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Impressions from a working visit to McLaughlin, S.D.

Some thoughts about the things that count

A short history of biologics and biosimilars, with some pointers on what comes next

As the first biosimilar has yet to make its way through the approval process, many practical and hypothetical questions remain

What's it like to own your own pharmacy? Glad you asked

As new therapies for HIV/AIDS extend many patients' lives, pharmacists are well situated to help them manage the disease

Retail pharmacies have a responsibility to improve Medicare Part D Star ratings – and partner with health plans to achieve those goals, according to an executive with Target.

FDA advisers recommended in early June the easing of restrictions on the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline), following an independent re-examination of GSK’s RECORD study conducted by Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Walgreens, the largest pharmacy chain in the United States, has agreed to pay $80 million in civil penalties for record-keeping and dispensing violations under the Controlled Substances Act, according to statements released June 11 by the company and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

Results from the RELY-ABLE trial, the RE-LY extension study, support the long-term safety profile of dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) 150 mg twice daily in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), according to a study published in Circulation.

Pharmcognosy is no longer a required course in pharmacy education, although some schools offer it as an elective. The newer schools do not offer it at all. Do new student pharmacists even know the definition of the word?

Results from the RELY-ABLE trial, the RE-LY extension study, support the long-term safety profile of dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) 150 mg twice daily in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), according to a study published in Circulation in mid-June.

Less than a month after FDA warned of an outbreak following steroid injections from a compounding pharmacy there, the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy (TBOP) strengthened its oversight of compounding pharmacies.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, uncompensated panel of public health and prevention experts, has released 3 recommendations to address risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Pharmacists were included as members of the team to help with interventions for CVD prevention.

FDA is asking the public for advice on how to carry out Title VII. Among numerous other questions it is requesting comments on what information should be required at the time of entry to demonstrate a drug’s compliance, including information on homeopathic drugs for human use, articles for human or animal drug compounding, and drugs intended for research.

New Rx, indications, generics, and OTC for pharmacists

Working as a pharmacist is the third best profession in America in 2013, only behind dentist and registered nurse, according to a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

A nonprofit dedicated to ensuring online pharmacy safety, whose roots date back to an informal advocacy group started 4 years ago, was this week officially chartered in Washington, D.C. The board of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies includes industry leaders from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Eli Lilly, LegitScript, and FWD Strategies International.

The 340B program is working just as Congress intended, helping hospitals stretch tight budgets to provide more and better patient care, said Ted Slafsky, MPP, president and chief executive officer of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access.

Life expectancies and the overall health of the United States’ population have improved over the past 2 decades. But those improvements have not kept pace with improvements in other wealthy nations, according to an online study in JAMA.

Many patients suffer from both hypertension and high cholesterol, putting them at greater risk of coronary heart disease. Controlling the hypertension and high cholesterol would reduce CHD risk by 50% or more, but less than a third of patients have achieved adequate control of both, according to an online study in Circulation.

AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation will hold its annual independent community pharmacy tradeshow, ThoughtSpot 2013, from July 24 ­ 27, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The 250 independent community pharmacies that comprise the Northeast Pharmacy Services Corporation, a New England regional pharmacy advocacy group, have joined the National Community Pharmacists Association.

FDA approved two new indications for the use of lurasidone HCl (Latuda, Sunovion and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma) as monotherapy and adjunctive therapy with either lithium or valproate, for adults with bipolar depression.

As services for some disease states have flourished, those for HIV/AIDS seem to have fallen by the wayside. Pharmacists can do much to remedy this need.