Formulary Watch |

Personalized treatments for lung cancer underused: International survey

Despite the majority of newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients being tested for genetic mutations, a gap still exists for providing a personalized treatment plan for patients. An international survey, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, found that 60% of US oncologists do not determine their treatment decision based on patient’s genetic mutation subtype, compared with 50% in Canada and 23% in Asia.

Medicare Part D scripts reach $103 billion

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday released new data on Medicare Part D prescription drugs prescribed by physicians and other health care professionals in 2013.

[BLOG]: Big pharma and the new trend of acquisitions

Biologic and pharmaceutical companies, along with their financial advisors or venture capital partners, have used mergers and acquisitions over the years to create value to keep their leading positions in a changing market. The era of pharmaceutical companies relying on blockbusters for their growth is over as more and more of these drugs have faced patent expiration, with no indication that new medicinal discoveries will emerge to take their place.

Opioid addiction treatment in the ED better than referrals

Emergency department (ED) patients with opioid dependence who receive a brief intervention and ED-initiated treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone and referral to primary care for 10-week follow up, are twice as likely to be engaged in addiction treatment at 30 days compared with standard referral and a brief intervention with a facilitated referral, according to a study published in JAMA.

FDA approves Cyramza for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

FDA has approved Cyramza (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly) injection for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer with disease progression on or after prior therapy.

AbbVie hopes to advance HCV treatment for genotype 4

AbbVie’s investigational hepatitis C virus (HCV) cocktail has been granted FDA priority review April 23 for the treatment of adult patients with chronic genotype 4 (GT4) HCV infection-the first investigational drug combination for GT4 infection, which accounts for about 6% of HCV cases in the United States.

FDA approves first generic Abilify

The FDA approved the first generic versions of Abilify (aripiprazole), an antipsychotic drug approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, on April 28.

Chronically ill patients fearful of unreported drug switching by insurers, PBMs

Insurers and pharmacists should not switch effective therapies without patient and physician notification, according to a national survey of stabilized autoimmune patients that explored their perspectives on switching prescribed biological medicines.

New data: Hospital readmission among NVAF hospitalized patients treated with new oral anticoagulants

Data from a real-world analysis provided an early view of hospital readmissions among hospitalized nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with new oral anticoagulants (NOACs).

Statins cost-effective in elderly patients: Study

Statins could be a cost-effective tool for preventing heart attacks and other cardiovascular incidents in adults over aged 75 years, but the benefits would need to be weighed against potential side effects, a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Study finds liposomal bupivacaine improves patient, cost outcomes after knee replacement

Use of bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (Exparel) was associated with im-proved clinical outcomes and a favorable cost savings per patient compared to the standard of care, according to data presented at the 27th annual meeting and expo of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy in San Diego.

Generic drug prices rise, but may slow

While generic drug prices continue to rise, analysts say they may not continue their rapid growth rate.

Americans want drug pricing reform

Soaring prescription drug prices is quickly becoming a hot-button political topic, as American consumers are saying that pricing is out-of-control.

Teva’s Mylan bid set to shake up industry

Teva Pharmaceutical’s unsolicited $40 billion offer to acquire Mylan N.V. is expected to shake up the pharmaceutical industry, especially in the areas of generic and specialty drugs. A Teva acquisition of Mylan would be the biggest health care deal of the year so far and the largest acquisition ever proposed by an Israeli company, according to S.&P. Capital IQ, The New York Times reported.

Children with cerebral palsy, epilepsy need flu vaccine but don’t always get it

Children who have neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy or epilepsy are no more likely to be vaccinated against influenza than children without these conditions, despite the increased risk for complications from flu these children experience, according to a study published online April 9 in Vaccine. Moreover, healthcare providers may not be familiar with the increased risk among these patients to effectively recommend influenza vaccine.

Drop in opioid Rx, overdoses linked to pharmacy changes

The introduction of abuse-deterrent OxyContin, couple with the removal of propoxyphene from the US prescription marketplace may have played a role in decreasing opioid prescribing and overdoses, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

PPIs linked to risk of acute kidney injury in elderly

Older adults taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were more likely to have an increased risk of acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis, according to a study published in CMAJ Open.

Opioid benefits may not outweigh risks

After an extensive review, researchers said they were unsure whether the risks of prescription opioids outweighed the potential benefits for managing chronic pain.

Be vigilant of counterfeit version of Botox found in United States

A counterfeit version of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) was found in the United States and may have been sold to doctors’ offices and medical clinics nationwide. The version is considered unsafe and should not be used.

FDA approves Corlanor to treat heart failure

FDA has approved ivabradine (Corlanor, Amgen) to reduce hospitalization due to worsening heart failure. Corlanor is an antianginal agent approved for use in patients who have chronic heart failure caused by the lower-left part of the heart not contracting well.

FDA approves changes to hep C drug label to include new warnings

FDA has approved changes to the hepatitis C antiviral simeprevir (Olysio, Janssen) label to include new warnings about serious symptomatic bradycardia-slowing of the heart rate-when co-administered with antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone and antiviral sofosbuvir (Solvaldi, Gilead).

FDA approves Copaxone for MS; problems persist

The FDA today approved the first generic version of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) for treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) on April 16.

Waldenstrom’s drug shows sustained benefit at 2 years

Ibrutinib, a newly approved drug for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia, a rare form of lymphoma, continued to control the rare blood cancer, with 95% of patients surviving for 2 years, according to a new study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Study: Drug costs for hereditary angioedema tripled in 2 years

Patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) are accruing specialty drug treatment costs of more than $300,000 annually on average, according to a study presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 27th Annual Meeting and Expo, in San Diego.

[BLOG]: Clinical pharmacogenomics: Meeting the needs of the community through a dedicated clinic

BLOG: Pharmacogenomics is the study of how DNA differences affect response to medications. This can explain why similar patients have different reactions to the same medication even if they receive the same dosage. The pharmacogenomics clinic at NorthShore is the first step toward a larger implementation.

New cystic fibrosis drugs may significantly increase pharmacy benefit costs

New cystic fibrosis treatments, that target the gene mutations causing the disease, will significantly increase healthcare costs, according to a study presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 27th Annual Meeting and Expo, in San Diego.

Study: Reduce long-term care use among patients with Parkinson’s disease psychosis

Reducing long-term care utilization among patients with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) may lower overall economic burden, according to data presented at the American Managed Care Pharmacy 27th Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego.

Study: Babies exposed to narcotic pain relievers more likely to experience drug withdrawal syndrome

Pregnant women are commonly being prescribed opioids - narcotic pain relievers such as hydrocodone - which results in an increased likelihood of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal syndrome that opioid-related infants experience shortly after birth, according to a study in Pediatrics.

FDA: Diabetes drugs don’t need death warning

Onglyza, the diabetes medication manufactured by AstraZeneca, may be associated with an increased death rate, according to a preliminary review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Louisiana bill seeks closed formulary

A Louisiana senator is calling for a closed drug formulary for the state’s Worker’s Compensation program, to help combat the overutilization of opioids and compounded drugs.