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Federal Trade Commission OKs $29 billion merger by Express Scripts, Medco

By a three-to-one vote, regulators approved Express Scripts' plan to purchase Medco, ending an eight-month inquiry into whether the deal would stifle competition in the pharmacy benefits industry.

3 Apr 2012

Humana acquires Arcadian Management Services

Humana Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Arcadian Management Services, an Oakland, Calif.-based company that, through its affiliates, operates Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

3 Apr 2012

Consumer should be centre of care when offering alternative medicine brands

NPS is reminding pharmacists to place patient care first and avoid multiple switching of medicine brands for patients who may be at higher risk of confusion from switching, as price disclosure arrangements come into effect this weekend.

29 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Law on generic drugs is 'outrageous denial' of patients' rights; Could Romney be the best spokesman against federal law?

Dozens of suits against drug companies have been dismissed in federal and state courts because of a decision by the Supreme Court last year that makes it virtually impossible to sue generic manufacturers for failing to provide adequate warning of a prescription drug's dangers. This outrageous denial of a patient's right to recover fair damages makes it imperative that Congress or the Food and Drug Administration fashion a remedy.

27 Mar 2012

1 in 5 Australians have taken an expired medicine

NPS is urging all Australians to clean out their medicine cabinets today as part of national Be Medicinewise Week 2012. New research from NPS found around 1 in 5 people reported ever having taken an expired medicine.

26 Mar 2012

Amped up health law debate creeps into presidential, congressional races

Mitt Romney raises his attack on the Democrats' health care law while GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum assails Romney for championing the Massachusetts health law -- and takes the fight to the steps of the Supreme Court.

26 Mar 2012

FDA Advisory Committee to review Repligen's SecreFlo NDA on May 31

Repligen Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee will meet on May 31, 2012 to discuss the Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for SecreFlo for the improved detection of pancreatic duct abnormalities in combination with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with pancreatitis.

26 Mar 2012

Lawmakers examine how Medicare, Medicaid can help stop prescription painkiller abuse

Lawmakers held a hearing Thursday on what steps the federal government can take to help prevent the abuse of prescription painkillers.

23 Mar 2012

The health law officially turns two -- now what?

Supporters are marking the health law's second birthday today even as questions swirl about whether it will get to celebrate a third. Meanwhile, media outlets examine where implementation stands and what is yet to come.

23 Mar 2012

Md. launches health reform website for consumers; Calif. public option lives on

Maryland is launching a health care reform website to educate residents on how they can use benefits in the health law. In California, health reform already affects most residents while the state gets set to offer a version of its own "public option" to buy health insurance.

23 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 23, 2012

Today's health policy headlines are full of previews of next week's health law action at the Supreme Court.

23 Mar 2012

The health law's second anniversary: Where do things stand?

As the sweeping overhaul turns two and the Supreme Court prepares to review its constitutionality, news outlets report on what provisions have taken effect, what changes are still in the pipeline and how people have been affected so far.

23 Mar 2012

Lawmakers allege some drug companies inflate cost of scarce drugs with 'fake pharmacies'

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is leading a congressional investigation accusing some drug distributors of opening "fake pharmacies" to drive up the cost of some pharmacueticals that are in short supply.

23 Mar 2012

Hyperion acquires worldwide rights to Ucyclyd's Ravicti

Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has acquired worldwide rights to the investigational drug Ravicti from Ucyclyd Pharma, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation.

23 Mar 2012

Study shows gender gap in medication management

Women use more prescription drugs than men; yet they are not prescribed proper amounts. In a new study presented at Women's Health 2012: The 20th Annual Congress by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) women are prescribed more drugs than men, have poorer adherence rates to using the drugs than men, and, perhaps most surprisingly, lag behind men in receiving the appropriate drugs for their documented diseases.

22 Mar 2012

Marking the health law's second anniversary

News outlets report on what the future holds as the health law turns 2. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services steps up its messaging related to the measure's benefits.

21 Mar 2012

PSG closes acquisition of Artemetrx

Pharmaceutical Strategies Group, LLC, America's largest independent pharmacy benefits consulting firm, has closed on its acquisition of Artemetrx Health Resources, the company announced today.

21 Mar 2012

Argus to participate in National Council for Prescription Drug Programs focus group

Argus Health Systems Inc., a leading transparent pharmacy benefits administrator, will participate in a National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) focus group on March 20, 2012, to better understand the growing biopharmaceuticals industry.

17 Mar 2012

The Medical Letter introduces mobile apps for iPad, Android

The Medical Letter – recognized since 1959 as the most trusted source of unbiased prescription drug information and drug facts - announces the launch of its mobile apps for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android.

17 Mar 2012