Geriatric certification exam goes paperless
February 27th 2006The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP) will switch to computer-based testing beginning March 15. Candidates will be able to take the certification test at the nearest H&R Block Premium Center and receive immediate exam results.
GPhA outlines priorities for 2006 at annual show
February 27th 2006The Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) outlined its priorities for 2006 at its annual meeting, held recently in Boca Raton, Fla. Priorities include the codification of a flexible and definitive abbreviated approval process for generic biopharmaceuticals, a halt to the practice of authorized generics, the creation of a biodefense pharmaceutical sector, and reform of the Medicaid program.
Par launches advanced formulation of Megace ES
February 27th 2006Par Pharmaceutical has launched an advanced formulation of megestrol acetate, Megace ES 625 mg/5 ml (megestrol acetate) oral suspension. Megace ES is indicated for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or a significant, unexplained weight loss in patients with a diagnosis of AIDS.
DrugMax to acquire specialty pharmacy
February 27th 2006DrugMax announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire the stock of Carmichael Cashway Pharmacy, operator of three pharmacies known as Carmichael Pharmacy Infusion Therapy & Medical Equipment, (The Carmichael Pharmacy Group). The Carmichael Pharmacy Group provides specialty pharmacy; institutional pharmacy services; and respiratory and related medical equipment, including products and therapies requiring infusion compounding, to patients and physicians.
Walgreens to acquire CV Medical Solutions
February 27th 2006Walgreens Home Care has agreed to acquire Canadian Valley Medical Solutions. Based in Oklahoma City, CV Medical Solutions is an accredited provider of home infusion therapy, respiratory services including home oxygen, customized mobility and seating products, and home medical equipment.
Part D seniors fill 11% more Rxs
February 27th 2006Seniors enrolled in the Medicare drug benefit filled 11% more scripts in January than seniors without Part D coverage, according to Verispan, a healthcare informatics firm based in Yardley, Pa. The average Part D beneficiary aged 65 and older filled 3.38 scripts, compared with 3.05 scripts for nonbeneficiaries of the same age cohort.
Compounding pharmacy enhances bar codes
February 27th 2006PharMEDium Services, a provider of outsourced hospital pharmacy compounding solutions, announced that syringe admixtures will now ship with enhanced bar-coding. The new composite bar codes include a lot number and expiration date along with the drug's NDC number, which can all be read with one scan.
Canadian mail order losing scripts to Part D
February 27th 2006The Medicare Part D drug benefit has hurt cross-border drug sales by as much as 30%, according to the Canadian International Pharmacy Association. The group also contends that U.S. authorities have stepped up enforcement of laws against drug importation in recent weeks.
P&G takes action against alleged copycatters
February 27th 2006Procter & Gamble has filed a lawsuit against Vi-Jon Industries. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Vi-Jon infringed and diluted the unique trade dress of P&G's Crest Pro-Health, "a highly effective antiplaque/antigingivitis oral rinse, and also engaged in false advertising of its mouthwash product."
New rotavirus vaccine gets endorsed by ACIP
February 27th 2006Merck's new vaccine against rotavirus infection, RotaTeq, has been added to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) list of routinely recommended childhood immunizations. Rotavirus usually manifests itself as gastroenteritis and affects about 2.7 million children under the age of five in the United States, resulting in an estimated 70,000 hospitalizations.
New birth control pill with iron approved
February 27th 2006Loestrin 24 Fe, containing norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, and ferrous fumarate, has been approved by the FDA for Warner Chilcott. The new oral contraceptive tablet contains 24 days of active hormonal therapy and four days of placebo pills that contain the iron supplement.
Judge upholds R.Ph.'s punishment for refusal to fill
February 20th 2006A Wisconsin county judge upheld the sanctions and fine imposed on Neil Noesen, R.Ph., for his refusal to dispense or transfer an emergency contraceptive prescription in 2002. The state pharmacy board had fined Noesen and ordered him to attend ethics classes and warn future employers in writing of his stance against EC, as well as pay $20,000 in costs for the investigation and hearings.
