Formulary Watch

All News - Page 61

Hospital Pharmacists Concerned About Actemra Shortage

September 2, 2021

Pharmacists are referring patients elsewhere or are shifting patients who were using the IV form to the subcutaneous injection. The NIH has also recommended using Kevzara as an alternative where there are shortages of Actemra.

FDA Approves Twice-a-Year Therapy for Schizophrenia

September 1, 2021

Investigators says Janssen’s Invega Hafyera offers longer-term symptom control with the fewest doses per year, which may support greater patient adherence.

Keytruda Receives Full Approval as First-Line Treatment in Bladder Cancer

By Denise Myshko

September 1, 2021

The approval follows the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voting 5-3 in favor of maintaining the approval despite a confirmatory trial that found Keytruda did not meet the end points of overall survival and progression-free survival.

Biogen Reportedly Providing Aduhelm Free for Some Patients

By Christine Blank

August 31, 2021

Florida’s First Choice Neurology has provided Aduhelm to patients through the Biogen access program.

Study Shows Jardiance Improves Heart Failure Outcomes

By Denise Myshko

August 31, 2021

The full results from the Emperor-Preserved trial show Jardiance reduces the risk of hospital and death from heart failure.

FDA Revises EUA for COVID-19 Therapy

By Denise Myshko

August 30, 2021

The combination bamlanivimab and etesevimab can resume use and distribution to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 but only in states where variants resistant to the therapy are low.

FDA Approves Seizure Drug for Infants

August 30, 2021

Tablets, oral solution, and IV dosage forms are now approved as both monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in patients one month of age and older.

Drug Shortages Update—August 29, 2021

August 29, 2021

Genentech Withdraws Tecentriq Approval for Metastatic Breast Cancer

August 27, 2021

Tecentriq did not meet the primary end point in a postmarketing study as a first-line treatment.

FDA Updates Black Box Warning for Linzess

August 27, 2021

The update indicates there is a serious risk of dehydration and is contraindicated in children.

Healthcare Bluebook Launches Bluebook Rx

By Denise Myshko

August 27, 2021

Bluebook Rx is a new solution that helps employers and plan sponsors better understand and optimize their prescription drug spending.

FDA Approves Tibsovo for Rare, Aggressive Cancer

August 26, 2021

Tibsovo is the first targeted therapy for IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile ducts within and outside the liver.

FDA Approves Long-Acting Growth Hormone

August 26, 2021

Developed by Ascendis Pharma, this is the first therapy that delivers growth hormone over one week.

Class Review: Atopic Dermatitis

By Denise Myshko

August 25, 2021

ICER’s policy recommendations suggest payers establish step therapy with less expensive systemic agents to allow patients and clinicians to choose from multiple options.

New Dosing Options are Available for Tirosint-SOL

August 25, 2021

The liquid therapy to treat hypothyroidism now comes in 15 different dosage strengths in single-use packaging.

FDA Approves Expanded Indication for Xarelto

August 24, 2021

Xarelto is now indicated to help reduce the risks of major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease and major thrombotic vascular events.

Antiplatelet Drug Shows Potential as Heart Failure Therapy Treatment

By Christine Blank

August 24, 2021

Preliminary research shows Anplag could be repurposed as a heart failure treatment at a lower cost.

FDA’s Full Approval of COVID-19 Vaccine Expected to Hike Vaccination Rates

By Christine Blank

August 23, 2021

Now called Comirnaty, the vaccine is approved for those 16 years and older.

BMS Seeks Approval of Orencia for Graft Versus Host Disease

August 23, 2021

The FDA has set a PDUFA date of December 23, 2021.

Drug Shortage Tracker for August 22, 2021

August 22, 2021

Recent Generic Approvals and Launches

August 20, 2021

Generics of Chantix, Durezol, Eliquis, and injection potassium/sodium are approved while generics of Tegretol and Levophed are launched.

Onco360 Chosen as Specialty Pharmacy for Welireg

August 20, 2021

The therapy is the first approved for patients with tumors associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.

ICER Releases Draft Report on Mavacamten in Cardiomyopathy

By Denise Myshko

August 19, 2021

The report found that mavacamten offers benefits but was above the threshold of $150,000 per quality-adjusted life-years.

Study: Libtayo is a Cost-effective Treatment in Advanced Skin Cancer vs. Keytruda

August 19, 2021

These results can be used to inform health care decisions, but investigators caution there hasn’t been head-to-head trials of the two therapies.

Study: Health Plans Don’t Seek Patient Input in Drug Coverage Decisions

By Denise Myshko

August 19, 2021

Including patients in the decision-making process, the authors said, is an important component of patient-centered health care.

Genentech Warns of Shortage of Actemra Due to Spike in COVID-19

By Denise Myshko

August 18, 2021

The monoclonal antibody had been given an emergency use authorization to treat COVID-19, but the recent spike in cases is driving a shortage in supply.