News

On March 12, 2010, FDA announced that the manufacturers of clopidogrel, an antiplatelet agent given to reduce the risk of heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, and cardiovascular death in patients with cardiovascular disease, will be placing a new black box warning into the drug's prescribing information.

New molecular entity: Velaglucerase alpha for injection (VPRIV) was approved February 2010 as an enzyme replacement therapy for the long-term treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease in pediatric and adult patients.

A randomized controlled trial of recent stroke survivors found that patients receiving the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram had greater improvement in global cognitive function than those receiving placebo or Problem Solving Therapy.

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through February 2010): Tamsulosin hydrochloride capsules, 0.4 mg, Imiquimod cream, 5%, Diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release tablets

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes mellitus, accounting for 50% of all deaths. Dyslipidemia is an important modifiable risk factor in diabetic patients and represents a key area for intervention in these patients. Diabetic patients have a lipid profile characterized by low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and an increase in triglyceride levels. Diabetics have increased numbers of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) particles but with a shift to smaller, denser LDL-C particles. The net effect is that patients with type 2 diabetes do not have substantially higher LDL-C concentrations than patients without diabetes.

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

The rapidly approaching shift from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is a massive system overhaul that many have underestimated.

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.