Planned Parenthood gives out morning-after pill
July 10th 2006Planned Parenthood of the Rockies plans to give out free morning-after contraceptives at its clinics in Colorado to protest the Governor's veto of a bill that would have allowed pharmacists to prescribe and dispense Plan B. Gov. Bill Owens opposed spreading prescriptive authority beyond doctors and specialized nurses because it was outside the norms of medicine. Eight states permit trained R.Ph.s to prescribe and dispense Plan B.
Generic acetaminophen recalled for labeling error
July 10th 2006IVAX Pharmaceuticals is recalling certain lots of 500-mg acetaminophen tablets and capsules because there's an error on the product label. The label incorrectly states, "Do not exceed 12 tablets or capsules in a 24-hour period," when it should have said, "Do not exceed 8 tablets or capsules in 24 hours."
Pascal recalls anticavity fluoride rinses
July 10th 2006The dental supply company Pascal is recalling the company's anticavity fluoride rinses because they could be contaminated with bacteria that may cause pneumonia, including Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas ?ruginosa. The recall affects all lots and all flavors of NeutraGard 0.05% Neutral Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Treatment Rinse, and NeutraGard Plus 0.2% Neutral Sodium Fluoride Anticavity Treatment Rinse.
Walgreens to acquire Medmark specialty pharmacy
July 10th 2006Walgreens announced that it has agreed to acquire Pittsburgh-based Medmark Specialty Pharmacy Solutions. Medmark is a leader in specialty pharmacy services and care, including injectables, infusibles, and advanced oral medications to patients with unique or chronic medication needs for conditions such as hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, HIV, infertility, hemophilia, organ transplants, and cancer.
New Jersey state shutdown hits pharmacies
July 10th 2006The New Jersey budget impasse that shut down non-essential government services has hit pharmacies. All claims for Medicaid and PAAD scripts filled up to and including June 30 will be paid, but claims after that date will not be reimbursed until a new budget is adopted.
Purdue launches e-ordering system
July 10th 2006Purdue Pharma has filled the first orders for its electronic customer ordering system for controlled substances. The system provides secure, paperless real-time access to information about the movement of controlled substances in the supply chain in accordance with DEA requirements, according to the drug company based in Stamford, Conn.
Prescribing data should be off-limits to drug reps
July 10th 2006More than seven out of 10 people who responded to a Drug Topics Instant Poll in June are in favor of a New Hampshire law that would ban pharmacies and data-mining companies from selling their prescription data for commercial purposes. They feel the law has merit since it would stop drug reps from getting access to data on what drugs physicians prescribe and using the information to influence prescribing.
Baxter signs consent decree with FDA
July 10th 2006The FDA announced that Baxter Healthcare Corp. and two of its top corporate executives have signed a consent decree of condemnation and permanent injunction for certain infusion pumps made by the firm. They agreed to stop manufacturing and distributing within the United States all models of the Colleague Volumetric Infusion Pump (Colleague) and the Syndeo Patient Controlled Analgesic Syringe Pump (Syndeo) until they correct manufacturing deficiencies and until the devices are made in compliance with the FDA's current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements and the Quality System (QS) regulation for devices.
New program helps the chronically ill
July 10th 2006To better serve the prescription drug needs of chronic-disease outpatient populations, one of the largest disease management companies is aligning its services with a pharmacy benefit manager in a 10-year collaboration. Medco Health Solutions, a PBM based in Franklin Lakes, N.J., and Nashville-based Healthways recently announced details of a newly formed alliance. The key advantage for patient members will be intervention by pharmacists and other clinical educators armed with more pertinent information earlier in the patient's plan of care. The companies project that the long-term results will be better compliance with clinical practice guidelines, a decreased risk of hospitalization, and ultimately a healthier lifestyle for each patient served by the program.
