Group calls for propoxyphene phase-out
March 6th 2006A citizen's petition has been filed with the FDA calling for a phased withdrawal of propoxyphene-containing drugs due to their toxic side effects. The group responsible for the move, Public Citizen, said that the risks associated with the painkiller—including the conversion of the drug to a toxic metabolite that leads to cardiac depression—far outweigh the benefit.
Most think Tysabri should be restored
March 6th 2006An Instant Poll on Drug Topics' Web site, posted in February, found that most respondents think that Tysabri (natalizumab, Biogen Idec) should be brought back to the market. Out of 145 people who voted, 68% said the multiple sclerosis agent should be brought back but with new warnings added, 16% said it should be restored with no new restrictions added, only 10% said it should not be returned to market, and 6% said they didn't know whether FDA should let it come back.
New VZIG product available under IND
March 6th 2006Ever since the sole U.S. manufacturer of varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) discontinued its production in October 2004, supply has dwindled to the point of depletion. This February, however, an investigational VZIG product, called VariZIG, has become available under an investigational New Drug Application (IND) for patients who have been exposed to varicella and are at increased risk for severe disease and complications.
Prandial insulin analog now available
March 6th 2006Sanofi-Aventis has announced that Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin] injection) is now available for the control of hyperglycemia in adult patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Apidra is a rapid-acting insulin with an onset and duration of action that are faster and shorter than those of regular human insulin.
Nationwide recall of cefazolin vials issued
March 6th 2006Hanford Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling four lots of Cefazolin for Injection, USP, 1 gm/10 ml vials due to contamination of the active ingredient by Bacillus pumilus, Staphylococcus hominis, Propionibacterium acnes, or Micrococcus luteus. The affected vials were distributed by Sandoz (lots C4650, C4537) and Watson Pharmaceuticals (lots C4689, C4665) and should be promptly returned to Hanford.
Punch & Judy: Thanks a lot, Mr. President!
March 6th 2006As if the cash flow problems many pharmacists are experiencing lately due to Medicare Part D aren't bad enough, President Bush just delivered another sucker punch to the nation's drug professionals. He signed the budget reconciliation bill, which cuts Medicaid reimbursement to pharmacies for generic drugs by a whopping $6.3 billion over the next five years.
Part D chaos causes cash flow crisis
March 6th 2006Lou Spadafora, co-owner of Midland Pharmacy on Staten Island, N.Y., bounced a check for $51,000 last month. The pharmacy's bank account was $2,000 short of covering the check. It wasn't the first check he bounced, because he serves a lot of dual eligibles in group homes who were switched from Medicaid to Medicare Part D.
This drug kills two birds with one stone
March 6th 2006The Food & Drug Administration recently approved sunitinib (Sutent, Pfizer) for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) after disease progression on or intolerance to imatinib (Gleevec, Novartis). Sunitinib was also granted accelerated approval for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). This is the first time that the agency has approved an oncology drug for the treatment of two indications simultaneously.
Pharmacy faces Medicaid cuts in billions of dollars
March 6th 2006Pharmacies already reeling from the botched implementation of Medicare Part D took another body blow Feb. 1, when Congress narrowly approved federal Medicaid reimbursement cuts of $3.6 billion over the next five years. Just five days later, the Bush Administration's new budget proposed lopping an additional $1.3 billion from Medicaid reimbursement.
Latebreakers: Bush says cutting Medicaid fees is moral
March 6th 2006In remarks about his proposed 2007 budget and deficit reduction, President Bush said, "People talked about how the decision to reform Medicaid was immoral. Well, it's not immoral to make sure that prescription drug pharmacists don't overcharge the system.... It turns out that there was inflated markups for people who had government help to buy drugs. That doesn't make sense, so we reformed that. The people are still going to get their drugs, but the taxpayers aren't going to pay inflated prices." Bush's accusation about pharmacy overcharging came the same day HHS secretary Michael Leavitt repeated his praise of R.Ph.s for their "heroic" efforts to help patients get their Medicare Part D drugs.
HealthWell helps patients afford Rxs
February 27th 2006The HealthWell Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists indigent patients in meeting their cost-sharing obligations for Rx medications, has launched four new programs to help patients afford the medical treatments they need. The new programs will assist patients with colorectal cancer, moderate to severe asthma, non-small cell lung cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
NCPA urges end to co-branded Part D cards
February 27th 2006NCPA has urged CMS to not allow drug plans and drugstore chains to co-brand Part D identification cards. Independent pharmacists contend that the co-branded Rx cards confuse beneficiaries into mistakenly thinking they can get their medications only at the drugstores shown on their ID cards.
Lawsuit filed against Walgreens for Rx error
February 27th 2006Charfoos & Christensen has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens on behalf of Michael Wells in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Attorney Douglas Peters of Charfoos & Chistensen told Drug Topics that Wells' surgeon prescribed the antibiotic Duricef (cefadroxil/cefadroxil hemihydrate, Warner Chilcott) to prevent the development of postsurgical wound infection.
CPOE-ready Rx database aims to be M.D.-friendly
February 27th 2006First DataBank has introduced the OrderView Med Knowledge Base CPOE-ready drug database designed to be physician-friendly by reducing mouse clicks and drug pick lists, according to the San Diego technology firm. One component of the system is Orderable Meds, which focus only on data necessary for ordering, not for dispensing, administration, research, or billing.
New group serves hospice R.Ph.s
February 27th 2006The American College of Apothecaries (ACA) has created the American College of Hospice Pharmacists for R.Ph.s interested in strengthening their knowledge and skills in hospice care and pain management. Programs being developed for the specialty college include separate newsletters for pharmacists, prescribers, and patients/caregivers, as well as a 20-hour didactic certificate program to be offered during ACA's annual meeting and a lab-based 16-hour certificate program to be offered at ACA's Research & Education Center.
SureScripts to offer docs medication histories
February 27th 2006Physicians will be able to securely access patient medication histories through pharmacies that belong to the SureScripts electronic prescribing network. Physicians will be able to see a patient's medication records and pharmacy data, such as allergies and when drugs were dispensed, across all prescribers.
New ointment approved for diaper dermatitis
February 27th 2006Parents of infants suffering with fungal-infected diaper rash will now have a new form of treatment available. Vusion ointment containing 0.25% miconazole nitrate, 15% zinc oxide, and 81.35% white petrolatum has been approved by the FDA and is the first product for diaper dermatitis complicated by candidiasis.
States to get Part D funding relief
February 27th 2006Forty-four states will participate in a CMS program to reimburse them for drugs and administrative costs associated with dual eligibles in the Part D benefit. CMS will reconcile each state's drug payments with Part D plans and pay the difference between the plan reimbursement and the state's Medicaid costs, as well as the administrative tab.
Small Maine chain offers scholarship
February 27th 2006Since its home state has no pharmacy school, Community Pharmacies is offering a one-year scholarship to a Maine resident attending the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston. The scholarship covering the winner's final year of tuition is currently worth about $25,000.