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FDA accepts Otsuka Pharmaceutical's tolvaptan NDA for priority review

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for priority review the company's new drug application for the potential use of tolvaptan for the treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

15 Apr 2013

New research shows effects of long-term use of opioid therapy

Half of patients on high-dose, long-term opioid therapy had hormonal disturbances or signs of inflammation, while 100 percent reported improved pain control and mental outlook, new research shows.

15 Apr 2013

Analysis: 1 in 5 seniors with Medicare Advantage plans receive prescription for high-risk medication

More than 1 in 5 seniors with Medicare Advantage plans received a prescription for a potentially harmful "high risk medication" in 2009, according to a newly published analysis by Brown University public health researchers.

11 Apr 2013

Most Americans concerned about misuse of pain medication to treat chronic pain

A new national public opinion poll commissioned by Research!America shows only 18% of respondents believe chronic pain is a major health problem, even though a majority of Americans (63%) say they know someone who experienced pain so severe that they sought prescription medicines to treat it.

10 Apr 2013

MedeAnalytics' Accountable Care Solution selected for Mississippi's MEHRS application

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, announced today that the State of Mississippi Medicaid has selected MedeAnalytics' Accountable Care Solution to empower the next generation of the state's Medicaid Electronic Health Records System application.

9 Apr 2013

New national study examines marijuana use and prescription drug misuse

Individuals who use marijuana recreationally are more likely to misuse other drugs, including pain-controlling, but potentially addictive narcotics, sedatives and other prescription medications, than individuals who do not use marijuana, according to a new national study issued today by Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services.

From Quest Diagnostics 9 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Drugging soldiers; GOP opposition to Medicaid expansion strays from party legacy; Health law distorts market

Last year, more active-duty soldiers committed suicide than died in battle. ... Worse, according to data not reported on until now, the military evidently responded to stress that afflicts soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan primarily by drugging soldiers on the front lines.

9 Apr 2013

FDA grants priority review for Bayer HealthCare's riociguat for treatment of CTEPH

Bayer HealthCare announced today that the New Drug Application for its oral investigational compound riociguat has been accepted for filing and granted priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension or with persistent or recurrent CTEPH after pulmonary endarterectomy and pulmonary arterial hypertension.

8 Apr 2013

Medicare misperceptions create tougher task for lawmakers

The New York Times reports that public misunderstandings about the specifics of entitlement benefits make trimming Medicare spending more difficult. Meanwhile, Politico reports on an idea that might bridge the partisan divide that plagues these efforts.

5 Apr 2013

Catamaran receives Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC for BriovaRx

Catamaran Corp., a leading provider of pharmacy benefit management services and technology today announced that its specialty brand, BriovaRx, has been awarded Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

4 Apr 2013

Confirmation hearing for CMS nominee set for next week

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a session on whether to approve Marilyn Tavenner to head the agency that controls Medicare and Medicaid.

4 Apr 2013

As hyperactivity diagnoses rise, concerns grow about overmedication of children

New CDC data shows that nearly one in five boys have a medical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Other public health issues highlighted by news outlets include stroke risks in younger people, prescription-drug deaths and OSHA policies.

2 Apr 2013

pSivida announces resubmission of ILUVIEN NDA to FDA for chronic diabetic macular edema

pSivida Corp., a specialty pharmaceutical company that is a leader in the development of sustained release ophthalmic drug treatments, today announced that its licensee Alimera Sciences, Inc. reported the submission of its response to the second Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with respect to ILUVIEN for chronic diabetic macular edema.

2 Apr 2013

National Rx Drug Abuse Summit to make impact on America's prescription drug problem

The prescription drug epidemic continues to take lives in America, causing 100 overdose deaths daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

27 Mar 2013

Research indicates vitamin D can control blood-sugar levels in obese youths

Childhood and adolescent obesity rates in the United States have increased dramatically in the past three decades. Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood.

27 Mar 2013

Actavis settles patent litigation with AstraZeneca over generic version of Crestor

Actavis, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that is has reached a settlement agreement with AstraZeneca resolving outstanding patent litigation related to Actavis' generic version of rosuvastatin calcium 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg tablets, the generic version of Crestor tablets, as well as Actavis' rosuvastatin zinc alternate salt product.

25 Mar 2013

Roundup: Medicaid causes budget headache in Wash. state; Minn. plan to cut health services a surprise; Midwife access issues in N.C.

A selection of health policy stories from Washington state, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Arizona, California and Colorado.

22 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: Indian health hit by budget cuts; Health care doesn't work like normal markets; Gov. Rick Scott paying a price for Medicaid expansion

The Congressional Republicans who brought us the mindless budget cuts known as the sequester have shown remarkable indifference to life-sustaining government services, American jobs and other programs.

22 Mar 2013

First Edition: March 21, 2013

Today's headlines include various reports about what the public knows -- and doesn't know -- about the health law.

21 Mar 2013

Higher mortality rates among Americans younger than 50 linked to low life expectancy

Higher mortality rates among Americans younger than 50 are responsible for much of why life expectancy is lower in the United States than most of the world's most developed nations.

17 Mar 2013