Growth hormone OK'd for adults and kids
July 10th 2006After almost three years, the Food & Drug Administration has approved Omnitrope (somatropin, Sandoz) as a follow-on version of Pfizer's Genotropin. "Its approval is beneficial for everyone. It also increases competition in the growth hormone market, which will hopefully reduce the price of growth hormones," stated Anita Siu, Pharm.D. and clinical neonatal/ pediatric pharmacotherapy specialist and assistant clinical professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey.
New vaccine reduces risk of shingles in seniors
July 10th 2006Affecting an estimated one million Americans each year, herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox: the varicella-zoster virus. After an initial infection with chickenpox (varicella), the virus lies dormant in the dorsal root or cranial sensory ganglia; however, the virus can reactivate later in life, causing shingles. Shingles is estimated to affect one in every five persons during their lifetime. The frequency and severity of the infectious disease increase with advancing age.
New extended-use OC makes every pill count
July 10th 2006Pharmacists can soon offer to women an extended-use oral contraceptive (OC) regimen that contains low-dose ethinyl estradiol tablets in place of placebo pills. The Food & Drug Administration recently approved levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol (Seasonique, Barr Laboratories) 0.15 mg/0.03 mg and 0.01 mg tablets for the prevention of pregnancy. Seasonique will be available through retail pharmacies and physicians' offices before the end of the summer.
MS drug will return to market with constraints
July 10th 2006Recently, the Food & Drug Administration gave the green light to Biogen Idec and Elan's natalizumab (Tysabri) to return to the market through a restricted distribution program. It's been a long and bumpy road for the multiple sclerosis therapy that was withdrawn from the market only three months after its introduction due to a serious side effect that affected three patients and killed two of those three.
Eyedrop grows from second- to first-line Rx for glaucoma
July 3rd 2006Until now, Lumigan (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% was used as a second-line treatment for glaucoma. Now the Allergan once-daily prescription eyedrop has been approved for first-line treatment of elevated intraocular pressure associated with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Late-stage cancer treatment approved
July 3rd 2006A new combination therapy for late-stage cervical cancer has been approved by the FDA. Topotecan (Hycamtin, GlaxoSmithKline) and cisplatin together can now be used for women in stage IV-B with incurable, recurrent, or persistent cancer of the cervix that has spread to other organs and is not likely to respond to surgery or radiation.
Avastin plus 5-FU regimen OK'd as second-line therapy
July 3rd 2006Bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) has been approved by the FDA in combination with a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy regimen as a second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The phase III trial that led to the approval of the therapy evaluated 829 patients who received either bevacizumab plus FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU, leucovorin) or FOLFOX4 alone and who were previously treated with irinotecan (Camptosar, Pfizer) and 5-FU as their initial therapy for metastatic disease or as adjuvant therapy. Results showed a 33% improvement in survival for the combination regimen. Median survival was 13 months versus 10.8 months.
Pharmacy schools continue growth
July 3rd 2006A total of 46,527 students were enrolled in pharmacy schools last fall, compared with 43,908 in 2004, according to the 2005 Profile of Pharmacy Students compiled by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. A total of 8,268 degrees were awarded, up from 8,158 in 2004.
Clinics to open in select Meijer stores
July 3rd 2006Arcadia Resources, a provider of home care and staffing services and respiratory and durable medical equipment, has formed a partnership with Physicians' Organization of Western Michigan, a 570-member independent physicians' coalition based in the state. Through POWM's partnership with Meijer, plans are moving forward to open walk-in medical clinics inside select Meijer stores in Indiana.
First drug OK'd to treat dementia of Parkinson's disease
July 3rd 2006Until now, Novartis Corp.'s Exelon (rivastigmine tartrate) was approved to treat mild to moderate dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Now the drug has gained a new indication-to treat mild to moderate dementia related to Parkinson's disease.
HDMA partners with RxPatrol to prevent Rx theft
June 26th 2006The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) is partnering with RxPatrol to combat the theft and illegal trafficking of prescription medications and further enhance supply chain security. RxPatrol is an information clearinghouse designed to collect, analyze, and share information on pharmacy robberies, burglaries, and theft of controlled substances.