Formulary Watch |

Top 5 findings about IPF patients

Most idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients have considerably impaired lung function and gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common co-morbidity, according to initial results from the IPF-PRO Registry.

First nasal spray helps with drug overdoses

Manufactured by Adapt Pharma, Narcan is the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Up until now, naloxone has only been available in an injectable form.

Cotellic approved as part of combo treatment for advanced melanoma

FDA has approved cobimetinib (Cotellic, Genentech) to be used in combination with vemurafenib (Zelboraf) for the treatment of advanced melanoma.

First-of-its kind myeloma drug approved

The FDA accelerated approval for Darzalex injection for intravenous infusion for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent.

FDA OKs modified antihemophilic factor for hemophilia A

FDA has approved recombinant, PEGlyated Antihemophilic Factor (Adynovate, Baxalta) for use in patients who have Hemophilia A.

FDA approves Yondelis for LPS, LMS

FDA approved Yondelis (trabectedin), by Janssen Biotech for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma (LPS) or leiomyosarcoma (LMS) who received a prior anthracycline-containing regimen.

FDA approves Harvoni for new uses

FDA recently approved Harvoni for expanded use in patients with genotype 4, 5 and 6 chronic hepatitis C virus infection – as well as in hepatitis C patients co-infected with HIV.

Sarilumab effective in broad range of RA patients: Study

Sarilumab, an investigational, human antibody against the IL-6 receptor, is highly effective in the difficult-to-treat TNF-IR population in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to data presented during the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California.

Doctors understand patients’ IPF concerns

A new survey of over 400 pulmonologists from 10 countries found that 88% of pulmonologists believe a delay in the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis negatively impacts patients.

5 things to know about the new HIV treatment

The Food and Drug Administration last week approved Genvoya, marketed by Gilead Sciences, to treat HIV-1 infection.

FDA approves first-of-its-kind product for treating skin cancer

FDA has approved talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic, Amgen) for the treatment of unresectable melanoma lesions.

Top 6 new facts on drug overdoses

Deaths from drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death in the United States, ahead of deaths linked to motor vehicles and firearms, according to the new 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA), released by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Woodcock to keynote PFF Summit

Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA, will speak about the future of drug development in pulmonary fibrosis during the PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside conference, November 12-14 in Washington D.C.

Specialty pharmacy to close over Valeant pricing flap

After Valeant and Express Scripts cut ties with mail order specialty pharmacy Philidor Rx Services, the company said it would be closing.

[BLOG]: Debunking common misconceptions about IV automation to elevate patient safety

Advancements in IV robotics are mitigating the risks of human error in the compounding process. The misconceptions of IV robotics are many, but there are also many real world examples of how hospitals and health systems are improving processes by implementing technology to support in-house sterile compounding.

FDA approves new COPD treatments

FDA approved the dual combination bronchodilator Utibron Neohaler (indacaterol/glycopyrrolate) and the stand-alone monotherapy Seebri Neohaler (glycopyrrolate) – which is one component of Utibron Neohaler -- for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

FDA expands use of melanoma drug

The FDA this week expanded the approved use of Yervoy (ipilimumab) to include a new use as adjuvant therapy for patients with stage III melanoma - lowering the risk that melanoma will return following surgery.

Portal provides diabetes genetic data

A new online library or knowledge portal, the Type 2 Diabetes Genetics Beta, has been launched to provide open-access searching of genetic and clinical information on type 2 diabetes.

Telemonitoring reduces diabetes patients’ blood sugar levels

A pharmacist-led telemonitoring program reduced blood sugar levels in diabetics, according to a new study.

Buccal buprenorphine approved for patients with chronic pain

FDA has approved buprenorphine (Belbuca, Endo Pharmaceuticals) buccal film for use in patients with chronic pain.

FDA approves first reversal agent for anticoagulant Pradaxa

FDA has approved idarucizumab (Praxbind, Boehringer Ingelheim) as the first reversal agent for Pradaxa.

Top 3 new findings on nintedanib to treat IPF

When two new treatments for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) were approved by FDA last year, there was not much data available on the drugs in patient populations.

FDA approves new treatment for pancreatic cancer

The FDA approved Onivyde (irinotecan liposome injection), in combination with fluorouracil and leucovorin, to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) pancreatic cancer who have been previously treated with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

Rare metabolic disorder now has new treatment

FDA approved Strensiq (asfotase alfa) as the first approved treatment for perinatal, infantile and juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia (HPP).

FDA approves Veltassa to treat hyperkalemia

FDA approved patiromer (Veltassa, Relypsa) oral suspension for the treatment of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is the condition when blood potassium levels are higher than normal in the kidneys, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms or sometimes death.

New osteoarthritis drug expands options for low-dose NSAIDs

FDA approved meloxicam (Vivlodex, Iroko Pharmaceuticals, LLC) capsules, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the management of osteoarthritis pain in 5-mg and 10-mg doses administered once daily.

FDA approves orphan drug for bleeding disorder

The FDA this week approved Coagadex, Coagulation Factor X (Human) for hereditary Factor X (10) deficiency. Until the new orphan drug approval, no specific coagulation factor replacement therapy was available for patients with hereditary Factor X deficiency.

[BLOG]: Diagnostics as aids for specialty drug treatment

Laboratory diagnostics are essential tools of physician practice, informing many medical decisions. Physicians will increasingly rely on companion and other types of lab diagnostics that consider genetic, proteomic, or other markers in connection with drug treatment strategies.

[BLOG]: Pain management: Can we balance patient access, safety and economic value?

Pain management is a problem for patients, practitioners, pharmacists, and others. Many patients are not getting the care and relief they deserve, even when they suffer from acute or chronic pain. In this blog post, Srinivas Nalamachu, MD asks if its possible to balance patient access to pain medication with safety and economic value.

Valeant CEO says drug pricing may drop

The CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which is being investigated by the government for raising drug prices, predicted more modest price increases ahead for the pharmaceutical industry.