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CVS Caremark net revenues increase 6.3% to $32.7 billion in Q1 2014

CVS Caremark Corporation today announced operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

2 May 2014

New health system scorecard reveals wide health gaps among states

States made little progress in improving health care access, quality, and outcomes and lowering costs in the five years preceding implementation of the major coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act (2007-2012), according to the Commonwealth Fund's third state health system scorecard. The majority of states declined or failed to improve on two-thirds of the 34 scorecard indicators that could be tracked over time.

30 Apr 2014

HHS calls health care providers to expand use of medications to treat opioid addiction, reduce overdose deaths

A national response to the epidemic of prescription opioid overdose deaths was outlined yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine by leaders of agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

26 Apr 2014

Biogen Idec's revenue increases 51% to $2.1 billion in first quarter 2014

Biogen Idec Inc. today reported first quarter 2014 results, including revenue of $2.1 billion, a 51% increase compared to the first quarter of 2013.

23 Apr 2014

Report recommends that medical insurers use prescription monitoring data to reduce opioid abuse

The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Center of Excellence at Brandeis University has issued a ground-breaking report recommending that medical insurers use prescription monitoring data to reduce the overdoses, deaths and health care costs associated with abuse of opioids and other prescription drugs.

23 Apr 2014

Polls offer competing visions of electorate's views on health law

A Fox poll finds more than half of voters are inclined to support candidates that oppose the health overhaul, but Democrats say that other polls show a band of independent voters who may not like the law but don't want it repealed.

23 Apr 2014

New painkiller, with fewer side-effects, up for FDA approval

The drug, Moxduo, allows patients to take lower doses of other painkillers. Elsewhere, a Food and Drug Administration official talks about another painkiller, Zohydro.

23 Apr 2014

Health law a tough sell, although millions gain benefits

A New York Times analysis points out that many of those helped most by the health law are the least likely to cast votes to preserve it. CNN notes that Obamacare is a tough sell for embattled Democrats and a political analyst questions GOP strategy to run against the law.

22 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 21, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a GAO report on how the Obama administration raised money from outside groups to promote the health law.

21 Apr 2014

Medicare pays doctors even after they're sanctioned

A ProPublica report finds that the agency continued paying doctors, pharmacists and other health professionals even after they were charged with bilking the program. Meanwhile, a report recommends that Medicare pay hospitals less for low-risk outpatient surgeries.

17 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 17, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about emerging political strategies related to the health law and the upcoming congressional elections.

17 Apr 2014

Throw away your old medicines safely

Americans spend nearly $1,100 per person on prescription and over-the-counter medications every year, and much of it is left in cabinets, drawers, or forgotten.

17 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 16, 2014

Today's headlines include a report detailing how changes in the Census Bureau's annual survey could mask the health law's impact.

16 Apr 2014

Rite Aid's fourth quarter revenues increase 2.2% to $6.6 billion

Rite Aid Corporation today reported operating results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 1, 2014.

10 Apr 2014

TSRI scientists to study effects of pain medication on prenatal brain development

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have been awarded a $472,500 Cutting Edge Basic Research Award (CEBRA) by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the National Institutes of Health to study models of the brain development of newborns who have been exposed-and become addicted-to prescription pain medication while still in the womb.

10 Apr 2014

Gilead Sciences announces positive results from LDV/SOF phase 2 studies on HCV infection

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced data from two Phase 2 studies evaluating investigational all-oral regimens containing the nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir (SOF) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

10 Apr 2014

2014 PAINWeekEnd Regional Conference to highlight health crises of inadequate pain management

There are 116 million people in pain. There are 4,000 pain specialists. That's 29,000 patients per pain specialist. There are simply not enough pain specialists to go around.

9 Apr 2014

Treatment for opioid overdose now available for use by non-medical personnel

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first naloxone treatment specifically designed to be given by family members or caregivers to treat a person with opioid overdose.

4 Apr 2014

FDA grants Fast Track designations for IV and oral formulations of Tetraphase's eravacycline

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has granted Fast Track designations for both the intravenous (IV) and oral formulations of the company's lead antibiotic candidate, eravacycline.

3 Apr 2014

BioAlliance Pharma, Daewoong sign new licensing agreement for commercialization of Sitavig in South Korea

BioAlliance Pharma SA, an innovative Company specialized in the development of drugs in orphan oncology diseases, today announces an exclusive supply and license agreement for Sitavig® (Acyclovir Lauriad®) with Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for commercialization rights in South Korea.

2 Apr 2014