1 Oct 2014

AAN releases new position statement on opioids for chronic non-cancer pain

According to a new position statement from the American Academy of Neurology, the risk of death, overdose, addiction or serious side effects with prescription opioids outweigh the benefits in chronic, non-cancer conditions such as headache, fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain.

30 Sep 2014

CVS to pay $6M to settle Medicaid reimbursement case

Caremark LLC, a unit of CVS, will make the payments to settle allegations that it knowingly failed to reimburse Medicaid for prescription drug costs paid on behalf of patients who were also covered by private plans it administered. The company denied wrongdoing.

29 Sep 2014

CVS/pharmacy renews Medication Disposal for Safer Communities donation program

CVS/pharmacy announced today that is marking National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 27 by renewing its innovative community donation program to support local drug collection efforts by law enforcement.

25 Sep 2014

IGI Laboratories acquires regulatory rights for 18 drug products from AstraZeneca

IGI Laboratories, Inc., a New Jersey based specialty generic pharmaceutical company, today announced it has acquired the regulatory rights and related documents and records for 18 drug products from AstraZeneca, 17 of which were marketed.

25 Sep 2014

Capital Bluecross encourages people to make use of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

To support a nationwide effort to clear homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, Capital BlueCross is reminding residents to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Take-Back Day collection is free and anonymous.

24 Sep 2014