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Comorbidity from chronic diseases and severity of illness increased the likelihood of adverse drug reactions in senior patients, according to a new study published online June 26 in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.

Annual global spending on medicines will reach nearly $1.2 trillion by 2016, while U.S. spending growth is projected to soar to between $350 and $380 billion by 2016, according to a new report.

FDA is ridding the market of single-ingredient oxycodone capsules that are being distributed without an FDA-approved application.

Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has promoted Atheer Kaddis, PharmD, to senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Raleigh-based Kerr Drug has promoted Mark J. Gregory, RPh, to senior vice president of store operations.

FDA recently released the results of an analysis of a limited number of samples of hydroxyprogesterone caproate active pharmaceutical ingredients and compounded hydroxyprogesterone caproate, finding no major safety concerns.

Lupin has received FDA approval to market a generic version of Lyrica (Pfizer), but the company has not yet launched it, according to Firstword Pharma.

Patients treated with olmesartan may be at risk of a severe form of spruelike enteropathy, which improves when the drug is discontinued, according to a case series study published online June 25 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Older women with acute pyelonephritis can be successfully and safely treated with oral ciprofloxacin for 7 days, according to a study published online June 21 in The Lancet.

Vitamin D plus calcium supplementation consistently reduced mortality among elderly patients compared with vitamin D supplementation alone, according to a study published online May 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Brightly colored prescription warning labels applied by pharmacies fail to adequately capture the attention of older patients, suggesting that current labeling standards should be reconsidered to make them more effective, according to a study published online June 14 in PLoS ONE.

At their recent ideaShare event, McKesson highlighted its Sponsored Clinical Services Network for hundreds of independent retail pharmacy owners and community pharmacists who are focused on increasing their role in healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes, and finding new reimbursement avenues, the company said in a release.

FDA has approved Perrigo Company’s abbreviated new drug application for a generic version of clindamycin phosphate and benzoyl peroxide 1.2%/5% gel (Duac Gel, Stiefel Laboratories), the company recently announced in a statement. The gel is indicated for the topical treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris.

FDA has approved mirabegron (Myrbetriq, Astellas Pharma US, Inc.) to treat adults with overactive bladder, a condition in which the bladder muscle cannot be controlled, squeezes too often, or squeezes without warning.

A combination of 2 diabetes drugs, metformin and rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline), was more effective in treating youth with recent-onset type 2 diabetes than metformin alone, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health has found.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional, including its individual mandate requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance.

FDA has approved lorcaserin (Belviq, Arena Pharmaceuticals and Eisai) as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients who are overweight or obese and have at least one weight-related comorbid condition. It is the first prescription weight-loss treatment approved by FDA in 13 years.

When most of our pharmacy practice acts were first promulgated, our profession consisted mainly of independently operated community pharmacies, and the pharmacists who ran them volunteered to operate the state Boards of Pharmacy. Things are different now.

Urinary levels of the antimicrobial endocrine-disrupting compounds triclosan and parabens were significantly associated with allergic sensitization in children ages 6 to 18 years, according to the results of a study published online June 18 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The National Community Pharmacists Association recently announced that nominations are currently being accepted for several awards that will recognize individual pharmacists who are contributing to independent community pharmacy and patient care.

FDA issued a complete response letter for a New Drug Application for apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Humana Inc. and Novo Nordisk have announced a one-year partnership aimed at identifying ways to improve the care and treatment of patients with diabetes. The companies say they will bring together researchers to study the treatment and progression of the disease in an effort to further enhance the health and well-being of people with diabetes.

Healthcare providers and pharmacists will be able to identify and intervene in cases of potential prescription drug abuse through a new pilot program launched recently by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, according to an HHS statement.

The University of Southern California School of Pharmacy has received the largest grant the school has ever received, for a massive medication adherence project.

The Kentucky Pharmacists Association has named Joseph L. Fink III, professor of pharmacy law and policy at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, as Professor of Leadership.

FDA issued a complete response letter regarding a supplemental New Drug Application for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen Research & Development) for the reduction of the risk of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Pharmacy groups supported yesterday's approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act of 2012, also known as the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA).

U.S. Senate and House negotiations on the Food Safety and Innovation Act (S. 3187) have resulted in the proposal that 26 synthetic drugs be newly regulated under the Controlled Substances Act.

House and Senate leaders announced final agreement June 18 on legislation that authorizes industry user fees to support FDA regulatory programs.

Walgreens announced today that it has entered into a strategic transaction with Alliance Boots GmbH, creating a global pharmacy retail and wholesale business with more than 11,000 retail stores in 12 countries and more than 370 distribution centers delivering to more than 170,000 pharmacies, doctors, health centers, and hospitals in 21 countries.