Formulary Watch |

Prescription at discharge linked to long-term adherence to stroke meds

Stroke patients are 70% more likely to continue taking their stroke prevention medications 1 year later if they are given a prescription when discharged, and 40% more likely after 2 years, according a study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Collaborative care improves depression in teens

Teens who received the collaborative care intervention in primary care had significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms than teens who were receiving treatment as usual.

Acid suppressing drugs may be linked to infection risk in kids

Single-tablet HIV drug approved by FDA

FDA has approved abacavir 600 mg, dolutegravir 50 mg (Tivicay) and lamivudine 300 mg (Triumeq, ViiV Healthcare) as as a first-line therapy to treat HIV.

FDA approves diclofenac for managing OA pain

Zorvolex was the first FDA-approved low dose NSAID developed using proprietary SoluMatrix Fine Particle Technology. Zorvolex contains diclofenac as submicron particles that are approximately 20 times smaller than their original size. The reduction in particle size provides an increased surface area, leading to faster dissolution. By using this technology, the dose can be lowered without delaying absorbtion.

Opioid use common among disabled workers enrolled in Medicare

Almost half of disabled workers enrolled in Medicare’s prescription drug program fill a prescription for opioids each year, and more than 1 in 5 were chronic users, filling 6 or more opioid prescriptions each year, according to a study in the September issue of Medical Care.

Hospira scores temporary win in lawsuit versus FDA

Precedex, dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, is approved to sedate patients with breathing tubes in an intensive-care setting, as well as patients without breathing tubes before and during surgeries and other procedures. Hospira’s patent that covers the use of Precedex in an intensive-care setting in due to expire in 2019, however other patents have already expired. On Monday, the FDA approved the sale of generic copies of the drug as long as the companies leave out information from the prescribing labels about uses that are covered under Hospira’s patent, including “intensive-care unit sedation.”

FDA approves apixaban for treatment of DVT, PE

FDA has approved apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer) for the treatment of DVT and PE, and for the reduction in the risk of recurrent DVT and PE following initial therapy. Combined, DVT and PE are known as VTE.

FDA approves Arnuity Ellipta for asthma

FDA has approved fluticasone furoate inhalation powder (Arnuity Ellipta, GlaxoSmithKline) for maintenance treatment of asthma in patients aged 12 years and older.

FDA approves new multiple sclerosis drug

FDA has approved peginterferon beta-1a (Plegridy, Biogen Idec) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

New drug approved to treat a form of Gaucher disease

FDA has approved eliglustat (Cerdelga, Genzyme), the only first-line oral therapy for the long-term treatment of adults with the Type 1 form of Gaucher disease.

FDA approves Avastin for patients with persistent, recurrent or late-stage cervical cancer

FDA has approved a new use for bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with aggressive and late-stage cervical cancer.

Heart-related hospitalizations, deaths reduced due to coordinated care efforts

[BLOG] The acute coronary syndrome pipeline: Novel therapies targeting unmet needs in niche patient populations

Not surprisingly, the treatment costs associated with ACS and its various comorbidities are astoundingly high.

NSAID use can reduce breast cancer recurrence in overweight, obese women

Overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors may gain a significant benefit by adding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to their treatment, according to a study published in the August 14 issue of Cancer Research.

FDA approves new insomnia drug

FDA has approved suvorexant (Belsomra, Merck) for adults with insomnia who have difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep.

Seniors are better protected from flu with high-dose vaccine

A high-dose influenza vaccine protects the senior population better than the standard-dose influenza vaccine, according to a study published in the August 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Guideline: Patients with liver disease should be first to receive expensive Hep C drugs

Patients with advanced liver disease or other severe symptoms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection should be first in line for drug therapy, according to a new guideline from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Zoster vaccine effective in older chemotherapy patients

Herpes zoster vaccine continues to be effective in protecting older adults against shingles, even after they undergo chemotherapy, a study published August 4 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

WHO okays experimental drug use in Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has authorized the use of experimental drugs in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The death toll has reached 1,000, including a Spanish priest.

Study: Hep C drugs could increase Medicare Part D spending in 2015

The federal government’s cost for Medicare Part D will increase between $2.9 billion and $5.8 billion if we see 15% to 30% of hepatitis C (HCV)-infected beneficiaries receive treatment in 2015 and the cost of treatment averages $84,000, according to a new study by Milliman.

Rivaroxaban associated with lower inpatient costs compared to warfarin among NVAF patients

Hospitalization costs for rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Janssen) were significantly lower than warfarin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), according to a study in the August 2014 issue of Current Medical Research & Opinion.

Analyses: High-risk AFib patients not receiving recommended thromboprophylaxis

Widespread anticoagulant undertreatment persists among atrial fibrillation (AFib) patients at high risk of stroke, despite current medical treatment guidelines, which recommend thromboprophylaxis for this patient population unless contraindicated, according to a recent study in BMC Health Services Research.

FDA approves first fixed-dose treatment for type 2 diabetes

FDA has approved canagliflozin/metformin (Invokamet, Janssen), the first fixed-dose combination in the class of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes.

Safety of new drugs questioned by researchers

Physicians and patients should avoid new drugs unless they are truly breakthrough drugs, according to a study in Health Affairs.

Pharmacist intervention improves medication adherence: Study

Community pharmacists can have a significant role in improving an entire patient population’s medication adherence, and its overall health, according to a study published in Health Affairs.

FDA approves oritavancin for skin infections

FDA has approved oritavancin (Orbactiv, The Medicines Company) for injection for the treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) caused by susceptible designated Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Drugs in Perspective: Tasimelteon (Hetlioz)

Hetlioz (tasimelteon) is a melatonin receptor agonist, similar to Rozerem (ramelteon) that was approved by FDA in January 2014 for the treatment of N24HSWS caused by a completely blind person’s inability to regulate their internal clock.

FDA approves empagliflozin tablets for type 2 diabetes

FDA approved empagliflozin (Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company) tablets as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control, or blood glucose levels, in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for people with type 1 diabetes or for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).

Whooping cough vaccine safe in pregnancy

Pregnant women given pertussis vaccination in their third trimester to prevent infections in newborns, should be reassured that the vaccine is safe, and in fact, may be beneficial, according to a study published in The BMJ online July 11, 2014.