All News

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 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.

Rite Aid is getting its pharmacists involved in a number of efforts to educate consumers during American Heart Month.

CDC issued an interim guidance to reduce HIV infection among high-risk individuals in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Escitalopram at does of 10 mg/d or 20 mg/d significantly reduced hot-flash frequency and severity compared with placebo, according to a recent multi-center, double-blind study published in JAMA.

An increase in febrile seizures in children following vaccination with Fluzone warrants further investigation, according to a report from FDA.

FDA currently lists 178 drugs in short supply, up 33% from 157 in 2009. The most frequent problem of shortage relates to manufacturing or regulatory noncompliance.

Sometimes pharmacists can't help judging their patients by appearances. Then they look deeper — and find a real human being looking right back at them.