Prescription Drug News and Research

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OTN signs agreement to integrate PharmaTrust's technology into telemedicine service offering

PharmaTrust, makers of the world's leading remote prescription drug dispensing technology, has signed an agreement with the Ontario Telemedicine Network that will enable OTN's Members, including hospitals, to integrate PharmaTrust's technology into their telemedicine service offering. This new development will expand access to valuable pharmacy services for Ontarians.

7 Jul 2010

Infoway adds diagnostic imaging, drug information systems to Certification Services

Canada Health Infoway has added diagnostic imaging and drug information systems to its pre-implementation Certification Services. Health information technology vendors can now receive certification for seven classes of technology.

6 Jul 2010

New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan from HHS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition.

2 Jul 2010

Studies on VIAject and Vialog presented at 70th American Diabetes Association sessions

Studies of a more-rapid-acting injectable human insulin formulation (VIAject®) in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and of a novel insulin analog formulation (Vialog™) in an animal model of diabetes were reported this week in three poster presentations at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Orlando, Florida. The findings are based upon results from recent clinical and preclinical studies sponsored by Biodel Inc..

1 Jul 2010

First analyses on impact of Medicare Part D presented at UMB's 2010 Academy/Health Annual Meeting

Some of the first analyses on the impact of Medicare Part D, as well as new insights on drug adherence patterns by chronic disease patients, will be presented today and tomorrow at the 2010 Academy/Health Annual Meeting by several University of Maryland, Baltimore teams of pharmaceutical health services researchers.

1 Jul 2010

Experts examine corporate websites dedicated to 100 best-selling prescription drugs

Dartmouth Linguistics Professor Lewis Glinert and Jon Schommer, the associate head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems at the University of Minnesota, have examined the corporate websites dedicated to the 100 best-selling prescription drugs. They found a startling lack of consistency in an industry where advertising standards are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

1 Jul 2010

Tracking poll finds health reform law gaining in popularity

"The health-care overhaul gained popularity from May to June, according to a new tracking poll." The poll, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation "found that 48 percent of the public had a favorable view of the law in June while 41 percent had an unfavorable opinion." (Kaiser Health News is a program of the foundation.) In May, the tracking poll had found "41 percent favorable to 44 percent unfavorable."

1 Jul 2010

Poll shows growing popularity for health reform law, politicians sound off

1 Jul 2010

Independence Blue Cross announces five new Personal Choice PPO plans

Beginning July 1, 2010, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will offer five new Personal Choice® PPO plan options for individuals – expanding the range of individual plan choices for health care consumers in the region. These medically underwritten plans are available in three popular formats: copay, deductible and health savings account (HSA) plan designs that enable consumers to choose the type of plan and pricing that fits their specific needs.

30 Jun 2010

Health law provisions kicking in; States prepare for high-risk insurance pool implementation

Three months after health reform was enacted, state leaders are beginning to make decisions about implementing the new law, Politico reports: "With the messy politics of health reform, the burden of balancing state budgets and the goal of expanding health coverage, lawmakers at the state level have had mixed reactions."

30 Jun 2010

Experts evlauate impact of Medicare Part D program on independent and chain pharmacies

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Medicare Part D) added prescription drug coverage to Medicare beginning in January 2006.

30 Jun 2010

2 new studies add to evidence of risks with diabetes drug Avandia as FDA prepares to debate it's safety

The Washington Post: Two new studies provide evidence "that the diabetes drug Avandia increases the risk of heart problems and strokes, renewing questions about the safety of the medication. ... The new research, released Monday, should prompt the Food and Drug Administration to remove the drug from the market, according to the researchers who led the analyses and several drug-safety advocates.

30 Jun 2010

Doctors want pain drugs to be tracked

The Hill: Doctors who belong to the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians want lawmakers to give money to help states begin collecting and sharing data on patients who "doctor shop" for pain medications. The group wants $55 million for the program and are asking Congress "to reauthorize a 2005 bill providing grants to states that collect prescription drug information and share it with physicians and pharmacists — and law enforcement officials when there's an investigation — while protecting patients' privacy.

