Legal News

California may be moving toward a new form of liability. The state Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Wyeth in a case the held the drug maker liable for injuries caused by generic versions of Reglan (metoclopramide) made by another manufacturer.

A bipartisan bill that would allow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve affordable copies of biotech drugs has been introduced in Congress.

In an effort to permit community pharmacies to negotiate better contracts, Reps. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) recently introduced legislation designed to level the playing field between community pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

In a news conference today, President Obama nominated Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius to the post of secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Pharmacies are being robbed across the country in increasing numbers. Many of these robberies involve controlled substances. New prevention approaches are needed.

North Dakota's attorney general wants to authorize state and local officials to prosecute online pharmacies trafficking in illegal painkiller prescriptions.

DEA wants to make it easier for hospitals, long-term-care facilities, patients, and others to dispose of controlled substances. FDA, EPA, and state agencies are also dealing with this issue.

Drugstore.com continues to experience growth, particularly in sales of OTC products, and is expanding internationally, a company executive told attendees at the Jeffries 5th Annual Internet & Media Conference in New York this week.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) applauded a decision by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth to postpone a February hearing about Medicaid Average Manufacturer Price (AMP).

Twelve pharmacy groups have formed a coalition to promote common pharmacy principles for health care reform.

Versions of the Pain Care Act have been introduced in Congress every year since 2003. Passed in the House of Representatives in 2008, it must pass there again before moving to the Senate.

South Dakota pharmacists can now authorize, supervise, and verify prescriptions filled by pharmacy technicians in remote locations.

Rite Aid and subsidiaries in eight states were fined $5 million for violating the Controlled Substances Act.

Medications are often prescribed for off-label purposes without evidence of effectiveness or safety. Unsupported use is especially high for antidepressants, antipsychotics, and sedatives.

Three pharmacy owners and four pharmacists were among 12 people recently indicted for participating in a conspiracy that dispensed and sold thousands of dosages of anabolic steroids ? including powerful veterinary steroids approved for animal use only ? to users throughout the United States.

The slumping U.S economy and government regulations will cause pharmacy sales to grow only around 1.3 percent rate in 2009, according to new research presented last week at the American Society for Automation in Pharmacy?s Industry and Technology Issues in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a voluntary pilot program to ensure the safety of drugs and active drug ingredients produced outside the United States.

Eli Lilly and Co. has agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and will pay more approximately $800 million for unproven marketing and promotional claims involving the antipsychotic medication Zyprexa.

Investigators at University of California, San Francisco, examined 164 drug trials and their reports. Published reports tended to be more favorable than information reviewed by FDA. Bias is suspected.

Boston has followed San Francisco's lead and has banned pharmacy tobacco sales. It went even further and banned cigarette sales on college campuses.

Two pharmacy technicians in Miami were recently arrested on charges of Medicaid fraud. Keep reading to learn more.

A former pharmacist has been convicted of felony conflict of interest charges for taking payments from drug companies and pocketing money for supervising pharmacy interns from Duquesne University.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration now requires the manufacturers of antiepileptic drugs to add a warning that using the drugs increases risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins recently announced Marty Sanders, 34 of Sumter, S.C., was sentenced in federal court on drug charges.

A patient suit against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals may open brand name drug makers to liability for mishaps when patients take a generic product.

The U.S Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether some asthma medications, in rare cases, can increase the risk of serious asthma complications.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently recalled two unapproved and uncleared devices whose manufacturers claimed could treat various medical conditions. The recall was a Class 1, which means there is a reasonable probability that the use of a device will cause adverse reactions, including death.

Walgreens and Phillip Morris both recently requested injunctions to stop enforcement of San Francisco?s ban on selling tobacco products in pharmacies.