Prescription Drug News and Research

RSS

States struggle with budget cuts and Medicaid funding issues

News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level especially budget cuts and Medicaid funding issues.

7 Dec 2009

Deals on health reform in jeopardy as support from drugmakers, senior groups is tested

The pharmaceutical industry's support for a health care reform bill in the Senate is in jeopardy as Senate Democrats ponder squeezing more cost savings out of drug makers to help pay for the overhaul, The Associated Press reports.

7 Dec 2009

Updated results from phase III EXTEND clinical trial of pixantrone released

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. ("CTI") announced today that Ruth Pettengell, M.D. of St. George's Hospital, University of London during a session at the 2009 American Society of Hematology ("ASH") Annual Meeting updated results from the pivotal phase III EXTEND (PIX 301) clinical trial of pixantrone (the "PIX 301 EXTEND trial") in relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma ("NHL") patients who have failed 2 or more prior therapies.

7 Dec 2009

Health experts available to discuss national healthcare policy issues

Experts at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and the USC School of Pharmacy are available to discuss critical national healthcare and healthcare policy issues.

5 Dec 2009

Humana introduces senior-friendly dance pad video game at Kissimmee Guidance Center

What: Humana (http://www.humana.com), Florida's largest Medicare health benefits provider, is introducing Dancetown (http://humanagames.com), a senior-friendly dance pad video game at its Kissimmee Guidance Center on Tues., Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.

5 Dec 2009

Congress will not let the full SGR cuts take effect

Despite claims that the pending health reform bills aren't really paid for because Congress never lets Medicare savings take effect, Congress has allowed the vast majority of Medicare cuts that it enacted in the past two decades to take effect and produce significant savings, a new study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows.

5 Dec 2009

Democrats stress 'doughnut hole' provisions to woo senior support for reform

The Associated Press: "Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the 'doughnut hole' — a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year. But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats repeated town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings."

4 Dec 2009

APCER Pharma Solutions' webinar on 2010 FDA drug safety and pharmacovigilance initiatives

APCER Pharma Solutions, Inc.’s webinar on 2010 FDA drug safety and pharmacovigilance initiatives gave more than 250 professionals in the life sciences-related industries the jump start they needed to prepare for important changes next year.

4 Dec 2009

Caregivers are not choosing low cost plan option, says new study

A new study from Caring.com has revealed at least a third of its members are caring for aging parents or loved ones enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and among this group, only half are aware of how and where to enroll in the program and less than half (40%) are aware of what it covers.

4 Dec 2009

American Pain Society supports FDA drug disposal guidelines

Calling it "an important first step in attempting to reverse an escalating public health menace caused by diversion of prescription opioid pain medications," the American Pain Society today announced its support for a new FDA initiative to encourage consumers to remove unused pain drugs from home medicine cabinets.

3 Dec 2009

Senators consider women's insurance amendment, Medicare funding issues, with votes likely today

The New York Times: "In a day of desultory debate on sweeping health care legislation, senators appealed to two potent political constituencies ... with Democrats seeking additional medical benefits for women and Republicans vowing to preserve and protect Medicare for older Americans. The Democrats' first amendment, offered by Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, would require insurers to cover more screenings and preventive care for women, with no co-payments."

2 Dec 2009

American Scientific Resources commences production of its FDA approved home needle destruction device

American Scientific Resources, Inc., announces that the Disintegrator Plus(TM), the world's only FDA approved home needle destruction device (NDD), is in its first production run for ASR.

2 Dec 2009

Sepracor to present clinical study data of STEDESA at the 2009 AES meeting

Sepracor Inc. today announced that clinical study data for STEDESA™ (eslicarbazepine acetate) will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) in Boston. Seven posters describing new safety analyses will be presented at the Hynes Convention Center during the formal poster session on Saturday, December 5, 2009 between 1:00 pm and 8:00 pm EST.

2 Dec 2009

Individuals in CDHPs likely to exhibit a number of cost-conscious behaviors

Individuals in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) are more likely than those with traditional coverage to exhibit a number of cost-conscious behaviors, to be more engaged in wellness programs, and to be more inclined to think that financial incentives matter in holding down costs, according to survey results released today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).

2 Dec 2009

Educational resource guide about pharmaceutical industry practices released

The educational resource, "The Value of Medicine, Improving Health... Improving Life," created by Lilly USA (NYSE: LLY), is now available at www.lillyforbetterhealth.com/value_of_medicine.jsp. The booklet supports Lilly's commitment to providing "Answers That Matter" and encourages an open dialogue with patients, providers, payers and the public about pharmaceutical industry practices.

2 Dec 2009

FDA approves Schering-Plough's New Drug Application for ZEGERID OTC capsules

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.’s, New Drug Application (NDA) for ZEGERID OTC™ Capsules (omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate) with a dosage strength of 20 mg of omeprazole for over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of frequent heartburn.

2 Dec 2009

New data on pixantrone Phase III trial in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to be presented

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) announced today that Ruth Pettengell, M.D. of St. George's Hospital, University of London, the lead investigator for the PIX 301 EXTEND trial will present new data on the pixantrone phase III trial in relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on Saturday, December 5, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

2 Dec 2009

Drug risk disclosures not read due to information overload, condensed version needed

When it comes to risk disclosures made by drug companies in print and television ads, many consumers are not paying attention, according to a recent study by ORC Guideline (an infoGROUP company). The latest study in the company’s Under the Skin series found that 41% of US consumers pay little or no attention to risk information presented by pharmaceutical companies in their TV commercials, and only half (50%) pay attention to such disclosures in print ads. This lack of attention is most prevalent among those 55 years of age or older.

1 Dec 2009

Medicare prescription drug plan premiums to average 11 percent rise in 2010

Premiums for Medicare Part D plans will rise an average of 11 percent next year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The cost for all Medicare prescription plans has increased 50 percent nationally since 2006.

30 Nov 2009

Patients may not benefit from e-samples of prescription drugs, says UW

Search the Internet to learn about your asthma, high cholesterol or other common disorder, and odds are you'll be directed to a pharmaceutical company-sponsored Web homepage. There you'll often find an offer for a free sample or a one-time discount on a top-selling prescription medication.

25 Nov 2009