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Pfizer, Protalix announce marketing authorization submission in Europe for taliglucerase alfa

Pfizer Inc. and Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. today announced the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency for taliglucerase alfa, a plant-cell expressed form of glucocerebrosidase (GCD)for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Taliglucerase alfa was granted Orphan Designation by the European Commission for the treatment of Gaucher disease on March 23, 2010.

29 Nov 2010

Pharma enhances its focus on Asia-Pacific partnerships

While the Japanese market still dominates deal activities in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, companies and research institutes in emerging APAC countries have recently been attracting high calibre collaborators, according to the latest analysis by Datamonitor.

28 Nov 2010

Neptune, Acasti completes preclinical program comparing CaPre with Lovaza

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. subsidiary, Acasti Pharma Inc., reports the completion of its preclinical program designed to compare the lipid management effects of Acasti's drug candidate CaPre versus prescription drug Lovaza.

25 Nov 2010

Privacy complaint targets online health sites

The New York Times: Consumer groups have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission alleging popular health websites are collecting too much information from users, saying that "site visitors who provide personal details about themselves might not be aware that QualityHealth [among other websites] collects information about people's medical conditions, preferred medicines and treatment plans and uses it to profile its users for prescription drug marketing" (Singer, 11/23).

25 Nov 2010

Headline-grabbing offers may not best meet needs of Medicare Part D plan enrollees

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Executive Vice President and CEO Kathleen Jaeger issued the following statement today in response to the Avalere Health study analyzing how the formulary and cost-sharing benefits changes made by various Medicare Part D prescription drug plans affect seniors:

24 Nov 2010

Government orders three Medicare advantage plans to stop marketing, enrolling new members

The U.S. government's Medicare program has ordered three health insurers Universal American Corp. (UAM), Health Net Inc. (HNT) and Arcadian Health to stop marketing to and enrolling new members in their Medicare Advantage health and prescription-drug plans, saying the companies violated regulations.

23 Nov 2010

UnitedHealthcare introduces Pharmacy Saver program to provide affordable prescription drugs

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, announced a new program that will enable enrollees in the company's market-leading Medicare plans to save money on hundreds of prescription medications in 2011.

23 Nov 2010

Explaining changes to Part D plans, fixing doctors' Medicare reimbursements, fighting hikes in long-term care insurance

News outlets cover various issues related to Medicare, including reports about prescription drug coverage and the continuing debate surrounding physician pay. Meanwhile, long-term care insurance is also an important issue for seniors.

23 Nov 2010

Humana to acquire Concentra for $790 million

Humana Inc. today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Concentra Inc., a privately held health care company based in Addison, Texas, for approximately $790 million in cash. Through its affiliated clinicians, Concentra delivers occupational medicine, urgent care, physical therapy and wellness services to workers and the general public from more than 300 medical centers in 42 states.

22 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 22, 2010

Today's headlines offer a range of health policy stories, including more reports on deficit reduction issues, the continuing politics swirling around the health law repeal effort and employers' soaring health care costs.

22 Nov 2010

CMS notifies Health Net about intermediate sanction on compliance with Part D requirements

Health Net, Inc. announced today that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notified the company of its intent to impose intermediate sanctions suspending the marketing and enrollment of new members of all Health Net Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) and stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) contracts, effective November 20, 2010.

20 Nov 2010

CVS Caremark Customer Care team ranked second in the world for Best Customer Service

CVS Caremark's Pharmacy Benefit Management Customer Care team was ranked second in the world for Best Customer Service with an Internal Contact Center by Contact Center World at the organization's Global Top Ranking Performers Awards Conference in Las Vegas. The awards recognize the best in the contact center industry worldwide.

20 Nov 2010

States focus on Medicaid budget challenges

Nearly missed in the noise from newly elected politicians vowing to upend the Obama administrations health care reform law was a federal decision allowing California to start implementing it and improve its fiscal situation in the process. On Election Day, California got word it would receive $10 billion in federal Medicaid money to extend coverage to some 500,000 people who are currently uninsured. ...

20 Nov 2010

Berwick's first hearing marked by strong defense of health law, GOP 'relative gentleness'

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief Dr. Donald Berwick survived his first Senate hearing yesterday by rebutting criticism of the health law and because Republicans were relatively gentle, The New York Times reports.

19 Nov 2010

Cancer patients can still access NICE rejected drugs

Anti cancer drugs that have been rejected by the UK Government’s new cancer drugs fund would still be available to needy patients according to the new ‘top-up’ cash plan that is being launched. This Health Top-Up cash plan comes from Western Provident Association (WPA).

17 Nov 2010

TexanPlus HMO provides affordable access to cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs

TexanPlus HMO powered by CCRx, a Medicare Advantage plan offered through the Universal American's family of healthcare companies, will provide broad and affordable access to LIPITOR and CRESTOR, two popular cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs.

17 Nov 2010

FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee recommends approval of BENLYSTA for SLE

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC today announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted 13 to 2 to recommend that the FDA approve BENLYSTA (belimumab) for the treatment of autoantibody-positive patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

17 Nov 2010

Changes to flexible spending accounts; High co-pays prompt abandoned prescriptions

Minnesota Public Radio: "[T]he federal health care reform law is cutting back on what [flexible spending] accounts will cover and how much workers can put into them. … These two changes are designed to raise more tax revenue to help pay for insuring another 32 million Americans beginning in 2014.

16 Nov 2010

Clinical Data receives U.S. patent for vilazodone

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,834,020 claiming the polymorphic form of vilazodone (vilazodone HCl, Form IV), a compound currently in development for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.

16 Nov 2010

Medicare open enrollment period starts today

Coming changes to Medicare will benefit some recipients but will make coverage more expensive for people with higher incomes. Thanks in part to this year's health care overhaul, everything from benefits and enrollment rules to the number of choices available will be affected beginning Jan. 1.

16 Nov 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

Pfizer, Protalix announce marketing authorization submission in Europe for taliglucerase alfa

Pharma enhances its focus on Asia-Pacific partnerships

Neptune, Acasti completes preclinical program comparing CaPre with Lovaza

Privacy complaint targets online health sites

Headline-grabbing offers may not best meet needs of Medicare Part D plan enrollees

Government orders three Medicare advantage plans to stop marketing, enrolling new members

UnitedHealthcare introduces Pharmacy Saver program to provide affordable prescription drugs

Explaining changes to Part D plans, fixing doctors' Medicare reimbursements, fighting hikes in long-term care insurance

Humana to acquire Concentra for $790 million

First Edition: November 22, 2010

CMS notifies Health Net about intermediate sanction on compliance with Part D requirements

CVS Caremark Customer Care team ranked second in the world for Best Customer Service

States focus on Medicaid budget challenges

Berwick's first hearing marked by strong defense of health law, GOP 'relative gentleness'

Cancer patients can still access NICE rejected drugs

TexanPlus HMO provides affordable access to cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs

FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee recommends approval of BENLYSTA for SLE

Changes to flexible spending accounts; High co-pays prompt abandoned prescriptions

Clinical Data receives U.S. patent for vilazodone

Medicare open enrollment period starts today

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