Feb. FDA Pipeline
New entities and actions in brief
Ventavis
Iloprost
COTHERIX
Lunesta
Eszopiclone
SEPRACOR
FIRST PRESCRIPTION SLEEP AID NOT LIMITED TO SHORT-TERM USE
The effect of this nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic agent is believed to result from its interaction with gamma-amino butyric acid-receptor complexes at binding domains located close to or allosterically coupled to benzodiazepine receptors. Eszopiclone was approved on December 15, 2004, for the treatment of insomnia.
Cost. According to the manufacturer, the average wholesale price of eszopiclone will be $3.70 per tablet.
FDA Actions in brief Pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer) was approved for the management of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.
FDA approved pegaptanib injection (Macugen, Eyetech/Pfizer) for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration.
Darifenacin (Enablex, Novartis) was approved for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency.
FDA approved paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension (albumin-bound) (Abraxane, American Pharmaceutical Partners/American Bioscience) for the treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy.
An oral solution formulation of aripiprazole (Abilify Oral Solution, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Otsuka) was approved by FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder.
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks New Role, Market Insulin Prices and Other Topics 'On His Mind'
April 13th 2023In this month’s episode of the "What's On Your Mind podcast," Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of MHE connects with the now Chief Clinical Officer of OptumRx Integrated Pharmacies, David Calabrese. In this conversation, David touches on his transition in January as OptumRx’s former chief pharmacy officer and market president of health plans and PBMs to his new role as Chief Clinical Officer where he now focuses more on things such as specialty pharmacy to home delivery — with an overall goal of creating whole-patient care. Throughout the conversation, Calabrese also touched on the market’s hot topic of insulin prices and behavioral health services within the OptumRx community, among other topics.
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Upended: Can PBM Transparency Succeed?
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Briana Contreras, editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Nancy Lurker, CEO and president of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. Nancy shared a bit about EyePoint and how the organization’s innovative therapies are addressing patient needs through eye care, and most importantly, she addressed C-Suite positions like the CEO role. Nancy shared advice for those seeking to reach the CEO level, especially toward women in healthcare and other roles, and what it takes to run a biopharma company.
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The deliberate disconnection of Change Healthcare to ring fence a cyberattack entered its seventh day today. Prescribers are finding ways to get pharmacy claims processed, and UnitedHealth Group says disruption to the dispensing of prescriptions has been minimal. But independent pharmacies want more information and protection from financial consequences from pharmacy benefit managers.
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