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Study: 23% of doctors have negative perceptions on quality, effectiveness of generic drugs

A new study by researchers at Harvard, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark finds that 23 percent of doctors' have negative perceptions of the effectiveness and quality of generic drugs and that may lead to doctors prescribing unnecessarily expensive medications.

12 Jan 2011

Coventry Health Care offers new medicare plans for employer group

Coventry Health Care of Florida is first to the greater Tampa market with a portfolio of hybrid PPO health care plans that blend the best features of traditional co-pay based plans with the freedom and affordability of consumer-directed plans.

12 Jan 2011

Obama administration sides with drug companies in pricing lawsuit; Supreme Court agrees to hear case regarding use of prescription drug data

At issue are charges to public hospitals and clinics that treat a large number of poor patients and a Vermont law that restricts prescription drug data.

10 Jan 2011

AHRQ study shows 19 million U.S. adults received diabetes treatment in 2007

Approximately 19 million U.S. adults reported receiving treatment for diabetes in 2007, more than double the 9 million who said they received care in 1996, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

10 Jan 2011

Lower co-payments help companies, workers save health-care costs

Companies can cut health-care costs - for themselves and for their workers - by lowering co-payments on prescription drugs while promoting disease management, according to a comprehensive, three-year study commissioned by the Florida Health Care Coalition (FHCC).

7 Jan 2011

Studies show XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets demonstrate significant relief of global IBS symptoms

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced the New England Journal of Medicine has published results from TARGET 1 and TARGET 2, the Company's two pivotal Phase 3 efficacy and safety studies of XIFAXAN (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets for the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome without constipation, or Non-C IBS.

6 Jan 2011

OpEds: Sebelius, Fla. Attorney General, USA Today, Wash Post opine about repeal strategies

Over the past nine months, I've traveled around the country and seen the benefits of this law firsthand. Unless we want to take coverage away from cancer patients, reduce oversight for insurance companies, raise prescription drug costs for seniors, weaken Medicare, add $1 trillion to the deficit and undo dozens of other reforms that are improving health around the country, we can't afford repeal (Kathleen Sebelius, 1/5).

6 Jan 2011

Setting the date: House scheduled to vote Jan. 12 on health law repeal

House GOP leaders have scheduled for Jan. 12 a much-awaited and politically charged vote to repeal the health law. In the background, news organizations report on the positions being taken by Democrats who may have voted against the measure the first time around and how Republicans plan to explain the budget implications of this repeal effort.

5 Jan 2011

Spectrum submits FUSILEV sNDA for treatment of colorectal cancer

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in oncology, today announced it submitted a supplemental New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Ready-to-Use formulation of FUSILEV (levoleucovorin) for Injection.

5 Jan 2011

Senator eyes plan to ease prescription drug shortages

As a shortage of some cancer drugs and certain other medications persists, a U.S. senator from Minnesota is proposing legislation she says will help federal regulators address the problem (Snowbeck, 12/28).

4 Jan 2011

FDA grants orphan drug status for Senesco's SNS01-T in treatment of multiple myeloma

Senesco Technologies, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for the company's lead drug candidate SNS01-T for treatment of multiple myeloma.

3 Jan 2011

Clinical Data closes sale of genetic, pharmacogenomic testing and biomarker development business

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that the Company has closed the sale of its genetic and pharmacogenomic testing and biomarker development business to Transgenomic, Inc. for $15.5 million. The sale completes Clinical Data's transformation into a pharmaceutical company with a deep product pipeline, including two promising late-stage compounds, the most advanced of which is vilazodone, a new treatment in development for Major Depressive Disorder.

30 Dec 2010

Frst wave of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare in 2011

In January, the first wave of baby boomers will start the New Year by reaching a series of significant milestones. This generation will begin turning 65, and as a result of entering into the age of retirement, will start to become eligible for various benefits, including Medicare. It is helpful for this aging population to learn about important benefits programs that may be available to them at this stage in their lives, regardless of whether or not they plan to retire anytime soon.

28 Dec 2010

NDA resubmitted for DURECT's ORADUR technology based REMOXY

DURECT Corporation today reported that King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Pain Therapeutics, Inc. have announced that King has resubmitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for REMOXY® to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to a Complete Response Letter received by Pain Therapeutics in December 2008. This is a Class 2 resubmission with a six month review cycle.

28 Dec 2010

HIT interventions promising tools in fight to improve medication adherence, despite paucity of data

A new study that reviews more than four decades of medical journal articles about the impact of health information technology (HIT) and electronic communications on medication adherence concludes that while there is evidence to suggest that simple electronic reminders are an effective and low-cost means to improve adherence, there are few studies that show how HIT can be leveraged to more thoughtfully engage or motivate patients to take medications as prescribed.

24 Dec 2010

MigreLief releases safe, proven effective supplement for children with migraines

MigreLief, the first name in migraine prevention, releases a safe and proven effective supplement for children of all ages: Children's MigreLief.

24 Dec 2010

Meda gains exclusive marketing and distribution rights for EpiPen Auto-Injector in Europe

Meda has signed a long-term license agreement with the specialty division of Mylan Inc., Dey Pharma, L.P., for exclusive marketing and distribution rights of EpiPen® (epinephrine) Auto-Injector in Europe. EpiPen is used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis can occur quickly (often within a couple of minutes) and may be life-threatening.

23 Dec 2010

Delcath completes NDA submission for chemosaturation system

Delcath Systems, Inc. today announced that the Company has submitted the remaining modules of its 505(b)(2) New Drug Application (NDA) for its proprietary chemosaturation system to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The Company had previously submitted Module 4, consisting of literature based non-clinical data, to the FDA in late April 2010. The Company is seeking an indication for the percutaneous intra-arterial administration of melphalan hydrochloride for use in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma in the liver.

22 Dec 2010

NAHN and Partnership at Drugfree.org join to address teen drug and alcohol use in the Hispanic community

The Partnership at Drugfree.org today announced a new strategic partner to help support the organization's outreach to address teen drug and alcohol use within the Latino and Spanish-speaking community and equip Hispanic parents with tools from prevention to treatment of drug and alcohol abuse. The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) has joined with the national nonprofit to provide bilingual resources to Spanish-speaking parents and caregivers and help promote the group's online tools and resources across various NAHN communication channels.