News

On July 7, the FDA updated its list of drugs that are in short supply. Some of the drugs – such as Sodium Chloride 0.9 percent Injection Bags – have been in short supply for months, while others have become more problematic recently.

The FDA last week approved Rexulti (brexpiprazole) for schizophrenia and as an add-on treatment to an antidepressant medication to treat adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Major safety concerns exist for many top-selling prescription drugs including benzodiazepines/prescription sleep aids, anticoagulants, cholesterol-lowering statins, oxycodone and hydrocodone, and stimulants. The following provides an overview of these classes and issues.

FDA’s approval last week of AstraZeneca's Iressa (gefitinib) for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an important tool in fighting the disease.

FDA approved Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals’ supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) for the treatment of upper limb spasticity (ULS).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will investigate how much money Medicaid has lost over the past decade paying for rising generic drug prices by comparing price increases between 2005 and 2014 against the rate of inflation.

The Healthcare Supply Chain Association (HSCA), the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), and other healthcare stakeholders are calling on FDA to institute a clear policy for biologics and biosimilars.

Reducing hospital-acquired infections has become a top priority for hospitals in the face of new penalties from CMS.

Patient-centered pharmacies, which put consumers and their relationship with pharmacists and caregivers at the center of the business model, is producing improved outcomes.

The FDA this week approved Novartis’s sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto) tablets to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic heart failure (NYHA Class II-IV) and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Stuart M. Gerson explains how Chief Justice John Roberts came to his conclusion in King v. Burwell and how subsidies will affect the healthcare industry.

High-deductible plans are often used by relatively healthy people with a small chance of exceeding the plan's annual deductible. These individuals have little loyalty to their plans. Here are eight ways health plans can create "stickiness" to keep members happy.

FDA’s approval last week of Vertex Pharmaceutical’s groundbreaking drug lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi) for cystic fibrosis is certainly good news, but formulary managers need to be aware of the high cost of the drug and other factors.

While recent attacks on Anthem, Community Health Systems, Premera and CareFirst helped focus awareness on the importance of cybersecurity, many healthcare payers and providers are still mired in outmoded or unfocused strategies and thus remain vulnerable.