Prescription Drug News and Research

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First Edition: June 21, 2011

In today's headlines, the latest on the debt-reduction talks, the next chapter in the saga surrounding a McKinsey insurance survey and the details of the Obama administration's effort to tout the health law's prreventive care benefits.

22 Jun 2011

Millennium Labs founder receives Ernst & Young award in Life Sciences category

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of medication monitoring services to physicians and staff treating chronic pain, announced today that James Slattery, CEO and founder, has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 San Diego Award in the Life Sciences category.

21 Jun 2011

FDA confirms printed prescription drug ads affect consumer understanding of medications

Findings from three studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirm that the way information is conveyed and displayed in printed drug advertising affects consumer understanding of prescription medications.

21 Jun 2011

Meditation increases concentration and decreases stress

The nation's current healthcare crisis has added a new dimension to the old saying, "Prevention is the best medicine." With rising co-pays, high deductibles, confusion over coverage, and prescription drug headaches, healthcare consumers recognize that getting sick is more complicated than ever.

20 Jun 2011

Dems introduce bills to push for Medicare negotiated drug pricing

Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices - a move that could result in significant savings, the bill supporters say. They are urging that their measure be included in the effort to raise the debt ceiling.

18 Jun 2011

Prior GID diagnosis impacts health outcomes of patients with Parkinson's

A new study investigating the incidence and impact of gastrointestinal disorders (GID) among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) found that patients who received both a PD diagnosis and a prior GID diagnosis appeared to have worse health outcomes compared to patients who received a diagnosis for PD with no prior GID diagnosis.

16 Jun 2011

Cardinal Health renews pharmaceutical distribution agreement with Prime Therapeutics

Cardinal Health today announced that it has signed a renewed, three-year agreement with Prime Therapeutics, one of the nation's leading pharmacy benefit managers, to continue to serve as its primary pharmaceutical supply chain partner for its mail-service pharmacy, PrimeMail®.

15 Jun 2011

Regulators remove restrictions on Aetna's Medicare sales

The sanctions had blocked Aetna Inc. from marketing Medicare plans and enrolling new beneficiaries. Now that they have been lifted, Aetna has indicated it will again promote its Medicare Advantage offerings.

15 Jun 2011

FDA extends Pacira's EXPAREL PDUFA goal date by three months

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for its review of the New Drug Application (NDA) for EXPAREL by three months.

14 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 14, 2011

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "When you're calling for an ambulance, chances are good that you won't think to ask for one that's in your health plan's provider network. And in most cases, you wouldn't have much control over who it is anyway. That could leave you with hassles and extra charges for an out-of-network ride".

14 Jun 2011

New poll finds little support for privatizing Medicare

A new poll finds little support for privatizing Medicare, even though most people agree the government-sponsored health insurance program for older Americans needs major changes if it is to survive.

14 Jun 2011

Catalyst Health Solutions acquires Walgreens Health Initiatives

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. today announced it has completed its acquisition of Walgreens' pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary, Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc. (WHI). Catalyst funded the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and amounts available under its credit facility.

13 Jun 2011

Aetna announces acquisition of Genworth's Medicare Supplement business

Aetna today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Genworth Financial, Inc. to acquire Genworth's Medicare Supplement business and related blocks of in-force business. Genworth is a leading provider of Medicare Supplement coverage. The business has more than 145,000 Medicare Supplement members.

13 Jun 2011

Risky behavior, psychiatric disorders and substance abuse contribute to opioid overdose

Deaths related to prescription opioid therapy are under intense scrutiny, prompting those in pain medicine-clinicians, patient advocates, and regulators-to understand the causes behind avoidable mortality in legitimately treated patients.

13 Jun 2011

Ameritox launches Rx Guardian CD, next-generation pain-medication monitoring solution

Ameritox, the leader in pain-medication monitoring, today announced the launch of Rx Guardian CD, its next-generation pain-medication monitoring solution and part of the patented Rx Guardian process.

9 Jun 2011

Santorum stakes out Medicare, budget positions

News outlets report that former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., may turn out to be Rep. Paul Ryan's, R-Wis., biggest advocate. He gave a strong defense of Ryan's plan to revamp Medicare and control its costs.

8 Jun 2011

FDA accepts Topaz's ivermectin NDA for treatment for head lice infestations

Topaz Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted for filing the New Drug Application (NDA) for the use of ivermectin topical cream as a treatment for head lice infestations in children and adults.

7 Jun 2011

FDA issues revised PDUFA date for Lannett's Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution NDA

Lannett Company, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a revised Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 23, 2011 for the company's 505(b)(2) New Drug Application for Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution

7 Jun 2011

Kindred acquires RehabCare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of RehabCare Group, Inc.

2 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: Political impact of Ryan plan; would VA health system work for all?; Calif. insurance rates

Representative Paul Ryan is rebutting critics of his plan to turn Medicare into a "premium support" program, pointing to two existing programs that he says prove his approach would be better for beneficiaries. Don't believe it. The two programs he cites as prototypes — the insurance program for members of Congress and the Medicare prescription drug program — differ in critical respects from his proposal to sharply limit federal spending. The losers will be the beneficiaries who have to pay more.

1 Jun 2011