All News

FDA approved the first-and-only selective phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor roflumilast (Daliresp, Forest Pharmaceuticals), once-daily oral tablet to decrease the frequency of exacerbations or worsening of symptoms from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

FDA approved the use of once-daily guanfacine (Intuniv, Shire) extended-release tablets as adjunctive therapy to stimulants for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years as part of a total treatment program.

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 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.

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.

" 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. "

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.

OTC Product News

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.

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.

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.

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.