News

Today, more companies are implementing wellness programs in order to improve the health and productivity of their employees, while at the same time reducing overall health care expenses. However, it is easy to think of health screenings as a commodity instead of what they truly are ? health care.

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and hypertension

Recent FDA approvals (through October 2009) related to Sabril, Helixate FS, Valcyte, Metozolv ODT, Xyzal, Zevalin, Extavia, Astepro, Zenpep, and Bepreve

FDA officials are taking steps to erase the charges of incompetency and ineffectiveness that have plagued the agency for several years.

New combination: Morphine/naltrexone extended-release capsules (Embeda) were approved on August 13, 2009, for the management of moderate-to-severe pain when continuous analgesia is needed for an extended time period

Recent FDA action (through October 2009) related to doxorubicin, trabectedin, carisbamate, alogliptin/pioglitazone, HPV vaccine, pralatrexate, romidepsin, hyaluronic acid, laromustine, clofarabine, prGCD, KNS-760704, rifaximin, hexvix, and quinazoline495

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through October 2009): 1% clindamycin/5% benzoyl peroxide gel, triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray, clonidine transdermal system, betamethasone acetate and betamathasone sodium phosphate injectable suspension

New formulation: Guanfacine extended-release tablets (Intuniv) were approved on September 2, 2009, for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

New molecular entity: Telavancin for injection (Vibativ) was approved on September 11, 2009, for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections (cSSSIs)

Specialty pharmacies are uniquely positioned to play a key role in the implementation of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS).

State of the Industry survey results

Group Health cuts CHF readmission rate with care transition program, while patients stick to diet, exercise and medication plans

More than 12% of physicians do not have managed care contracts, but the break down varies by situation

Model legislation adopted by NCOIL provides that the third party accessing the contract must comply with contacting terms

More modest legislative package would stand to gain bipartisan approval in light of Baucus plan reaction

State of the Industry survey results

Data mining and predictive modeling can get us over the electronic data hump until EMRs reach critical mass

Reported outcomes from medical homes must be able to discern between true and preceived cost savings, and North Carolina is an example of what can go wrong

State of the Industry survey results

Just 8% of asthma patients recieve proper education, and insurance status is not the ultimate factor

Every pre-existing condition is subject health insurers' anti-fraud mechanism, but that doesn't help them make many friends

Commonwealth Fund State Performance Ranking (2007): 40

In an update to an earlier communication, FDA announced that the manufacturers of the leukotriene inhibitors montelukast (Singular), zafirlukast (Accolate), zileuton (Zyflo), and zileuton extended-release (Zyflo CR) are adding information about neuropsychiatric events to product labeling.

Novartis has issued a Dear Healthcare Professional letter regarding a risk of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) in patients treated with mycophenolic acid (Myfortic).

FDA is reviewing reports of liver injury in patients treated with orlistat (prescription drug, Xenical; OTC drug, Alli) for obesity management or weight loss.

Tibotec has issued a Dear Healthcare Professionals letter regarding an increased risk of fatality caused by toxic epidermal necrolysis and hypersensitivity reactions, sometimes accompanied by hepatic failure, in patients treated with etravirine (Intelence).

Pharmacists can improve patient outcomes by following 3 major functions: identification of potential and actual medication-related problems (MRPs), resolution of actual MRPs, and prevention of potential MRPs. The best way to achieve these goals is through accurate documentation, and one of the chief obstacles to this is time?or rather the lack of it. Various software programs have been developed to help pharmacists reduce time spent identifying opportunities for interventions.

In the Dutch Echocardiographic Cardiac Risk Evaluation Applying Stress Echocardiography III (DECREASE III) trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, patients undergoing noncardiac vascular surgery who were treated with perioperative fluvastatin demonstrated a lower incidence of myocardial ischemia than patients treated with placebo.