News

Analysis of the hepatitis C virus kinetics during treatment with protease inhibitor telaprevir shows a rapid decline, according to a new study.

Generic drug approved by FDA (through May 2011): Latanoprost

New molecular entity: Azilsartan medoxomil tablets are selective AT1 subtype angiotensin receptor antagonists that were approved by FDA to lower blood pressure.

By 2012, 11 of the top 16 drugs in the United States will be injectable or infusible, and by 2014, specialty pharmaceuticals will comprise the bulk of drug spending in the United States.

Members of health plans under integrated delivery systems are considerably more satisfied, according to a study.

Alain Enthoven believes the best method for healthcare delivery is the managed competition model.

Desperate to control healthcare costs, a growing number of employers are adopting high-deductible health plans paired with health savings or health reimbursement accounts.

Over the years, the estrogen and progestin content of these pills has been reduced in an effort to decrease the incidence of common and serious adverse effects.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provides inroads for federal oversight of "unreasonable" increases in premiums in Section 2794.

The political landscape, the local economy, population demographics and state-level regulations will influence exchanges

Technology is helping insurers manage prior authorization requests.

Equity of healthcare brands is on the rise, and smaller health insurers are making strides.

After months of anticipation, the federal government unveiled proposed rules on how providers may establish Accountable Care Organizations.

Healthcare fraud costs Americans between 3% and 10% of each dollar spent.

FDA has approved abiraterone acetate (Zytiga, Centocor Ortho Biotech), an oral, once-daily medication for use in combination with prednisone for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior chemotherapy containing docetaxel.

Adding twice-daily exenatide injections to (basal) insulin glargine improved glycemic control without increasing the risk for hypoglycemia or weight gain in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, according to a randomized and placebo-controlled trial.

This month, FDA launched its revamped Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts website, making it easier for consumers to search and view food and product recall information going back to 2009.

Fingolimod (Gilenya, Novartis) reduced the risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, regardless of treatment history, according to a phase 3, 2-year study reported at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Dalteparin was not better than unfractionated heparin for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis among critically ill patients, according to an international study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The Obama administration recently unveiled a multiagency plan to reduce the ?epidemic? of prescription drug abuse in the United States. It will include an FDA-backed education program that zeros-in on reducing the misuse and misprescribing of opioids.

Roche recently recalled its Accu-Chek FlexLink Plus infusion sets globally because they may under-deliver insulin to patients.

Transdermal buprenorphine (Butrans Transdermal System, Purdue Pharma) was superior to placebo in treating opioid-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe chronic low back pain, according to study results presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, in National Harbor, Md.

One 30-minute application of a capsaicin (8%) patch (NGX-4010, Qutenza, NeurogesX) can reduce neuropathic pain due to HIV-associated neuropathy, according to data presented here at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, in National Harbor, Md.

Conversion to a 7-day regimen of transdermal buprenorphine (Butrans Transdermal System, Purdue Pharma) from a stable regimen of hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Abbott) can be successful in patients with osteoarthritic pain of the hip or knee, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, in National Harbor, Md.

Topical diclofenac is safer and better tolerated by patients with osteoarthritis of the knee compared with the oral formulation, according to data presented here at annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, in National Harbor, Md.

FDA has approved rituximab (Rituxan, Genentech) in combination with glucocorticosteroids for the treatment of 2 forms of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis.

FDA has approved tocilizumab (Actemra), given alone or in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years of age and older.

The administration of vaginal progesterone from the mid-trimester of pregnancy until term in women with a premature cervical shortening as confirmed by transvaginal ultrasound significantly reduced the rate of preterm birth before 33 weeks gestation, according to a phase 3 study published online April 6 in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.