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Making a medicinewise choice between brands

Following reports the first generic version of atorvastatin will be hitting pharmacy shelves this week, NPS is urging consumers to be medicinewise when making a choice between medicine brands.

22 Feb 2012

FDA approves new supplies of drugs that are facing shortages

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have approved new suppliers for two crucial cancer drugs, easing critical shortages that had been concerning patients and families particularly of the children with leukemia. But there are currently 283 separate prescription drugs in short supply or unavailable nationwide, and regulators and manufacturers say shortages are a long-term problem that will continue to scare patients and doctors.

22 Feb 2012

CMS unveils 2013 Medicare Advantage payment and policy guidelines

Federal officials said Friday that the trend toward relatively low premium charges and stable benefits will likely continue.

22 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 22, 2012

In today's health policy headlines, the Supreme Court added 30 minutes to the time allocation for next month's health law arguments. Also in the news, the federal government announced funding awards yesterday to help launch consumer-governed health plans in eight states.

22 Feb 2012

FDA to review rejected weight loss drug Qnexa

The weight loss pill Qnexa has been once rejected by the FDA over safety concerns. But this Wednesday it will get a second chance before an FDA advisory committee. Qnexa maker Vivus Inc. hopes something might come out of this second chance. The company will be submitting new safety data from patients who took Qnexa for a second year after completing a one-year clinical trial.

21 Feb 2012

FDA grants Priority Review for Repligen's SecreFlo NDA

Repligen Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and granted Priority Review to the Company's new drug application (NDA) for SecreFlo for the improved detection of pancreatic duct abnormalities in patients with pancreatitis.

21 Feb 2012

NPAF commends passage of bill for parity in insurance coverage for orally administered chemotherapy

Representatives of Virginia's patient advocacy community praised the State House of Representatives and State Senate today for voting strongly in support of legislation that, if enacted, will help thousands of Virginia's insured cancer patients who are currently unable to access their physician-prescribed chemotherapy treatment regimens of choice.

18 Feb 2012

CVS Caremark's integrated businesses help patients achieve better health

CVS Caremark's chief health care strategy officer today outlined how the company's integrated offerings -- retail pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and retail clinics -- are helping patients achieve better health by working to increase medication adherence and targeting behaviors to improve treatment for chronic diseases.

18 Feb 2012

New publication explains role of standards-based interoperable digital identities in healthcare

A new publication explains how standards-based interoperable digital identities are needed to transform healthcare to a paperless and fully electronic business environment. It is being issued in conjunction with the annual meeting of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), February 20-24 in Las Vegas.

18 Feb 2012

PCMA launches That's What PBMs Do campaign in Maryland

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Maryland that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers.

18 Feb 2012

Federal probe of FDA's treatment of whistleblowers widens

Investigators say they are broadening their efforts because of "new and troubling allegations."

18 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Patient satisfaction, community health centers as medical homes, analyzing controversial Medicare coverage

Every week, KHN reporter Shefali S. Kulkarni compiles a selection of recently-released health policy studies and briefs.

18 Feb 2012

FSMB initiatives to raise awareness about opioid prescribing

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) announced today several initiatives aimed at addressing the rise of opioid abuse and related deaths in the United States, while safeguarding legitimate access to medications for patients with pain.

18 Feb 2012

Alexza prices underwritten public offering of 44,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or the Company, today announced that it has priced its previously announced underwritten public offering of 44,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 44,000,000 shares of common stock.

17 Feb 2012

Pfizer, Mylan enter settlement agreement to resolve e-cue patent litigation

Mylan Inc. and Pfizer Inc. today announced that Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer subsidiary, has entered into a settlement agreement with Intelliject and Sanofi-Aventis that will resolve pending patent litigation related to Intelliject's 505(b)(2) new drug application (NDA) for its epinephrine auto-injector known as e-cue, which will be manufactured and marketed by Sanofi-Aventis.

16 Feb 2012

DEA tries to stem prescription drug abuse by suspending pharmacies

Federal drug agents and one of the nation's biggest drug distributors are heading for a legal showdown that will test the government's strategy of going after larger corporations to fight rampant prescription drug abuse.

16 Feb 2012

State roundup: Legislatures tackling abortion restrictions, Medicaid cuts/revamps, Rx drug abuse

A Republican supermajority has muscled two of the most restrictive anti-abortion bills in years through the Virginia House, including one that would all but outlaw the procedure in the state by declaring that the rights of persons apply from the moment sperm and egg unite. The bills passed over bitter yet futile objections from Democrats. And one GOP delegate caused the House to ripple when he said most abortions come as "matters of lifestyle convenience." ... The bills now go to the Senate

16 Feb 2012

U.S. FDA accepts Pfizer's tafamidis NDA for treatment of TTR-FAP

Pfizer Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application (NDA) for tafamidis meglumine, the company's investigational, novel, oral therapy for the treatment of Transthyretin Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy.

16 Feb 2012

Dey Pharma to change company name to Mylan Specialty

Mylan Inc. today announced that it plans to change the name of its fully integrated branded specialty pharmaceutical business from Dey Pharma to Mylan Specialty.

16 Feb 2012

FDA accepts Gilead's Truvada sNDA and grants Priority Review

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) and granted a six-month Priority Review for once-daily Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection among uninfected adults.

14 Feb 2012