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Maine passes law regulating pharmacy benefit managers.

FDA will require new labeling for Opium Tincture and Paregoric, which have been associated with several drug errors.

Velcade for injection to treat multiple myeloma.

Patients with a hereditary form of emphysema caused by alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1PI) deficiency now have another therapeutic option. The FDA recently approved alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (human) [Aralast, Baxter] for chronic augmentation therapy in patients having congenital deficiency of A1PI with clinically evident emphysema. Aralast is currently available exclusively through the specialty pharmacy providers Accredo Health, Caremark, and Coram Healthcare. To obtain more information about Aralast, contact Baxter at (800) 423-2090.

Even though they're professionals, pharmacists should get paid for overtime work.

Public Citizen finds fault with the patient leaflets pharmacists distribute to consumers at the time of dispensing.

Clinicians who treat persons with Parkinson&s disease will soon be able to offer them the first drug to be approved for the treatment of Parkinson&s in 3 years. The FDA recently approved carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone (Stalevo, Novartis/Orion Pharma) for the treatment of persons with idiopathic Parkinson&s disease. This new product is indicated as a substitute for immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa and entacapone previously administered as individual drugs, and as a replacement for immediate-release carbidopa/levodopa therapy (without entacapone) when patients experience end-of-dose "wearing-off." Stalevo will be available during the third quarter of 2003.

What marketing practices are allowed under HIPAA?

A guest commentary on why average manufacturer prices and best prices should see the light of day.

CMS' ruling that Aranesp and Procrit are functionally equivalent so they should get the same reimbursement is creating a stir among drug companies which feel that one product has more advantages than the other and should deserve more payment.

Reaction by Medicine Shoppe franchisees over rumour that Cardinal Health is in discussions to sell franchises to CVS.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts pilots new phone system Blue Phone to answer patients pharmacy benefit questions at Brooks and Stop& Shop stores.

Any Medicare prescription drug program must protect the access of rural beneficiaries to rural pharmacies, according to a report by the National Rural Health Association.

Pharmacies should stop selling cigarettes.

What marketing practices are allowed under HIPAA?

Fabrazyme and Aldurazyme from Genzyme are approved for marketing.

Political fight intensifies between independent pharmacists and pharmacy benefit managers.

2003 Arxcel Prescription Benefit Research Survey.

Clinicians can now offer their patients the first targeted oral therapy to be approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The FDA recently approved gefitinib (Iressa, AstraZeneca) as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after failure of both platinum-based and docetaxel chemotherapies. Gefitinib was reviewed and approved under the Agency?s accelerated approval program. The drug is currently available in pharmacies.

Instead of racking up hours of continuing education, pharmacists should build, implement and evaluate portfolios for continuing professional development and lifelong learning, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Nevada College of Pharmacy convenes symposium on the subject of Medicare drug benefit.

New IV pumps carry warnings to alert users about potential errors.

Chain execs attend the 70th Annual NACDS Meeting hoping to get answers to pressing questions facing pharmacy and their businesses.

For the second time in less than four years, a New Jersey patient who was undergoing chemotherapy at a hospital died because the drug was given via the wrong route of administration.

National Quality Forum upholds value of pharmacists in medication management.

Clinicians will soon be able to treat conjunctivitis using a fourth generation topical fluoroquinolone that has better activity against gram-positive organisms compared to currently available fluoroquinolones, higher potency than the other drugs in this class (except one), and better solubility than the other fluoroquinolones. The FDA recently approved moxifloxacin (Vigamox, Alcon) 0.5% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis. Moxifloxacin ophthalmic solution should be available in pharmacies in the next several weeks.

Pharmacists hoping to become certified to train their diabetes patients to use insulin pumps must wear the devices themselves, under a project sponsored by Diabetes in Control.com.

An Arizona pharmacist claims she was fired for pumping breast milk on the job at Safeway.