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The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is backing FDA’s recommendation that hydrocodone combination products be reclassified as Schedule II drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.

A former Ranbaxy executive told CBS News that the company often skipped the required steps for approval of its generic drugs, and in some cases presented fake data to get its products in U.S. pharmacies.

Representatives of Boehringer Ingelheim reported the data at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

For years, Bernie Lisitza owned small pharmacies in the Chicago area. He eventually traded his dual role as owner and pharmacist and went to work for Omnicare, which dispenses prescriptions for nursing homes throughout the country.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have endorsed legislation that would restore the ability of consumers to purchase OTC medications using pre-tax dollars from flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts without obtaining a doctor’s endorsement.

Aaron Jennissen, VP, Pharmacy Operations, Thrifty White Pharmacy, discusses how that chain is using telepharmacy to improve both customer loyalty and reach.

FDA has approved a new boxed warning for the anti-seizure drug ezogabine (Potiga) because of the potential risk of vision loss, retinal abnormalities, as well as skin, nail, mucous membrane, and sclera discoloration.

Short-term dual antiplatelet therapy was as effective as long-term therapy for patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a second-generation drug-eluting stent, according to an online study published in JAMA.

Citing the risk of life-threatening blood clots and severe narrowing of blood vessels, FDA has asked Ariad Pharmaceuticals to suspend marketing and sales of ponatinib (Iclusig).

Once-daily dosing of the investigational drug tiotropium helped to improve lung function over 24 hours in individuals with severe asthma, according to data presented at the 2013 American College of Chest Physicians annual meeting (CHEST 2013) in Chicago.

Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay more than $2.2 billion to settle charges it fraudulently promoted drugs and used kickbacks to spur sales, the U.S. Justice Department announced Monday.

Orally administered chemotherapies have become standards of care with melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and some forms of leukemia, with an estimated one third of all new cancer treatments being developed as oral formulations.

FDA has approved obinutuzumab (Gazyva, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group), also known as GA101, in combination with chlorambucil chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

More than 10% of teens and young adults admit misusing a prescription painkiller or sedative, according to a study published in Pediatrics.

The estate of a longtime owner and operator of a Buffalo pharmacy has donated $2 million to a local hospice.According to report by radio station WBFO, the money was received from the estate of William Bender.

A Washington State pharmacist has filed suit against Wal-Mart, claiming the giant retailer hired him with knowledge of his past drug addiction and license suspension, then later fired him because of that same history.

Allopurinol, considered the standard of care for gout, may be inadequate to lower uric acid levels in patients with gout, according to new safety and efficacy data from a large study presented at the American College of Rheumatology 2013 annual meeting recently in San Diego, Calif.

Fluticasone furoate and vilanterol inhalation powder (Breo Ellipta, GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance) once-daily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is now available to pharmacies throughout the United States.

Costs related to antibiotics are the most important factors influencing hospital formulary decision-making, according to a new report.

Teva President and CEO Dr. Jeremy Levin resigned Oct. 30, just 20 days after the company announced an accelerated restructuring program that will result in 5,000 job losses worldwide.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recently became the first U.S. hospital to disallow most dietary supplements in its formulary.

Rude and disrespectful behavior including bullying and intimidation is a big problem in healthcare workplaces that erodes professional communication essential to patient safety, according to a recent study by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

FDA has approved hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release capsules (Zohydro ER, Zogenix) for the management of pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

A campaign to encourage girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In a letter sent late last week to the bill’s sponsor, more than 480 pharmacies endorsed the Medicare Efficient Drug Dispensing Act (S.B. 1493)

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association is urging Congress to consider a series of policies it believes would save $100 billion in federal prescription drug spending and improve safety in Medicare and Medicaid.

Regardless of their income, employment status, and access to resources, patients want to support their health, and pharmacists can help them do it.

Severe life-threatening allergic reactions are more common than many thought. Anaphylaxis very likely occurs in nearly 1 in 50 Americans (1.6%), and the rate is probably higher, close to 1 in 20 (5.1%), according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

The FDA is recommending to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that hydrodone combination products, such as Vicodin, be reclassified as a Schedule II product, placing tighter controls on the pain medications. Hydrocodone is currently a Schedule III drug, according to an FDA announcement.

The product is the first and only filler to treat this condition.