Formulary Watch |

Tips for getting patients involved with MTM

In addition to boosting patient health outcomes, medication therapy management (MTM) is vital to a pharmacy’s bottom line, according to various speakers participating in the recent Pharmacy Quality Alliance’s webinar “Boosting MTM Program Compliance.”

FDA approves new hemophilia drug

FDA has approved Coagulation Factor IX (Recombinant) (Rixubis, Baxter International) for routine prophylactic treatment, control of bleeding episodes, and perioperative management in adults with hemophilia B.

European trial results positive for dust mite allergy tablet

The first of 2 pivotal phase 3 trials with a new allergy immunotherapy tablet for the treatment of house dust mite-induced respiratory diseases, has met its primary end points, according to ALK and partner Merck.

FDA approves Vibativ for hospitalized patients with bacterial pneumonia

FDA has expanded the use of telavancin (Vibativ, Theravance) to treat adult patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus when alternative treatments are not suitable.

CDC: PrEP option for injection drug users

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to injection drug users who are at high risk of HIV infection, following the positive results of the Bangkok Tenovir Study, published online June 12 in the Lancet.

Increased red meat consumption linked to type 2 diabetes

Adding more than a one-half serving of red meat daily for 4 years can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus over the subsequent 4-year period, according to a report published online June 17 for JAMA Internal Medicine.

New test identifies HCV genotypes

FDA approved a test that identifies the genotype of hepatitis C virus (HCV) that a patient is carrying. The Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II (Abbott Molecular) can differentiate genotypes 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, and 5 using a sample of an infected patient’s blood plasma or serum, which will aid healthcare professionals in determining the appropriate approach to treatment, resulting in better patient outcomes. Various HCV genotypes respond differently to available drug therapies.

FDA officially approves Plan B One-Step for all women

FDA announced it has approved the use of Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) as a nonprescription product for all women of child-bearing potential. This action complies with the April 5, 2013 , order of the United States District Court in New York to make levonorgestrel-containing emergency contraceptives available as an over-the-counter (OTC) product without age or point-of-sale restrictions.

FDA expands use of denosumab for giant cell tumor of the bone

FDA approved the expanded use of denosumab (Xgeva, Amgen) to treat adults and some adolescents with giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB), a rare and usually non-cancerous tumor.

FDA investigating Zyprexa Relprevv deaths

FDA is investigating 2 unexplained deaths in patients who received an intramuscular injection of the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa Relprevv (olanzapine pamoate), according to an FDA Drug Safety Communication.

Supreme Court rules against “pay-for-delay”

The US Supreme Court today stated that pay-for-delay agreements between brand name drug companies and generic manufacturers are subject to antitrust scrutiny.

Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy

Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.

Aveo receives CRL for RCC agent

FDA has issued a complete response letter (CRL) to for Aveo’s investigational agent tivozanib for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Sanofi’s Quadrivalent flu vaccine approved

FDA has approved the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for licensure of its 4-strain influenza vaccine, Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine (Sanofi Pasteur).

CDC: Unsafe injections a growing problem

Unsafe injections remain a problem in the United States and throughout the world, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Perspective: Oral drug parity laws

Medical innovation improves outcomes

I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.

Medicare PDPs covers fewer anticonvulsant drugs

Despite being considered a protected class of drugs, anticonvulsant medications for the treatment of epileptic seizures had lower levels of coverage for Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) than commercial health plans.

Plan B One-Step restrictions are lifted

The Obama administration on Monday abandoned its attempt to restrict access to the emergency contraceptive Plan B One-Step (Teva Women’s Health Inc.) as an over-the-counter (OTC) medication-a decision that’s being celebrated by some groups.

Hypoglycemic event in elderly raises dementia risk

Older adults with diabetes mellitus may be at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia following a hypoglycemic event, according to a study published online by JAMA Internal Medicine on June 10th.

Lenalidomide now approved for treatment of MCL

FDA has approved a new indication for lenalidomide (Revlimid, Celgene) for the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) whose disease has relapsed or progressed after two prior therapies, one of which included bortezomib.

FDA introduces new MedWatch reporting and learning tools

As it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its MedWatch program, FDA has launched two new tools designed to make it easier for consumers and healthcare professionals to report product information to the agency

ASCO: Lipid-lowering agents linked to improved survival in women with endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer patients who took statins and aspirin reduced their chance of death by 84% with the use of statins and aspirin, according to a new study by researchers at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care (MECCC), presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago. Additionally, women who used only statins saw their risk of dying decline by 45%.

Crizotinib better than standard chemotherapy in some patients, study says

In a phase 3 study of previously treated patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), crizotinib (Xalkori, Pfizer) more than doubled median progression free survival (PFS) than when treated with standard chemotherapy, according to a study published June 1, 2013 online in New England Journal of Medicine.

FDA warns against prolonged use of magnesium sulfate to stop preterm labor

FDA advised healthcare professionals not to use magnesium sulfate injection for more than 5-7 days to stop preterm labor in pregnant women, according to a May 30 drug safety communication.

Study: Smoking cessation products effective

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), the antidepressant bupropion, and the drug varenicline can help smokers quit, according to a new systematic review published in The Cochrane Library.

Congressional coalition rallies against CMS ban on pharmacy home deliveries of diabetes testing supplies

Forty-three members of Congress are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) not to implement a new policy that prohibits independent community pharmacies from providing same-day, home delivery of diabetes testing supplies (DTS) to homebound seniors.

VIDEO: Medication underdosing and underprescribing: Issues that may contribute to polypharmacy, poor outcomes

Dr Adam Woolley, clinical pharmacy specialist the the VA Boston Healthcare System and assistant clinical professor at the School of Pharmacy, Bouve College of Health Sciences, discusses how medication under dosing and under prescribing can result in poor patient outcomes and contribute to polypharmacy.

VIDEO: Specialty drugs are critical focus for payers

Medication underdosing and underprescribing: important issues that may contribute to polypharmacy and poor outcomes

Medication underdosing and underprescribing are often overlooked and can result in poor patient outcomes. They can also contribute to polypharmacy and significant cost to the healthcare system. Pharmacists can play a key role in preventing underdosing and underprescribing of medications by ensuring that patient-specific pharmacotherapy is prescribed and administered, and by providing patient and provider education regarding appropriate use of medications. While numerous examples of effective pharmacist-led interventions to reduce medication underdosing and underprescribing are described in the literature, further research is needed to elucidate new ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce unnecessary cost to the healthcare system. This article describes the clinical consequences of medication underdosing and underprescribing and provides examples of pharmacist-led interventions to address these medication issues.