Formulary Watch |

ADA: Canagliflozin may be cost-effective treatment option for type 2 diabetes with diet, exercise: Studies

In adult patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin monotherapy-the current standard of treatment- canagliflozin (Invokana) 100 mg and 300 mg reduced relative risk for myocardial infarction (1.6% and 3.0%) and congestive heart failure (2.7% and 4.0%), as compared to sitagliptin 100 mg, according to findings of the health economic simulation analysis presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

Study: Childhood vaccines are safe, low risk

There are some risks associated with some childhood vaccinations, but overall the evidence shows that vaccines are very safe, according a study published in the July 1 online edition and the August print issue of Pediatrics.

Compounded ingredient costs: PBMs take action

In response to rising compounding drug costs, pharmacy benefit managers, such as Express Scripts, have made moves to restrict their coverage for active ingredients used by compounding pharmacies.

[BLOG] Clinical trial collaborations: An idea whose time has come

The cost and time commitment to develop new drugs has increased significantly over the last few decades. A variety of factors come into play, but on average, in terms of total expenditures, it has taken from $3 to $5 billion and up to 15 years to bring a new drug to market. Even after all that time and money, with challenging regulatory requirements and other factors, the odds of a new compound making it from the lab to the pharmacy are miniscule. The chance for a new drug to make it to market is a sobering 1 in 5000.

FDA drug approvals-July 2014

FDA drug approvals, priority review, breakthrough designation, fast-track designations, orphan drug designations, first-time generic approval

ADA: Intravitreal aflibercept injection shows consistency of effect across levels of HbA1c control in diabetic macular edema

Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with aflibercept Injection significantly improved vision and reduced the severity of diabetic retinopathy versus laser photocoagulation, according to data recently presented the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

[BLOG] Blessings in disguise Should formularies welcome premium-priced bladder cancer drugs?

The management of bladder cancer represents one of the most costly and underestimated challenges in the oncology spectrum. Despite having the 6th highest incidence of any cancer in the United States, high recurrence rates and the need to constantly monitor patients act as the primary drivers for the high expenditures associated with the disease.

Palonosetron’s preferred status

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is among the most feared adverse effects associated with cancer treatment.1 The likelihood of patients experiencing this entity depends on both patient-related and treatment-related factors. Not all chemotherapeutic products induce equivalent amounts of CINV resulting in the formation of groups contingent on the frequency of CINV in patients receiving a product without antiemetic prophylaxis

ACIP recommends needle-free, nasal flu vaccine for kids

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that when available, the needle-free, nasal flu vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV]) should be used for healthy children aged 2 to 8 years, who have no contraindications or precautions.

Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design

The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).

FDA approves rapid-acting, inhaled insulin for diabetes

FDA approved insulin human Inhalation Powder (Afrezza, MannKind), a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus.

5 ways to manage specialty drug expenses

By 2018, specialty drug expenses will comprise 60% of all drug spend, 3 times more than 2014, according to Prime Therapeutics 2014 Report on prescription drug cost analysis.

Study: Lifestyle factors play a role in statin med adherence

Lifestyle factors may help predict whether people will adhere to statin therapy for high cholesterol, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Docetaxel (Taxotere): Possible symptoms of alcohol intoxication

FDA approves a new antibiotic to treat MRSA

FDA has approved antibacterial drug tedizolid phosphate (Sivextro, Cubist Pharmaceuticals to treat adults with skin infections.

FDA antidepressant warnings may have led to more teen suicide attempts: Study

Teen suicide attempts went up about 22% after FDA warned about dangers of antidepressants, according to a study published in the June 18 BMJ.

Testosterone products: FDA requires beefed up labeling to include risk of VTE, including DVT, PE

FDA is requiring manufacturers of all approved testosterone products to include a warning in the drug labeling about the risk of blood clots in the veins, also known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

SSRIs in pregnancy not linked to cardiac defects in babies

In pregnancy, first trimester use of antidepressants does not substantively increase the risk of specific cardiac defects in babies, and should not be an important consideration in the treatment decision, according to a study published in the June 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Study: Topiramate XR improves seizure control in epilepsy patients

An extended-release formulation of topiramate (Qudexy XR, Upsher-Smith Laboratories) has been shown to be sale and effective in refractory epilepsy patients in a global phase 3 clinical trial.

ADA: Study says non-insulin dulaglutide demonstrates effective blood glucose control in diabetes patients

American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco, showed that investigational, non-insulin, once-weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg provided significant blood glucose control for patients with type 2 diabetes.

EULAR: Sarilumab investigational anti-IL-6R therapy shows positive results in rheumatoid arthritis treatment in study

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals presented positive results from a phase 3 trial of investigational drug sarilumab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were inadequate responders to methotrexate (MTX) therapy at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2014) Congress in Paris, France.

ADA: Studies point to safety, efficacy profile for new insulin glargine product

LY2963016 insulin glargine has a similar safety and efficacy profile to currently marketed insulin glargine, according to data recently presented the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

ADA: Empagliflozin versus placebo controlled patients with type 2 diabetes on multiple daily insulin injections

In a 52-week study of obese adults with type 2 diabetes on high insulin doses with or without metformin, adding empagliflozin to multiple daily insulin injections significantly reduced blood glucose and body weight with lower insulin doses compared with placebo, according to data recently presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

ADA: Empagliflozin added to metformin showed greater reductions in blood glucose, body weight versus glimepiride

In a 2-year study, empagliflozin as add-on to metformin demonstrated significantly greater decreases in hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months), body weight and blood pressure compared with glimepiride as add-on to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Whooping cough in California reaches epidemic proportions

A pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic has been declared in California, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

ASCO: Ipilimumab improves recurrence-free survival in melanoma

Ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb) significantly improved recurrence-free survival in patients with stage 3 melanoma in the adjuvant setting, compared to placebo, according to data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

ADA: Canola oil can help control blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes

Unhydrogenated, unsaturated vegetable oils, such as canola oil, can have health advantages when included in as part of a low-glycemic index (GI) diet in people with type 2 diabetes, according to research presented at American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco, and published in Diabetes Care.

Rotavirus vaccine reduces hospitalization, cuts costs

The introduction of rotavirus vaccines has substantially reduced the healthcare utilization related to diarrhea in children residing in the United States, according to a new study published in Pediatrics.

Rivaroxaban alternative option for elderly

Rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer Pharma/Janssen Pharmaceuticals) may be used as an alternative to warfarin in older patients with atrial fibrillation.

Is a Hep C drug price war headed our way?

FDA has granted priority review for AbbVie’s investigational, all-oral, interferon-free regimen for the treatment of adult patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infection.