FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for treatment of patients with advanced or unresectable melanoma who are no longer responding to other drugs. Pembrolizumab, which received breakthrough therapy designation for advanced melanoma, is the sixth new melanoma treatment approved since 2011.
Healthcare providers who share HIPAA-protected health information with certain service providers must update their written agreements by September 22, 2014.
Like retail pharmacists, hospital pharmacists are being held accountable for opioid use in their facilities.
The Rhode Island Department of Health recently began tracking the number of prescriptions written for opioid painkillers like OxyContin and Vicodin, according to a report on Rhode Island Public Radio.
In an effort to curb increasing opioid abuse and overdose deaths, the Drug Enforcement Agency has voted to reclassify hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) under the more restrictive category of Schedule II.
California lawmakers passed a bill that would allow pharmacists to furnish naloxone without a prescription according to guidelines yet to be established by the state’s pharmacy and medical boards.
Each pharmacy practitioner has a responsibility to advance the pharmacy profession. These seven practice elements can serve as both foundation and framework for that effort.
Feelings have run high since Drug Topics posted “Should states require bilingual drug labels?” Here's what some of your fellow pharms have been saying.
If you look beyond your job description, what would you find? Here are 10 questions to help you find out.
Acrobats working 50 feet in the air without a net have the guts to jump. Think about it.
Jonas Salk, Sovaldi, and the slippery slope to perdition.
A study suggests that warfarin use may lead to a decrease in and even long-term remission of psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.
FDA's proposed new rule would allow individual generic-drug application holders to update product labeling information to temporarily reflect changes in safety information prior to FDA review.
Generics are still a good deal. But as they reach their maximum saturation point, the deal is changing.
Over the last few years, the number of drugs on shortage has remained the same. It may even have gone up. Hospitals continue to confront the issues and devise responses.
As of July 24, Sandoz became the first to file for approval of a biologic under the biosimilar pathway. What will happen next remains to be seen.
NOH is a rare, chronic, and debilitating drop in blood pressure upon standing. It is associated with Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure.
Feedback from pharmacists and other Drug Topics readers
Medicinal plants and drugs of biological origin have their place in the treatment of chronic diseases. Among them, stevia shows promise as a possible source of new therapies for diabetes.
Physicians are responsible for prescribing and dispensing. Pharmacists have a corresponding responsibility to fill those prescriptions appropriately.
Pharmacists dealing with Rxs for controlled substances have their lists of red flags and greens flags. Are they now showing the white flag, as well?
Available technology can help pharmacies improve patient adherence, boost patient outcomes, and earn high CMS Star measures. Everybody wins.
Title II of the DQSA is the Drug Supply Chain Security Act. As of January 1, 2015, new changes and mandates will move all members of the supply chain closer to becoming mandatory oversight partners with FDA.
New initiatives show that medication management is at the core of advanced discharge planning and transitional care. That's where pharmacists come in.
New Rx, generics, and OTC
