Formulary Watch |
All News - Page 144
FDA approves ivacaftor to treat rare form of cystic fibrosis
February 1, 2012
FDA approved ivacaftor (Kalydeco, Vertex Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of a rare form of cystic fibrosis in patients aged 6 years and older who have the specific G551D mutation in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator gene.
FDA approves first gel for short-term topical AK therapy
January 27, 2012
FDA approved ingenol mebutate (Picato, LEO Pharma) gel (0.015%, 0.05%) for the topical treatment of actinic keratosis (AK). It is the first topical AK therapy that can be used for as few as 2 or 3 consecutive days.
FDA: Doribax trial halted for increase in death rate, poor clinical cure rate
January 27, 2012
FDA recently announced that a clinical trial evaluating the effects of doripenem (Doribax, Janssen) on the treatment of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia was halted because of an increase in death rate and a poor clinical cure rate.
FDA gives cancer drug Adcetris a stronger warning label
January 27, 2012
FDA and Seattle Genetics, which makes brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris), have updated the warning label on the company’s cancer drug after a second patient developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Study raises questions about aspirin as primary prevention for CVD
January 27, 2012
Aspirin prophylaxis in people without prior cardiovascular disease does not appear to reduce cardiovascular death or cancer mortality, according to the results of a meta-analysis published online January 9 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Statin use among older women may increase DM risk
January 27, 2012
Older women who use statins may be at an increased risk for diabetes mellitus, according to the results of a study published online January 9, in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study offers benchmark for VTE risk after joint replacement; follow-up needed
January 27, 2012
Approximately 1 in 100 patients undergoing total or partial knee replacement surgery and 1 in 200 patients undergoing total or partial hip replacement surgery will experience a venous thromboembolism event, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, before being discharged from the hospital, according to a new study.
New guidelines recommend blood-glucose testing for all hospitalized patients
January 27, 2012
The Endocrine Society recently released new clinical practice guidelines recommending that all patients have their blood-glucose levels tested upon admission to the hospital, even if they haven’t been diagnosed with diabetes.
Ranbaxy accepts consent decree, permanent injunction
January 26, 2012
Indian drug giant Ranbaxy has accepted a consent decree filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of FDA. The decree, which must still be accepted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, requires Ranbaxy to fix long-standing manufacturing problems at plants in India as well as a plant in the United States.
Chlorthalidone treatment increased life expectancy of test patients with hypertension
January 13, 2012
The results of a long-term follow-up of chlorthalidone stepped-care therapy for isolated systolic hypertension demonstrated that the treatment is associated with a longer life expectancy.
Study: BP increase at middle age may indicate lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease
January 13, 2012
Individuals who are able to maintain or decrease their blood pressure (BP) to normal levels during middle age have the lowest lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease. In contrast, individuals who experience an increase in BP have higher lifetime risks, according to a study published in Circulation.
McNeil recalls some Motrin products from retailers
January 13, 2012
FDA announced in late December that McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Motrin IB 24-count coated caplets, Motrin IB 24-count coated tablets, and Motrin IB 24+6-count coated caplets from retailers.
FDA: Additional concentration of infant liquid acetaminophen available
January 13, 2012
In a safety announcement, FDA notified the public that that an additional concentration of liquid acetaminophen marketed for "infants" (160 mg/5 mL) is now available at local stores.
Plans re-evaluate their COPD programs in light of changes
January 1, 2012
New drugs to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have increased treatment options. However, they have also caused health plans to re-evaluate their chronic-condition management strategies.
Quality programs best served with clinical data analytics
January 1, 2012
Paying for performance will cause many health plans to rethink how they contract with provider networks, and experts say there are tremendous changes ahead.
FDA Actions in Brief January 2012 (Antares, Isentress, REMS)
January 1, 2012
Recent FDA Approvals (through December 2011) related to (Antares, Isentress, REMS)
Tadalafil (Cialis): A phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
January 1, 2012
New indication: Tadalafil once-daily 5-mg oral tablet is FDA approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in patients with or without erectile dysfunction (ED).
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto): A once-daily oral anticoagulant newly indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation
January 1, 2012
New indication: FDA approved rivaroxaban once-daily oral tablets to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular AF.
Budget crunch, political battles shape 2012 policy agenda
January 1, 2012
Election-year politics will color a range of legislative and policy developments affecting drug development, production, and reimbursement in the coming year, as efforts to reduce government spending on healthcare prompts all parties to search for opportunities to do more with less. Looming over the political landscape is the upcoming Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of the Obama health reform legislation.
Almost half of new molecular entities approved in 2011 considered significant therapeutic advances
January 1, 2012
New molecular entities (NMEs) for calendar year 2011 number 30, considerably above the average of 23 during the past 10 years. Notably among this list are 8 drugs for cancer; 10 targeting orphan diseases; 2 each for hepatitis C and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and 3 anticoagulants.
American Heart Association: Rivaroxaban lowers risks in patients with acute coronary syndrome
January 1, 2012
The oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban lowered the risk of death, heart attack, and stroke in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011 in Orlando, Fla., in mid-November.
American Heart Association: Pharmacists can help heart failure patients with recommended doses of appropriate drugs
January 1, 2012
Even though a new study did not show a correlation between pharmacist intervention and hospitalization and death rates for heart failure patients, the Heart Failure and Optimal Outcomes from Pharmacy Study (HOOPS) is an important study.
FDA Pipeline Preview, January 2012 (Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Celladon, Vertex, Avedro)
January 1, 2012
Recent FDA action (through December 2011) related to staccato loxapine, axitinib, mydicar, kalydeco, riboflavin ophthalmic solution, minocycline hydrochloride
Specialty tier falls out of favor because of access issues
January 1, 2012
Spending growth for specialty drugs rose 19.6% between 2009 and 2010, while growth of traditional drugs decreased by 1.4%, according to Express Scripts' 2010 Drug Specialty Report. Payers are struggling to appropriately manage high-cost drugs while ensuring their members get the care they need. One strategy is introducing a specialty drug tier to the formulary, which raises a red flag on access issues.
Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy scheduled
December 2, 2011
The 12th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy will be held July 7-9, 2012, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
FDA advisory committee votes to extend use of pneumococcal vaccine to adults
December 2, 2011
FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biologics Advisory Committee recently voted in favor of expanding the indication for the pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine (Prevnar 13) for the prevention of pneumococcal disease in adults age 50 years and older, Pfizer Inc, the drug’s manufacturer, said in a statement.
