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Medicare's annual open-enrollment period starts in Idaho

Today marks an important day for roughly 15% of Idaho's population, it's the start of Medicare's annual open-enrollment period, the only time of the year beneficiaries can drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2011.

16 Nov 2010

Best ways for proper disposal of unused medicines

Patients in cities all over the country will learn tomorrow about one of the best ways to avoid today's rampant prescription drug abuse – proper disposal of unused medicines.

15 Nov 2010

Santarus announces commercial U.S. launch of CYCLOSET for type 2 diabetes mellitus

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the commercial U.S. launch of CYCLOSET (bromocriptine mesylate) tablets. CYCLOSET is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus both as monotherapy and in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents.

15 Nov 2010

State roundup: Calif. speeds ahead on health reform; Nebraska abortion provider expanding clinics; Ky. hospital merger

California has moved quickly to implement key provisions of the federal health care overhaul law, including a health benefits exchange, but the exchange and California's plans could be vulnerable as House Republicans threaten to starve the federal health program of funding.

15 Nov 2010

Docs continue to worry about Medicare payment cuts while CMS updates ratings for Medicare Advantage plans

WBUR in Boston reports on Medicare payments to doctors and the sustainable growth rate, and "the latest installment of the 1997 Balanced Budget Act and attempts to rein in spending on health care for the elderly." Congress set up the rate formula for doctors pay. But medical costs increased at a greater rate than expected and "Congress started telling doctors they had to take a cut to make the formula work.

12 Nov 2010

Calif. nurses emerge as political force; Iowa official under fire for strict policy on nursing home inspections; new 'homey' facilities for seniors increasing

One of California's most powerful political players these days is a Bay Area-based nurses' union, which helped torpedo Republican Meg Whitman's efforts to become governor and boosted the prospects of the eventual winning candidate, Democrat Jerry Brown.

12 Nov 2010

MonoSol Rx granted U.S. patent for PharmFilm and production technologies

MonoSol Rx, the developers of PharmFilm® technology and a drug delivery company specializing in proprietary pharmaceutical film products, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patent No. 7,824,588 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, issued on November 2, 2010, provides intellectual property protection for the Company's film products and methods of their preparation.

10 Nov 2010

Orexo third quarter net revenues decrease to MSEK 35.9

"During the third quarter, Abstral™ sales were 480% higher than in the same period last year. Sales of Edluar™, Orexo's sublingual zolpidem treatment for insomnia, continue to grow more strongly from a low base, with new stock being ordered for the first time since launch and generating royalty income for Orexo.

10 Nov 2010

Health advice on NHS website saves £44 million per year

The latest study has shown that as more people self diagnose using the NHS Choices website, Britain’s national healthcare service saves millions of pounds every year. The website was launched three years ago. Last year more than 100 million visits were recorded at the site which offers patients a quick reference guide to illnesses, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Overall, there was a 10% increase in the number of visits to the website in 2010 compared to 2009. Some 19 million people logged on to NHS Choices for information on swine flu.

9 Nov 2010

CMS to review cancer vaccine, analysis shows high Medicare drug spending not correlated with better care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are conducting an unusual review to determine whether the government should pay for an expensive new vaccine for treating prostate cancer, rekindling debate over whether some therapies are too costly.

9 Nov 2010

Seniors need to check options as Medicare advantage plans change, drop out

The exodus of dozens of Medicare Advantage plans from various counties or from the state entirely is leaving 40,588 seniors across Washington to wade through charts in search of new plans.

9 Nov 2010

Teens abuse prescription drugs more than illegal drugs

According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, teens abuse prescription medications more than all illegal drugs combined, excluding marijuana. Many teens are under the misconception that these highly addictive, easily accessible drugs are "safer" than illicit drugs.

9 Nov 2010

On health law, election postmortems continue

In an analysis in The Washington Post, Chris Cillizza asks: "How much did the health-care law passed this year have to do with Republicans winning back the House and gaining six seats in the Senate?" Polls shed a little - deeply contradictory - light on the question. A Democratic strategist argued it was a neutral issue in an election-night memo, saying only 18 percent of voters believed health care was the most important issue, and that Demcorats won those by an eight percentage point margin.

8 Nov 2010

XenoPort third quarter net loss decreases to $19.9 million

XenoPort, Inc. announced today financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Revenues for the third quarter were $0.4 million, compared to $0.4 million for the same period in 2009. Net loss for the third quarter was $19.9 million, compared to a net loss of $24.4 million for the same period in 2009.

8 Nov 2010

Industry experts speculate, strategize on what election means for business and reform

The Wall Street Journal: "Health-care companies see the Republican win as a chance to chip away at aspects of Mr. Obama's health overhaul least favorable to the industry. Insurance companies, drug manufacturers and hospitals say they will press to peel away the law's new taxes on health-care companies, pass tougher medical malpractice curbs and knock down a new board that recommends Medicare spending cuts" (Adamy, 11/3).

8 Nov 2010

Clinical Data receives $500,000 grants under QTDP program

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that the Company has received two grants totaling nearly $500,000 under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project.

8 Nov 2010

FDA reviews GSK's response to Complete Response letter for Horizant

GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review GSK's response to FDA's Complete Response letter for Horizant (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets. Horizant is under review for the treatment of moderate-to-severe primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).

8 Nov 2010

Pisgah Labs receives QTDP grant to accelerate abuse deterrent technology

Pisgah Labs, Inc., an innovative drug development and active ingredient manufacturer located in Western North Carolina, has received a substantial federal grant.

4 Nov 2010

CaPre drug candidate effective in managing impaired glucose tolerance

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. subsidiary Acasti Pharma Inc. reports preclinical results showing that its leading drug candidate CaPre, performed significantly better than the currently marketed drug, Lovaza, at managing impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) a serious pre-diabetic state associated with increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

4 Nov 2010

SXC Health third quarter revenue increases 28% to $106.4 million

SXC Health Solutions Corp. announces its financial results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010. Financial references are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.

4 Nov 2010