Chain Pharmacy

FDA has approved vismodegib (Erivedge, Curtis and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group) for the treatment of adult patients with basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

Zanamivir and oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche) can help prevent and treat the symptoms of influenza, but there is not enough information to evaluate the drugs’ safety and efficacy for preventing the spread of flu or pneumonia, according to a new review published online January 18.

Two key retail pharmacy groups, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association, have renewed their opposition to proposed federal upper limits for generic drug reimbursement under Medicaid.

Aspirin prophylaxis in people without prior cardiovascular disease does not appear to reduce cardiovascular death or cancer mortality, however it was associated with reductions in nonfatal myocardial infarction, according to the results of a meta-analysis published online January 9 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Welcome to the latest public health emergency: Shortages of anti-infective agents. These shortages can adversely affect clinical care and patient outcomes, according to a new study.

FDA approved ingenol mebutate (Picato, LEO Pharma) gel (0.015%, 0.05%) for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). It is the first topical AK therapy that can be used for as few as 2 or 3 consecutive days.

The Endocrine Society recently released new clinical-practice guidelines recommending that all patients have their blood-glucose levels tested upon admission to the hospital, even if they haven’t had a prior diagnosis of diabetes.

Getting new Alzheimer’s drugs to market quickly was 1 of the initiatives discussed during the mid-January meeting of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services in Washington, D.C.

William Edward Evans, PharmD, director and CEO at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, has been selected to receive pharmacy’s highest award, the Remington Honor Medal, the American Pharmacists Association announced.

Regions Bank, which operates 1,800 U.S. banks, recently rescinded its policy requiring employees to fill prescription drugs for chronic conditions through mail-order pharmacies.

GE has launched its first product in partnership with the biotechnology medical testing company Bionime, a home device for diabetics called the GE100 Blood Glucose Monitoring System.

FDA recently approved methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsules (LA) CII, USP, the generic equivalent of Ritalin LA. Actavis Group, an international generic pharmaceuticals company, received first-to-file exclusivity on the 20-mg, 30-mg, and 40-mg strengths.

Welcome to the latest public health emergency: Shortages of anti-infective agents. These shortages can adversely affect clinical care and patient outcomes according to a new study.

A combination of vitamin D and calcium supplementation can reduce the risk of fractures in older adults, according to a study published in the December 20, 2011, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Two leading pharmacy groups are combining forces on an initiative that they hope will more effectively involve pharmacists in the coordination of care transition and reduce the number of hospital readmissions of patients

FDA approved the first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium tablets).

Liquid acetaminophen for infants is being shipped to hospitals and drug stores in new concentrations, even though manufacturers may not be providing notice about the concentration change, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

FDA approved zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablets (Intermezzo, Transcept Pharmaceuticals) for use as needed to treat insomnia characterized by middle-of-the-night waking followed by difficulty returning to sleep.

Pharmacy association veteran Kathleen Jaeger will publicly advance the role of pharmacists in patient care in a newly created position with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

Pfizer, Medco, and pharmacy groups are all battling to get their voices heard after a November The New York Times article raised questions about prescribing Lipitor versus Atorvastatin (the new generic form of Lipitor).

Patients using the relatively new blood thinner dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) failed to remain on the treatment 17% of the time after the first 4 months, increasing their risk of stroke, according to a new study.

Pharmacy and medical groups are suing the California Department of Health Care Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ recent approval of a 10% reimbursement rate cut in California’s Medicaid program.

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Foundation have issued new guidelines for secondary prevention and risk reduction in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease.

FDA has appealed the September 2011 ruling made by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in U.S. v. Franck’s Lab, Inc. The ruling had favored pharmacy compounding for veterinary patients.

FDA has approved aflibercept (Eylea Injection, Regeneron), known in the scientific literature as VEGF Trap-Eye, for the treatment of patients with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration in patients aged 60 and older at a recommended dose of 2 mg every 4 weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks, followed by 2 mg every 8 weeks (2 months).

FDA approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi, Incyte) for the treatment of patients with intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF, and post-essential thrombocythemia MF.

FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, announced the agency's decision to revoke the breast cancer indication for bevacizumab (Avastin), noting that the benefits do not outweigh the potentially life-threatening side effects, such as heart attack or heart failure, high blood pressure, bleeding and hemorrhaging, and the development of perforations in different parts of the body, such as the nose, stomach, and intestines.

The NACDS lauded the U.S. Senate’s vote last week to defeat an amendment that would have allowed “personal importation” of prescription medications from Canada.

FDA has approved bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP (Sagent and Strides Arcolab), a local or regional anesthetic, for use in surgery, dental and oral surgery procedures, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and obstetrical procedures.

In this section we showcase products and product news that ran up against space limitations or fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories in the print edition.