Community Practice

Latest urology meeting presents findings on treatments for prostate cancer.

The new 2007 update to the 2004 mucositis management guidelines has been published in the March issue of Cancer. New additions include the use of palifermin to prevent mucositis in high-dose chemotherapy with or without total body irradiation plus stem cell transplantation.

Merck has received FDA approval of combination drug Janumet, containing both sitagliptin and metformin. The new product utilizes three different mechanisms to improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

Which over-the-counter and health and beauty care brands accounted for the most dollar sales in drugstores, supermarkets, and mass-mercahndisers last year?

Duane Reade, a drugstore chain in metropolitan New York, and Together Rx Access, a free prescription savings program, have partnered to help eligible New Yorkers without health insurance gain access to prescription medicines.

A survey by Harris Interactive found that patients' lack of confidence in drug safety and their experiences with adverse reactions to prescribed medications leads to nonadherence.

The proposed bill would give responsibility for the nation's vaccine safety to an independent agency within the Department of Health & Human Services, removing most vaccine safety research from CDC.

Bill proposed in the California state senate would give licensed psychologists prescribing privileges.

According to a report from Families USA, Medicare Part D drug prices grew almost four times faster than inflation from April 2006 to April 2007.

A new company, PharmMD Solutions, has been launched to advocate use of medication therapy management for reducing medication-related health problems.

The Pediatric Influenza Immunization Coalition is an initiative of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) that aims to increase alarmingly low influenza immunization rates in U.S. children.

The study of 600 retail clinic users and 900 potential users found that strong referral networks are now forming among retail clinics and traditional healthcare systems operating around them.

The FDA has confirmed Mylan's current status of having the only approved ANDA for all strengths of amlodipine besylate, which is a generic version of Pfizer's Norvasc

Jaeger declared that the Senate must enact a clear, efficient, and abbreviated approval pathway to ensure timely access to biogenerics

GPhA declared that the availability of safe and effective generic versions of biopharmaceuticals, or biogenerics, could save the Medicare system billions of dollars annually.

A new report released by PhRMA said there are 219 medicines currently in clinical trials or under review by the FDA for use in children.

Healthcare professionals can now access emerging drug safety information via podcasts, according to the FDA.

The FDA has given the green light for a 12.5-mg dose of the long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone, Risperdal Consta, from Alkermes and Janssen.

The CtW Investment Group is urging fellow CVS/Caremark shareholders to withhold their votes from former Caremark directors.

Duane Reade, a drugstore chain in metropolitan New York, and Together Rx Access, a free prescription savings program, have partnered to help eligible New Yorkers without health insurance gain access to prescription medicines.

Wal-Mart intends to contract with local hospitals and other organizations to open as many as 400 in-store health clinics over the next two to three years.

77% of American voters support Congress' passing a bill to give the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products.

NCPA and the VGM Group, a member service organization for home medical equipment (HME) providers, have announced an alliance that will help NCPA members enter the HME market or advance their HME business.

The Medicare Part D prescription drug plan market changed little with the second open-enrollment period, despite changes in plan benefits and formularies.

According to an analysis of 2006 prescription drug claim histories by PBM Express Scripts, 23% of seniors who fell into the Medicare Part D donut hole coverage gap could have avoided it altogether by using more generics.

Eligible members will receive an annual medication review as well as additional MTM services from trained pharmacists to help them achieve safe and effective results from their medications while controlling costs.

DEA claims that AmerisourceBergen did not maintain effective controls against diversion of controlled substances, specifically hydrocodone, to four Internet pharmacies from Jan. 1, 2006, through Jan. 31, 2007.

PharmaFab is a major contract manufacturer and distributor of more than 100 different Rx and OTC products, including cough and cold products, ulcer treatments, and postpartum hemorrhage products.

British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced it is acquiring Gaithersburg, Md.-based MedImmune for $15.6 billion.

The sedative-hypnotic is indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Zolpidem tablets in formulations of 5 and 10 mg are manufactured by multiple U.S. generic drug companies.