Formulary Watch |

Peginterferon maintenance therapy does not improve progression in HCV

Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have not responded to previous treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2a (peginterferon) and ribavirin do not demonstrate a reduced rate of disease progression when they undergo long-term treatment with pegylated interferon alfa-2a compared with untreated patients. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Generic CV drugs are clinically equivalent to brand-name drugs

Evidence supports the clinical equivalence of generic and brand-name cardiovascular drugs, according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Despite this evidence, more than half of the editorials discussing the issue of generic interchangeability that were assessed in this analysis do not support generic substitution for brand-name cardiovascular drugs.

Formulary Digital Edition December 2008

Clinical news updates from the 2008 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; Preferential formulary listing of a proton-pump inhibitor; Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Toviaz (fesoterodine): Muscarinic receptor antagonist approved for the treatment of overactive bladder

New molecular entity: Fesoterodine (Toviaz), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, was approved on October 31, 2008, for the treatment of overactive bladder

Second-generation antidepressants similar in efficacy

Second-generation antidepressants generally have equivalent efficacy, according to a review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Although these agents demonstrate similar response rates, differences in onset of action or side effects may affect prescribing decisions.

Labeling updates and warnings through December 2008 for efalizumab and bisphosphonates

Labeling updates and warnings through December 2008 for efalizumab and bisphosphonates

Bevacizumab associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism

Treatment with bevacizumab is associated with a significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism, according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Economic crisis will challenge Obama's health coverage expansion plans

2008 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions: Clinical news updates

Among the new data presented at the 2008 AHA Scientific Sessions were the results of JUPITER, as well as a phase 2 study of rivaroxaban and an observational study of DES versus BMS in diabetics.

FDA Pipeline preview, December 2008 (denileukin, ferumoxytol, cetuximab, HQK-1001, ALD-101, NTX-010, RTA 402)

Recent FDA action (through December 2008) related to denileukin, ferumoxytol, cetuximab, HQK-1001, ALD-101, NTX-010, and RTA 402

First-time generic drug approvals, December 2008

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through December 2008) including levetiracetam tablets, dorzolamide/timolol ophthalmic solution, and dorzolamide ophthalmic solution

FDA actions in brief, December 2008 (Kogenate FS, Treanda, Prezista, Seroquel XR, Apriso, Precedex, Reyataz, Vaprisol, LoSeasonique, Astepro, Apidra, Risperdal Consta, Stalevo, Akten, Taxus, Ontak)

Recent FDA approvals (through December 2008) related to Kogenate FS, Treanda, Prezista, Seroquel XR, Apriso, Precedex, Reyataz, Vaprisol, LoSeasonique, Astepro, Apidra, Risperdal Consta, Stalevo, Akten, Taxus, and Ontak.

Cinryze: C1 inhibitor approved for prophylaxis of angioedema attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE)

New biologic: C1 inhibitor (human) (Cinryze) was approved on October 10, 2008, for routine prophylaxis against angioedema attacks in adolescent and adult patients with hereditary angioedema

Vimpat (lacosamide): Antiepileptic drug approved as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in adults

New molecular entity: Lacosamide (Vimpat), an antiepileptic drug, was approved on October 28, 2008, as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients with epilepsy aged 17 years or older

Rapaflo (silodosin): Alpha-blocker approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

New molecular entity: Silodosin (Rapaflo), an alpha-blocker, was approved on October 8, 2008, for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH

Preferential formulary listing of a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI): Compliance with policy in a Canadian military population

In 2003, the Canadian Forces (CF) drug benefit plan used preferential listing to control costs associated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs); however, significant expenditures for nonbenefit PPIs continued. A database review was thus conducted to explain this anomalous usage pattern. This study provides further information regarding the effectiveness of preferred listing as a cost-saving measure, noting that adherence to such policies may be less than projected.

Drug Watch: Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (December 2008) (PDF)

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

June 2008 BPA

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2009 Marketing Calendar

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2009 Rate Card

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2009 Media Kit

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California court: Wyeth accountable for harms caused by generic metoclopramide

On November 7, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, California, overturned a previous ruling in the case of Conte v Wyeth and ruled that Wyeth, the manufacturer of Reglan (metoclopramide), should be held responsible for harm caused to Elizabeth Conte, who developed tardive dyskinesia after taking generic metoclopramide for nearly 4 years. The court upheld the previous ruling in favor of Purepac, Pliva, and Teva, manufacturers of generic metoclopramide.

Pneumonia mortality rates lower for statin users

In a large, population-based cohort study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, current use of statins by patients hospitalized with pneumonia was associated with a decreased risk of death after hospital admission compared with nonusers of statins.

Metformin moderately protective against CV risk in type 2 diabetics

Compared with biguanides, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, and second-generation sulfonylureas, metformin is the sole oral therapy associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular (CV) mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a meta-analysis published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Diabetes treatment becoming more complex, more expensive

In a survey of trends in diabetes treatment from 1994 to 2007, investigators observed an increasing incidence of diabetes, a greater variety of drugs and combinations available for treatment, and a marked increase in the annual cost of diabetes medications.

Pre-emption case of Wyeth v Levine in hands of US Supreme Court

On November 3, the US Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Wyeth v Levine; the ultimate decision of the Court on this case may set a precedent on the issue of pre-emption, a tenet that FDA actions regarding drug approvals and medication safety supersede state laws.

Conflicts of interest under investigation as policies begin to change

Development of rimonabant and CP-945,598 for obesity is discontinued

One month after Merck announced that the company was discontinuing development of taranabant, an investigational selective blocker of the cannabinoid-1 (CB-1) receptor that was being studied for the treatment of obesity, Sanofi-Aventis and Pfizer announced that they were also halting the development of their investigational CB-1 receptor antagonists (rimonabant and CP-945,598, respectively).

Conte v Wyeth: Name-brand drug maker accountable for alleged harm caused by generic drug

On November 7, 2008, a California Intermediate Appellate Court in San Francisco held that the "common-law duty [of Wyeth] to use due care in formulating its product warnings extends to patients whose doctors foreseeably rely on its product information when prescribing metoclopramide, whether the prescription is written for and/or filled with Reglan or its generic equivalent."

Development of atacicept for lupus in patients with SLE is discontinued

A phase 2/3 trial of atacicept in combination with mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids for the treatment of lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus has been discontinued.