30 Jun 2010

Teenage girls more likely to perceive potential benefits of drug and alcohol use

Survey data released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation found that teenage girls are more likely than teenage boys to perceive potential benefits from drug use and drinking, making teen girls more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse.

29 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 29, 2010

In this Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "Sarah Rose Nordgren works 25 to 30 hours a week as a waitress at an upscale restaurant in Chapel Hill, N.C. She also tutors high- schoolers on their college entrance essays and has an editorial internship at a book publisher. But if something were to go seriously wrong with her health, she'd be in trouble because none of her three jobs offers health insurance" (Kaiser Health News).

29 Jun 2010

Rosiglitazone associated with increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with pioglitazone

A new study published online today by JAMA shows that among patients age 65 years and older, rosiglitazone (a medication for treating Type 2 diabetes) is associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, and all-cause mortality (death) when compared with pioglitazone (another medication for diabetes). The study was published online today in advance of an upcoming Food and Drug Administration meeting that will review the safety of rosiglitazone. The paper will appear in the July 28 print issue of JAMA.

29 Jun 2010

FDA's acceptance for filing of DM-1796 NDA triggers $10M milestone payment to Depomed

Depomed, Inc. today announced that it has received a $10 million milestone payment from Abbott Products, Inc., its licensee of DM-1796, for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's acceptance for filing of the New Drug Application (NDA) for DM-1796 for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), or pain after shingles.

29 Jun 2010

Senate Dems continue Medicaid money, jobless benefits push

The Hill reports that Senate Democrats are pushing to keep a package of jobless benefits and aid to states for their Medicaid programs moving. "More than 1.2 million Americans will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of June if Congress fails to work out a deal on an extension of unemployment benefits, according to the National Employment Law Project, a group studying the issue."

28 Jun 2010

Final results of VIAject vs. RHI Phase 3 study in type 2 diabetes patients presented at 70th ADA

The final results of a six-month, multi-center, open-label Phase 3 study of VIAject® (more-rapid-acting injectable human insulin) versus regular human insulin (RHI) in 471 patients with type 2 diabetes were presented today by Helena Rodbard, M.D., at the 70th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Rodbard was a principal investigator of this study, which was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VIAject® versus regular human insulin when used in combination with insulin glargine.

28 Jun 2010

Orexigen Therapeutics announces data from CORDiabetes trial for Contrave

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced data from the CORDiabetes trial for Contrave (naltrexone sustained release (SR)/bupropion SR) showing that after 56 weeks of treatment, overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes lost significantly more weight and achieved greater improvement in glycemic control than those treated with placebo.

28 Jun 2010

Prescription Drug News and Research

OTN signs agreement to integrate PharmaTrust's technology into telemedicine service offering

Infoway adds diagnostic imaging, drug information systems to Certification Services

New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan from HHS

Studies on VIAject and Vialog presented at 70th American Diabetes Association sessions

First analyses on impact of Medicare Part D presented at UMB's 2010 Academy/Health Annual Meeting

Experts examine corporate websites dedicated to 100 best-selling prescription drugs

Tracking poll finds health reform law gaining in popularity

Poll shows growing popularity for health reform law, politicians sound off

Independence Blue Cross announces five new Personal Choice PPO plans

Health law provisions kicking in; States prepare for high-risk insurance pool implementation

Experts evlauate impact of Medicare Part D program on independent and chain pharmacies

2 new studies add to evidence of risks with diabetes drug Avandia as FDA prepares to debate it's safety

Doctors want pain drugs to be tracked

Teenage girls more likely to perceive potential benefits of drug and alcohol use

First Edition: June 29, 2010

Rosiglitazone associated with increased risk of serious cardiovascular events compared with pioglitazone

FDA's acceptance for filing of DM-1796 NDA triggers $10M milestone payment to Depomed

Senate Dems continue Medicaid money, jobless benefits push

Final results of VIAject vs. RHI Phase 3 study in type 2 diabetes patients presented at 70th ADA

Orexigen Therapeutics announces data from CORDiabetes trial for Contrave

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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