News

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.

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.

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.

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.

Antithrombotics

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.

Paying for performance will cause many health plans to rethink how they contract with provider networks, and experts say there are tremendous changes ahead.

Recent FDA Approvals (through December 2011) related to (Antares, Isentress, REMS)

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).

New indication: FDA approved rivaroxaban once-daily oral tablets to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular AF.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recent FDA action (through December 2011) related to staccato loxapine, axitinib, mydicar, kalydeco, riboflavin ophthalmic solution, minocycline hydrochloride

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.

Providers and payers appear to be moving steadily toward an accountable-care model of healthcare delivery, and competitive markets influence the development.

Advocates for community-based plans are driving the message that they can and do provide value.

ACOs will be expected to have accreditation as a minimum standard.

While the politicians campaign, the federal government will continue to roll out the programs created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Most top-quality health plans in the U.S. are offered by nonprofit organizations, says Bruce McPherson, president and CEO of Alliance for Advancing Nonprofit Health Care. He bases that claim on 2011 rankings recently released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)

Cancer drives healthcare costs - to the tune of $124 billion on cancer drugs in 2010 alone - according to Medco, a pharmacy benefit manager. But nutritional counseling of cancer patients is often ignored, even though by some estimates most cancer patients will develop clinical malnutrition.

Nearly a third of the Medicare population is obese, which leads to more serious health problems that are expensive to treat. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have decided to cover obesity screening and counseling as a preventative measure, but are primary care physicians equipped to provide such services?

Prime Therapeutics (Prime) will administer pharmacy benefits for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) commercial customers staring in April next year. The companies say the move will result in lower pharmacy costs for BCBSNC customers and more flexibility regarding services and programs.

The 12th Asian Conference on Clinical Pharmacy will be held July 7-9, 2012, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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.

FDA approved the first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium tablets).

Hospital systems are partnering with church and community-based organizations to extend their reach into neighborhoods where access can might be problematic.

Industry experts say although it seems early for states to establish insurance exchanges, they shouldn't risk waiting too long.

Switching patients from intravenous drugs to pill forms of the same drugs could safely save millions