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Stanford study finds that overprescription of opioids goes beyond ‘pill mill’ prescribers

Most prescriptions for opioid painkillers are made by the broad swath of U.S. general practitioners, not by a limited group of specialists, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

17 Dec 2015

FDA approves Teligent's sNDA for CEFOTAN (cefotetan) for Injection

Teligent, Inc., a New Jersey-based specialty generic pharmaceutical company, today announced it has received approval of the Company's supplemental new drug application (sNDA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CEFOTAN (cefotetan) for Injection.

11 Dec 2015

New guidelines may help reduce medication use among seniors

We're not getting any younger. According to the Administration for Community Living, by 2060, there will be about 98 million older persons in the United States — more than twice their number in 2013.

11 Dec 2015

Economic and racial barriers impact treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis

In the first known study to examine the prevalence and treatment of psoriasis in older Americans, experts from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found that black patients receiving Medicare are less likely to receive biologic therapies -medications derived from human or animal cells or tissues - for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis than white patients.

9 Dec 2015

Meridian Health Plan wins 2015 Top Workplaces award

Meridian Health Plan has been awarded a 2015 Top Workplaces honor by the Detroit Free Press. The Top Workplaces lists are based solely on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by WorkplaceDynamics, LLC, a leading research firm that specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement.

25 Nov 2015

Health experts urge lawmakers, regulators to close loopholes in Orphan Drug Act

Health experts at Johns Hopkins Medicine are calling on lawmakers and regulators to close loopholes in the Orphan Drug Act they claim give drug companies millions of dollars in unintended and misplaced subsidies and tax breaks and fuel skyrocketing medication costs.

20 Nov 2015

Uninsured, low-income breast cancer patients less likely to continue hormonal therapy

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment shows that breast cancer patients whose health insurance plans included prescription drug benefits were 10 percent more likely to start important hormonal therapy than patients who did not have prescription drug coverage.

19 Nov 2015

FDA approves Narcan nasal spray to prevent or reverse effects of opioid overdose

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan nasal spray, the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the illegal drug heroin.

18 Nov 2015

Experts issue recommendations aimed at stemming prescription opioid epidemic

A group of experts, led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, today issued recommendations aimed at stemming the prescription opioid epidemic, a crisis that kills an average of 44 people a day in the U.S.

17 Nov 2015

New Haven Pharmaceuticals' DURLAZA drug delivers sustained antiplatelet control for full 24 hours

New Haven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced new study data that shows the company's FDA-approved drug DURLAZA delivers sustained antiplatelet control for a full 24-hour period in high-risk patients.

10 Nov 2015

SKYGEN USA announces launch of Hylis Pharmacy Solutions

Citing a need to bring skyrocketing pharmacy costs under control, SKYGEN USA, the umbrella brand for a distinguished family of benefit management companies and technology solutions for health payers and healthcare organizations, today announced the launch of Hylis Pharmacy Solutions.

10 Nov 2015

Common heart drug may halt progression of angiosarcoma

A common heart drug may stop the progression of angiosarcoma, a cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels, according to a study by researchers at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.

3 Nov 2015

New research reveals regional variations in use of heroin and prescription painkillers

New research shows that drug abusers are not completely abandoning prescription opioids for heroin. Instead, many use the two concurrently based on their availability, according to a survey of 15,000 patients at drug-treatment centers in 49 states.

29 Oct 2015

Members enrolled in Medicare Advantage satisfied with their plans, study finds

With nearly half strongly agreeing their health plan is a trusted partner in their health and wellness, members enrolled in Medicare Advantage are quite satisfied with their plan, according to the J.D. Power 2015 Medicare Advantage Member Satisfaction Study released today.

22 Oct 2015

ASA participates in government-led effort to address opioid epidemic

Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists announced their participation in a government-led effort to address the opioid epidemic, part of ASA's continued focus on patient safety and ongoing work to promote the safe use of prescription opioids. ASA is joined by a number of public and private sector partners in the efforts, which are being announced today by President Obama in Charleston, West Virginia.

22 Oct 2015

Misuse of prescription drugs common among U.S. college students

Seven out of 10 college students say it is somewhat or very easy to obtain controlled stimulants without a prescription, according to a new survey conducted on eight U.S. campuses.

19 Oct 2015

Mental health problems, negative peer influences linked to increased dating violence

A new emergency department study from the University of Michigan Injury Center looks deeper at risk and protective factors among teenagers who report dating violence and alcohol use.

16 Oct 2015

Loyola partners with Cook County Sheriff's Department to hold Medication Take-Back Day on October 20

Loyola University Health System will partner with the Cook County Sheriff's Department to hold a Medication Take-Back Day on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Loyola Outpatient Center lobby located at 2160 S. First Ave. in Maywood.

15 Oct 2015

SilverScript announces new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan options for 2016

SilverScript Insurance Company, a CVS Health company, today announced the company's new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) options for 2016. Medicare beneficiaries can choose from two SilverScript plans that offer $0 deductibles, lower premiums than the 2015 SilverScript plans in many states and low co-pays for several frequently prescribed drugs.

13 Oct 2015

FDA approves Opdivo to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer whose disease progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

11 Oct 2015