Although patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a disproportionately higher incidence of herpes zoster, an analysis that included nearly 60,000 patients with RA and other inflammatory diseases found that those who initiated anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies were not at higher risk of herpes zoster compared with patients who initiated nonbiologic treatment regimens, according to a study appearing in the March 6 issue of JAMA.
Obesity has become a highly prevalent chronic condition that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Studies have demonstrated that even as little as 5% to 10% of weight loss is associated with an improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and a reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients. Prior to the recent approval of lorcaserin and extended-release phentermine/topiramate, there had been no new pharmacologic agents approved for the treatment of obesity for 13 years. This article reviews the pharmacologic treatment of obesity including past treatment options, lessons learned in recent years, current short- and long-term treatment options, and future direction. Formulary considerations of currently available agents are discussed.
On February 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released new regulations about the reporting of fees, meals, travel expenses, and other transfers of value for the implementation of the Physician Payment Sunshine Act (PPSA). These new regulations require that data on the payments and gifts that drug and medical device companies make to physicians will become available publicly in a searchable database beginning in September 2014.1
Patients with type 2 diabetes achieved 6% weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in a phase 3a obesity trial, according to Novo Nordisk.
Diabetes drugs including exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync), saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR), alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano, Oseni), and linagliptin (Tradjenta, Jentadueto) are being evaluated by FDA for a potential link to pancreatitis and precancerous changes of the pancreas.
Long-term treatment with fixed-combination budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort Turbuhaler, AstraZeneca) was associated with fewer healthcare utilization-defined exacerbations and hospitalizations than fluticasone/salmeterol in patients with moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published online in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Tivozanib and sorafenib extended survival in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with no statistical difference, according to the phase 3 TIVO-1 (TIvozanib Versus sOrafenib in 1st Line Advanced RCC) trial data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU), in Orlando, Fla., in February.
Drugs can be managed through the medical benefit or the pharmacy benefit
Experts expect all 50 states to be up and running on time
Infrastructure needed to ensure organizations live up to the promise of ACOs
New care models and federal requirements motivate HIE stakeholders
Big data can lead to improved outcomes
FDA committees are examining DTC genetic tests that make medical claims
When there's no rhyme or reason, prices spiral out of control
States contract with plans to cover expanded populations, many of which need high-cost care
Medicines that better control glucose and more efficient dosing needed
Medicare Advantage plans must comply with CMS regulations
Short-term impact of exchanges is certain for individual and small group markets
With their unique roles, pharmacists are moving away from being drug dispensers to becoming consultants in ACO models
Experts and economists are looking at healthcare through the lens of their own ideologies
Plans will see the most cost reductions on the medical side of the ledger, but there are still opportunities to reduce administrative waste
Differentiate between products and offer guidance to compare costs
Aetna believes its new fertility program will improve the chances of conception for infertile couples, while controlling costs
With the Medicare star program, plans stand to gain bonus pay when their network providers do well on performance measures
Catalyst for Payment Reform has released a national scorecard describing the current state of value-oriented payment, finding that about 11% of commercial payments are tied to value
FDA has approved rabeprazole sodium (AcipHex Sprinkle, Eisai) Delayed-Release capsules 5 mg and 10 mg for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children ages 1 to 11 years of age for up to 12 weeks.
FDA approved dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera, Biogen Idec) capsules for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the most common form, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to an FDA statement on March 27.
FDA approved tobramycin inhalation powder (TOBI Podhaler, Novartis) for the management of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa), a bacterium that causes lung infections.
Managed care and hospital decision-makers should consider that biological drugs are different from traditional drugs in terms of their complexity and there is potential for problems to arise when manufacturing is not strictly controlled. Furthermore, biological medicines are more difficult to characterize, produce, and reproduce than most traditional pharmaceuticals. This, in turn, can affect the medicine’s quality, safety, or efficacy, and can ultimately impact the reliability of supply, according to a presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association’s annual conference in Los Angeles, in March.
Patients with type 2 diabetes achieved 6% weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in a phase 3a obesity trial, according to Novo Nordisk.