Lilly adds another insulin log to the fire
February 13th 2006Humalog Mix 50/50 has been launched by Lilly to give patients another option in their fight against diabetes. The premixed product contains 50% insulin lispro protamine suspension and 50% insulin lispro injection (rDNA origin) and is designed to give blood sugar control both between meals and at mealtime.
Alert issued for CABG blood loss drug
February 13th 2006The FDA has issued a public health advisory for aprotinin injection (Trasylol, Bayer), a drug used to prevent blood loss during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, after it was linked to a higher risk of serious side effects, including kidney problems, heart attacks, and strokes, in two different studies. The agency said it is evaluating the potential risks to determine whether there is a need for further action and plans to convene an advisory committee this year to discuss the existing data. In the meantime, the FDA recommends that healthcare providers carefully monitor patients receiving the drug for the occurrence of toxicity to the kidneys, heart, or central nervous system and report any findings to the drug manufacturer or the FDA Medwatch program.
DrugMax launches initiatives through technology improvements
February 13th 2006DrugMax has launched a new technology platform to improve sales and accounts receivable management in its growing infusion, specialty, and home medical products segments. The technology was purchased through a licensing arrangement with Fastrack Healthcare Systems Inc., a Plainview, N.Y.-based company that specializes in home medical equipment and infusion/pharmacy software.
Distributor to kick off Web-based e-pedigree system
February 13th 2006Human plasma and flu vaccine distributor FFF Enterprises plans to launch Verified Electronic Pedigree (VEP) to track products through the supply chain. Hosted by SupplyScape, VEP will allow hospitals, pharmacies, and physicians to view and authenticate e-drug pedigrees.
Wholesaler to launch Florida's first drug pedigree tracking system
February 13th 2006H.D. Smith, a Springfield, Ill.-based distributor, plans to launch what it claims is Florida's first drug pedigree tracking system in April 2006. This will purportedly make the company's Pompano Beach distribution center the first warehouse in Florida to be in compliance with Florida's deadline for drug tracking, called pedigree regulations, which are slated to become effective in July.
First two wholesale distributors accredited through VAWD
February 13th 2006NABP announced that CVS/pharmacy's distribution center in Indianapolis and US Oncology Inc.'s Fort Worth facility have completed the association's Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors (VAWD) program's comprehensive criteria and on-site inspection to earn distinction as the first two wholesale distributors accredited by NABP.
Latebreakers: Part D plans must cover 30-day transition scripts
February 6th 2006CMS has instructed Medicare Part D Rx drug plans that they must provide a 30-day supply of any drug a beneficiary was taking prior to Jan. 1 and that they must not charge poor beneficiaries more than $2 for covered generics or $5 for brands. Fearing political fallout from the rocky launch of its drug program, the Bush Administration is working to clear up snafus that have led at least 20 states to step in to pay for medications for Medicaid patients who were switched to Part D but were not listed on the rolls.
Merger boosts competition in nursing home market
February 6th 2006The biggest institutional pharmacy (IP) in the country, Omnicare, bought up three rivals in 2005. Independent long-term care (LTC) pharmacists are uneasy, but Omnicare's customers, its chain rivals, and the Federal Trade Commission do not admit to having any qualms about the industry giant snapping up it its No. 2 competitor, NeighborCare.
Cigna hopes to involve R.Ph.s in diabetes project
February 6th 2006A program using claims and refills data to identify diabetes patients who are adhering to their medication regimens but not lowering their blood glucose levels could lead to improved pharmacy care in 54,000 community pharmacies. "We are working to get pharmacy, medical, and lab claims data back to our pharmacists so they can utilize that information along with the refill data they have on hand," said Thom Stambaugh, R.Ph., chief pharmacy officer for Cigna Pharmacy Management, the pharmacy benefit management company for six million Cigna health plan members.
Unraveling Medicare: A look at Medicare Avantage plans
February 6th 2006As Medicare Part D gets under way, attention has largely focused on the prescription drug benefits offered through stand-alone prescription drug plans, or PDPs. Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PDPs) are an alternative that could provide seniors an opportunity to save on premiums and co-pays for hospital and doctor fees in addition to gaining a prescription drug benefit.
New Drug may reduce need for transfusions in MDS
February 6th 2006Celgene Corp., Summit, N.J., recently received Food & Drug Administration approval for lenalidomide (Revlimid) for the treatment of patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities. MDS is a group of hematologic disorders in which the bone marrow does not function normally, producing immature cells that may result in anemia, neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia.
New agent reduces signs, symptoms of RA
February 6th 2006The Food & Drug Administration has approved abatacept (Orencia, Bristol-Myers Squibb) for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with inadequate response to other therapies. Orencia is first in a new class of agents that inhibits T-lymphocyte activation by binding to CD80 and CD86, blocking the interaction with CD28.
Latebreakers: February 6, 2006
February 6th 2006The FDA has unveiled a major revision to its prescription druginformation format, commonly called the package insert. The changesinclude the following: Highlights, a section that will provideimmediate access to the most important prescribing informationabout benefits and risks; Table of Contents, for easy reference todetailed safety and efficacy information; the date of initialproduct approval; and a toll-free number and Internet reportinginformation for suspected adverse events. Commenting on the plan,Consumers Union said the proposal will make existing drug safetyand risk information clearer to physicians, but the new plan fallsshort of dramatically improving drug safety for consumers becauseit does not require better safety measures from drugmakers.