All News

A new study published in The Lancet found that medication for lowering blood pressure in hypertensive stroke patients might be harmful and has little benefit.

In the White House Budget, President Barack Obama targets the high cost of prescription drugs and proposes 2 significant changes for improving consumer access to less-expensive generic drugs.

NACDS and NCPA authored a joint letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.), emphasizing the ability of community pharmacies to help lower prescription drug costs, and the importance of maintaining the right of military families and veterans to choose where they fill their prescriptions through the TRICARE program.

FDA approved azilsartan medoxomil tablets (Edarbi, Takeda Pharmaceutical North America) to treat hypertension in adults.

FDA notified healthcare professionals that neither injectable nor oral terbutaline be used by pregnant women for prevention of preterm labor due to risk of serious maternal heart problems and death.

Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax and Boniva may reduce patients? risk of developing colon cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Merck Serono Europe informed the European Medicines Agency that it was withdrawing its marketing authorization application for oral cladribine (Movectro), 10-mg tablets, intended for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Forest Laboratories $1.2 billion acquisition of Clinical Data, the developer of Viibryd (vilazodone HCl) for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder, is expected to allow Forest to leverage its existing presence in the antidepressant category.

The independent pharmacy industry needs to unite and develop an internal public relations campaign to mobilize pharmacy store owners and patients to fight for their prescription rights. This was one of the suggestions made during a PBM Discussion Panel for Independent Pharmacy.

Mindful of the push to balance state budgets, the NACDS and the NCPA offered to work closely with states to cut costs without endangering Medicaid beneficiaries' access to pharmacy prescription drug services.

" The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Food Marketing Institute, and other retail organizations are urging Congress to help reform credit and debit card interchange fees. "

"While most pharmacy chains allow patients to order 90-day supplies of medication for a reduced price, most patients do not realize that this option is available. "

Pharmacists from around the country will descend on Washington D.C., March 9 and 10 for RxIMPACT Day, sponsored by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

FDA has approved hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection (Makena), the first drug to help prevent premature delivery before 37 weeks in women who have had at least 1 previous preterm birth.

In this section we showcase products and product news that ran up against space limitations or fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Drug Topics e-newsletter.

Oseltamivir phosphate oral suspension (Tamiflu) is on back order because of increased demand, manufacturer Genentech announced.

FDA has announced that labeling for rosiglitazone (Avandia) has been changed to include information on cardiovascular risks (including death) connected with use of this agent.

FDA has approved Corifact (CSL Behring), the first product intended to prevent bleeding in people with the rare genetic defect congenital Factor XIII deficiency.

The $20.1 billion acquisition of Genzyme by Sanofi-aventis will allow Sanotif-aventis to expand its footprint in biotechnology and give it an edge in the market for drugs for rare diseases, according to experts.

Swisslog, a leader in pneumatic tube manufacturing, has launched a new touch-screen control-panel design.

Recurrences of herpes zoster may be more common in immunocompetent adults than once thought, according to a study published in the February issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Newswise reported.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices announces several changes to the recommended adult immunization schedule for 2011.

Swisslog, a leader in pneumatic tube manufacturing, has launched a new touch-screen control-panel design.

Recurrences of herpes zoster may be more common in immunocompetent adults than once thought, according to a study published in the February issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Newswise reported.

Pharmacists and patients are being told to be mindful of the limited shelf life of the new anticoagulant, Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate), manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

Zinc, in lozenge or syrup form, is beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people, when taken within at least 24 hours of onset of symptoms, according to a new report published in the Cochran Library.

A woman recently pleaded guilty to a charge of smuggling erectile dysfunction drugs falsely labeled as herbal dietary supplements from the People's Republic of China into this country.

At the PDS Independent Pharmacy Business Growth Conference in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Feb. 18, at 2:00 p.m. EST, a panel discussion will brainstorm what can be done to "save our industry ... and your local business."

NACDS Foundation is giving $1.5 million in pharmacy residency grants to nonprofit academic institutions over the next 2 years.

NACDS has filed a brief in support of an Orlando hospital fighting a Department of Labor ruling.