News

Intravenous dolasetron mesylate (Anzemet) should no longer be used to prevent nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in adult or pediatric patients due to an associated dose-dependant increase in QTc prolongation, according to a recent FDA drug safety communication.

Different opioids had different safety profiles when administered to older adults for noncancer pain, according to results from a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

New indication: Recombinant HPV quadrivalent (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) vaccine (Gardasil) was approved for the prevention of anal cancer and associated precancerous lesions due to HPV in persons aged 9 to 26 years.

This article reviews the emerging class of peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonists and provides insight on formulary considerations when evaluating these agents.

Workers covered by ASOs surpassed the number of workers covered by fully insured arrangements in 2009

Base salaries for top health plan executives increased at the lowest rate in more than a decade

Government agencies will seek to hold not only companies, but also their officers and directors, accountable for lapses in compliance

Insurers must disclose new rates and justify increases that exceed certain thresholds

Adults in the United States are more likely than those in 10 other countries to forgo healthcare due to costs

Nursing home care can be delayed with community services

There are no signs that economic recession is slowing the growth of wellness programs with 74% of employers offering them

Many wonder whether a wave of consolidations will take place as smaller health plans seek economies of scale

As Republication leadership strives to dismantle the law, administration officials are taking steps to protect it

The obvious course of action for managed care organizations might be to take a wait-and-see attitude

Healthcare industry leaders have had to adopt a new way of thinking to prepare for business interruption

What is one thing everyone wants even though no one knows exactly what it is? An accountable care organization.

A former pilot project, Humana Cares has grown its care management abilities

FDA has approved vilazodone HCl tablets (Viibryd, Clinical Data) for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder.

FDA approved spinosad (Natroba, ParaPRO LLC) Topical Suspension 0.9% for the treatment of head lice infestation in patients aged 4 years and older.

With the healthcare reform law repeal exercise behind them, Congressional leaders can get down to focusing on ways to eliminate or repair some of the more contentious reform provisions and to modify others, according to policy watchers.

FDA has sent MannKind Corp. a complete response letter regarding the company?s NDA for Afrezza Inhalation Powder for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes for the control of hyperglycemia.

Concern that its potential clot-preventing drug vorapaxar increased the risk of bleeding in stroke victims has prompted Merck & Co. to halt a late-stage study of the drug, the Associated Press reported.

Elderly patients have difficulty with long-term adherence to medications following myocardial infarction, and this is significantly worse among those with kidney dysfunction, according to a study published online January 13 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, HealthDay News reported.

Antiepileptic drugs may increase the risk of nontraumatic fractures in patients aged 50 years and older, according to a study published in the January issue of the Archives of Neurology, HealthDay News reported.

A combination drug therapy given initially appears to result in better blood pressure control in individuals compared with those who are treated with monotherapy, according to research published online January 13 in The Lancet, HealthDay News reported. Those who underwent the 2-drug treatment after taking the single-drug therapy also experienced better blood pressure outcomes, though not at the same level as those who began with the combination treatment.

Commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death, according to a meta-analysis published January 11 in British Medical Journal, HealthDay News reported.

FDA and Roxane Laboratories are warning of serious adverse events and deaths as a result of a mistake in dosage of morphine sulfate oral solutions.

A 2-week course of rifaximin (Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals) relieved bloating and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome for more than 2 months after treatment ended, according to research published January 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Rifaximin is the first treatment that targets the underlying cause of IBS, rather than just treating the symptoms, researchers said.

FDA has approved the premix formulation of vancomycin injection, USP (750 mg/150 mL) (Baxter). Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat severe infections caused by susceptible strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and/or treat patients who are penicillin-resistant.

Severe liver injury, including 2 cases of acute liver failure leading to liver transplant in patients treated with the medication, has been associated with the use of dronedarone (Multaq), according to an FDA Drug Safety Communication announcement.