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Antares Pharma first quarter total revenues increase to $3.6 million

Antares Pharma, Inc. today reported financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

9 May 2011

Ideal psychotropic drug may cause physical dependence

A report in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics by a group of European investigators headed by Fabrizio Schifano has explored the potential for dependence of pregabalin using patients' online reports.

9 May 2011

Longer looks: States creating health compacts; IPAB under fire; is GOP redefining rape?

In late April, Colorado and Oklahoma became the latest states to vote on whether to join an interstate agreement with like-minded legislatures to put health care decisions more firmly into the hands of state governments.

6 May 2011

Pacira to present EXPAREL data in postsurgical pain at two medical meetings

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that clinical and preclinical data highlighting the safety and efficacy of EXPAREL™ will be presented at two medical meetings.

6 May 2011

New drugs need to provide more data on how they compare with existing ones: Study

According to US researchers, data on drugs that could save money and help doctors make smarter treatment decisions are often unavailable at the time new medicines hit the market. They released a study this Tuesday in Journal of the American Medical Association which found nearly a third of new drug approvals from the Food and Drug Administration included no data on how well the medications compare with existing alternatives.

5 May 2011

NCPA explains how PBM tools can reduce costs in Texas, other states

Texas and other states across the country could save billions in Medicaid without limiting access by transitioning to a more efficient and affordable pharmacy benefit model being used in Medicare and the commercial sector, the National Center for Policy Analysis announced in a new white paper, "Increasing the Cost-Effectiveness of Medicaid Drug Programs."

4 May 2011

CTI to re-submit pixantrone NDA to FDA's Office of New Drugs for re-review

Cell Therapeutics, today announced that the Office of New Drugs of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after carefully reviewing the materials CTI submitted in support of its appeal, the reviews of the New Drug Application for pixantrone prepared by the FDA staff, the transcript of the March 22, 2010 Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee meeting and consulting with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research's Deputy Director of Clinical Science and the Office of Biostatistics, concluded that accelerated approval of pixantrone NDA 022481 may not necessarily be out of reach based on a single controlled clinical trial, provided two key matters can be satisfactorily resolved.

3 May 2011

FDA accepts SGEN's brentuximab vedotin BLAs for Hodgkin lymphoma, ALCL treatment

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing two Biologics License Applications for brentuximab vedotin, including one for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and one for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

2 May 2011

Humana reports EPS of $1.86 for quarter ended March 31, 2011

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 of $1.86, compared to $1.52 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

2 May 2011

State news highlights: Texas Senate approves Medicaid savings bill

The Senate unanimously approved Sen. Jane Nelson's bill to find extensive cost savings in Texas' Medicaid program, the primary health care provider for children, the disabled and the very poor. ... The measure expands Medicaid managed care into South Texas, where it has long been carved out — expected to save the state $290 million over the biennium.

30 Apr 2011

Kindred Healthcare responds to CMS' proposed Medicare rule

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today issued a response to the proposed rule issued late yesterday by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding Medicare payment rates for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2012.

30 Apr 2011

UAM closes Medicare Part D business sale for $1.25 billion to CVS Caremark

Universal American Corp. today announced that it closed the sale of its Medicare Part D business to CVS Caremark on Friday April 29, 2011 for a purchase price of $1.25 billion plus excess capital relating to the Part D business.

30 Apr 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb first quarter net sales increase 5% to $3.3 billion

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced first quarter results that included strong sales and earnings growth, and several key R&D milestones—most notably U.S. regulatory approval for YERVOY. The company also confirmed guidance for the year.

30 Apr 2011

Missouri American Water supports DEA's prescription drug collection program

Missouri American Water is providing information about the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to more than 150,000 households across Missouri through their water bills.

30 Apr 2011

Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee recommends FDA to approve telaprevir for hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that the Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend FDA approval of telaprevir for people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

29 Apr 2011

Drug subsidy issues out of PBS’ hands - almost

According to Health Minister Nicola Roxon, expensive drugs have never been automatically listed for subsidy and they can't be now when the government controlling expenses. She added that federal Labor has to balance competing priorities in health and every other department.

29 Apr 2011

HealthSpring reports net income of $44.2 million for first quarter 2011

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, which include the results of Bravo Health, Inc., acquired by the Company in November 2010.

29 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Taking the deficit seriously; despite low numbers, high-risk pools are succeeding

The deficit debate, now fully engaged, is also an evaluation of political seriousness. House Republican leaders have passed the test, supporting a politically risky budget that changes Medicare into a premium-support program and eventually returns federal spending to sustainable levels.

28 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 27, 2011

In today's headlines, political push-back continues regarding the Paul Ryan budget plan and the Supreme Court seems skeptical that prescription drug data laws don't violate free speech.

27 Apr 2011

Clinical study: Plant extract can fight effectively against hay fever

Fighting hay fever with a plant extract - this works, as was shown in a clinical study conducted by researchers of the Center of Allergy & Environment of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universität München.

27 Apr 2011