Prescription Drug News and Research

RSS

EMA acceptance of brentuximab vedotin MAA triggers $5M milestone payment to Seattle Genetics

Seattle Genetics, Inc., today announced that it will receive a $5 million milestone payment under its brentuximab vedotin (ADCETRIS) collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

27 Jun 2011

FDA accepts for filing Columbia's PROCHIEVE progesterone gel NDA

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. and Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing Columbia's New Drug Application (NDA) for PROCHIEVE (progesterone gel) for the reduction of risk of preterm birth in women with short uterine cervical length in the mid-trimester of pregnancy.

27 Jun 2011

FDA issues Complete Response Letter for Pfizer's REMOXY NDA

DURECT Corporation today reported that Pfizer Inc. has received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its New Drug Application (NDA) for REMOXY, a controlled-release form of oxycodone designed to discourage common methods of tampering.

27 Jun 2011

Supreme Court sides with drug makers in two decisions

One would shield pharmaceutical companies from most lawsuits filed by people injured by taking generic drugs. The other strikes down a Vermont law that banned some commercial uses — "data mining" — of prescription data.

24 Jun 2011

Endo's complete response for new formulation of OPANA ER NDA accepted by the FDA

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced today that it received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that Endo's complete response to the FDA's Jan. 7, 2011 Action Letter relating to Endo's new drug application (NDA) for a new formulation of OPANA ER has been accepted.

24 Jun 2011

Rite Aid reports net loss of $63.1 million for first quarter ended May 28, 2011

Rite Aid Corporation today reported financial results for the first quarter ended May 28, 2011.

23 Jun 2011

State roundup: N.J. Gov. Christie's big health care changes

The state Senate voted 24-15 to pass legislation that will force public employees to pay more for their health insurance and pension. The vote, after hours of speeches from lawmakers on both sides, leaves only the Assembly to sign off on the bill that was a focal piece of Gov. Chris Christie's agenda.

22 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 21, 2011

In today's headlines, the latest on the debt-reduction talks, the next chapter in the saga surrounding a McKinsey insurance survey and the details of the Obama administration's effort to tout the health law's prreventive care benefits.

22 Jun 2011

Millennium Labs founder receives Ernst & Young award in Life Sciences category

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of medication monitoring services to physicians and staff treating chronic pain, announced today that James Slattery, CEO and founder, has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 San Diego Award in the Life Sciences category.

21 Jun 2011

FDA confirms printed prescription drug ads affect consumer understanding of medications

Findings from three studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirm that the way information is conveyed and displayed in printed drug advertising affects consumer understanding of prescription medications.

21 Jun 2011

Meditation increases concentration and decreases stress

The nation's current healthcare crisis has added a new dimension to the old saying, "Prevention is the best medicine." With rising co-pays, high deductibles, confusion over coverage, and prescription drug headaches, healthcare consumers recognize that getting sick is more complicated than ever.

20 Jun 2011

Dems introduce bills to push for Medicare negotiated drug pricing

Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices - a move that could result in significant savings, the bill supporters say. They are urging that their measure be included in the effort to raise the debt ceiling.

18 Jun 2011

Prior GID diagnosis impacts health outcomes of patients with Parkinson's

A new study investigating the incidence and impact of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) found that patients who received both a PD diagnosis and a prior GID diagnosis appeared to have worse health outcomes compared to patients who received a diagnosis for PD with no prior GID diagnosis.

16 Jun 2011

Cardinal Health renews pharmaceutical distribution agreement with Prime Therapeutics

Cardinal Health today announced that it has signed a renewed, three-year agreement with Prime Therapeutics, one of the nation's leading pharmacy benefit managers, to continue to serve as its primary pharmaceutical supply chain partner for its mail-service pharmacy, PrimeMail®.

15 Jun 2011

Regulators remove restrictions on Aetna's Medicare sales

The sanctions had blocked Aetna Inc. from marketing Medicare plans and enrolling new beneficiaries. Now that they have been lifted, Aetna has indicated it will again promote its Medicare Advantage offerings.

15 Jun 2011

FDA extends Pacira's EXPAREL PDUFA goal date by three months

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for its review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for EXPAREL by three months.

14 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 14, 2011

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "When you're calling for an ambulance, chances are good that you won't think to ask for one that's in your health plan's provider network. And in most cases, you wouldn't have much control over who it is anyway. That could leave you with hassles and extra charges for an out-of-network ride".

14 Jun 2011

New poll finds little support for privatizing Medicare

A new poll finds little support for privatizing Medicare, even though most people agree the government-sponsored health insurance program for older Americans needs major changes if it is to survive.

14 Jun 2011

Catalyst Health Solutions acquires Walgreens Health Initiatives

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. today announced it has completed its acquisition of Walgreens' pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary, Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc. (WHI). Catalyst funded the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and amounts available under its credit facility.

13 Jun 2011

Aetna announces acquisition of Genworth's Medicare Supplement business

Aetna today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Genworth Financial, Inc. to acquire Genworth's Medicare Supplement business and related blocks of in-force business. Genworth is a leading provider of Medicare Supplement coverage. The business has more than 145,000 Medicare Supplement members.

13 Jun 2011