Wal-Mart ordered to stock EC in Massachusetts
February 20th 2006The Massachusetts pharmacy board unanimously voted to order Wal-Mart to stock and dispense the emergency contraceptive (EC) Plan B in all its stores in the state. The board acted in response to a complaint filed Feb. 1 by three women who had been turned away from Wal-Mart pharmacies.
Committee votes to add black box to ADHD drugs
February 20th 2006The FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted 8 to 7 in favor of adding a black box warning to the labeling of all stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD. The group also voted unanimously (15-0) in support of requiring that FDA medication guides be distributed with each stimulant prescription, explaining the potential risks to patients and their families.
Endotoxin found in irrigation solutions
February 20th 2006The FDA has recalled all brands of Balanced Salt Solution manufactured by Cytosol Laboratories in Braintree, Mass., after product lots were found to have high levels of endotoxin. The solution is used to irrigate the eyes, ears, nose, and throat during surgical procedures.
Clinical Twisters: Resolving C. difficile infection
February 20th 2006A 76-year-old woman, D.N., is hospitalized with a severe E. coliurinary tract infection (UTI). She has taken ciprofloxacin 500 mgevery 12 hours and is responding to it. Prior to admission, becauseshe is allergic to sulfamethoxazole, D.N. was taking amoxicillinwhich has been discontinued. D.N. takes digoxin 0.125 mg andpravastatin (Pravachol, Bristol-Myers Squibb) 20 mg daily. Over thepast 24 hours, she developed severe diarrhea and a 101?Ftemperature. Her stool specimen is positive for C. difficile. D.N.is receiving replacement fluids and electrolytes, but her physicianis considering how to resolve the C. difficile infection. What doyou recommend?
Drugs for sinusitis may cut off nose to spite face
February 20th 2006The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) recently updated their practice parameter, "The diagnosis and management of sinusitis," for the first time since it was originally released in 1998.
FDA's new Rx label rule may limit lawsuits
February 20th 2006The Food & Drug Administration has announced a new format for prescription drug labeling that will organize the most important information needed by healthcare providers in a more accessible and easy-to-read fashion, according to the agency. But what may have started as an effort to decrease the 300,000 preventable adverse drug events that occur each year, has led some groups to accuse the FDA of attempting to protect manufacturers from consumer liability suits.
Study examines violations of black box warnings
February 20th 2006Less than 1% of outpatients who received medication in 2002 were prescribed a medicine that violated a prescription drug's black box warning, according to a study in the Feb. 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers examined data from 51 outpatient practices and analyzed electronic health records of 324,548 outpatients who received at least one prescription between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2002.
Supplement industry criticizes saw palmetto study
February 20th 2006A study published in the Feb. 9 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine suggesting that the popular supplement saw palmetto is ineffective in easing problems associated with an enlarged prostate has several flaws, according to the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA). NNFA cited a substantial existing body of clinical studies, some with larger patient populations, that support the efficacy of this supplement for mild to moderate symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Hispanics targeted about drug assistance programs
February 20th 2006The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) unveiled a national advertising campaign targeting the American Hispanic community to help draw attention to the free or nearly free medicines available to Americans in need. Montel Williams, syndicated talk show host, is the official national PPA spokesman.
McKesson Specialty certified to launch Revlimid
February 20th 2006McKesson Specialty, a subsidiary of McKesson Corp., has been certified by Celgene Corp. as one of a select group of RevAssist Program contract pharmacies to launch Revlimid (lenalidomide). To reduce fetal exposure to the drug, Revlimid is available only through RevAssist, a distribution network employing only certified, contracted specialty pharmacies.
Merck launches guide to drug assistance programs
February 20th 2006Merck has launched an initiative to help consumers navigate government and private programs that offer free or discount medicines to low-income patients. The company's "Guide to Affordable Medicine" includes information about public programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, and private programs, such as prescription assistance programs offered by drugmakers.