News

Naproxcinod, a cyclooxygenase-inhibiting nitric oxide donor, is pending FDA approval for the indications of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Treating osteoarthritis pain can be challenging because many agents commonly used for this indication carry potential risk for increased cardiovascular events including increased blood pressure, increased upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and increased hepatotoxicity.

New added financial incentives are slated to drive adoption of electronic health record systems by doctors and hospitals, and increased government funding may finally lead to standards for interoperability and e-health exchanges necessary for the free flow of secure health data.

Recent FDA approvals (through April 2010) related to Silenor, Carbaglu, Hizentra, Norditropin FlexPro, Xifaxan, Differin, Botox

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of hepatitis C.

Recent experience points to specific areas where waste may be embedded inadvertently in routine processes. Once discovered, some have relatively easy fixes.

The bad news: PBMs have the weakest performance on the aspects that matter most to employers.

Kerry Weems, a finance and budget expert, formerly the chief of CMS, warns managed care of rate fights around every corner.

Americans see alcoholic drinks nearly every day-on TV, at parties and even on the family dinner table.

Industry executives were grilled at congressional hearings and summoned to a White House meeting called by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss rising premiums

Customize your obesity program for children, beginning as early as preschool

In a move toward accountable care, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Assn. (BCBSA) has established a policy that denies acute care hospitals reimbursement for certain never events.

Two of the major causes of blindness in the United States are glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which often can be controlled with medication.

In the arcane argot of antitrust, the debate between the American Medical Assn. (AMA) and the nation's health insurers is a case of he said/she said.

Eventually, the conversations attacking health insurers will tire out, and providers will become the next health-reform punching bag.

Congressional authority is not the same as the authority given to a court of law

Generic drugs have certainly made their mark, but don't count on the same savings in the specialty market.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is underrecognized and undertreated in women, despite its prevalence

Retirees can expect to shoulder more than half of the cost burden of health benefits-51% to 54%-according to Towers Watson's 2010 Retiree Health Care Cost Survey.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Board of Directors has named Eric H. Schultz as its new president and CEO.

The pilot initiative is designed to make delivering and getting health care easier for patients and their physicians by reducing the time, effort, and expense for the paperwork required for each office visit.

One in four dollars spent on health care in America now pays for unnecessary tests and treatments that physicians order to keep from being sued, according to a new Gallup poll of the nation's doctors.

Alternative short-term coverage costs less and lasts six to 12 months to fill in the gap between jobless and finding new employments.

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

New molecular entity: Tocilizumab (Actemra) was approved in January 2010, for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapies.

Recent FDA approvals (through March 2010) related to Iprivask, VPRIV, Mirapex ER, Cayston, Menveo, Lamictal XR, Rituxan, Oleptro, Xiaflex, Norvir, Benicar, Crestor.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a debilitating and potentially fatal condition, often seen in the aging population. VTE results from clot formation in the venous circulation and presents as either deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. A population-based study estimated that at least 201,000 new cases of VTE occur in the United States annually.

Etravirine is an HIV-1 specific, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that was FDA approved for treatment-experienced adult patients with HIV-1 strains resistant to an NNRTI and other antiretroviral agents. In phase 3 trials of etravirine versus placebo, both in combination with darunavir/ritonavir, a background of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors with or without enfuvirtide demonstrated potent antiviral activity that was sustained through 48 weeks.

The main objectives of gout therapy are to treat the acute attack, provide prophylaxis to prevent flares, and prevent complications associated with the deposition of urate crystals in tissues. Obesity, alcohol intake, and certain foods and medications can contribute to hyperuricemia and should be identified. Pharmacologic management remains the mainstay of treatment for chronic gout and acute attacks.