Sanofi cleared to market Admelog mealtime insulin
Sanofi has received Food and Drug Administration approval for Admelog, described as the first follow-on insulin lispro to help people with diabetes manage blood sugar levels at mealtime.
Pharmacy
Walgreens, NewYork-Presbyterian offer telemedicine services
NEW YORK, N.Y. and DEERFIELD, Ill.
Senators grill HHS nominee Alex Azar on cutting drug costs
Alex Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive named by President Trump to be the next Health and Human Services secretary, told senators at a full committee nomination hearing that making prescription drugs more affordable would be one of his top priorities.
Novo Nordisk set to release Ozempic
Novo Nordisk this week gained Food and Drug Administration approval for Ozempic (semaglutide injection), a medication for type 2 diabetes.
AARP: Retail Rx price growth outpaces inflation
Retail prices for prescription drugs widely used by older Americans have risen more than 50 times faster than the inflation rate, an AARP analysis found. For 768 prescription drugs commonly used by older adults, retail prices surged an average of 6.
WBA becomes stakeholder in PharMerica
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is now a stakeholder in national specialty pharmacy operator PharMerica Corp. PharMerica on Wednesday announced the close of its acquisition by global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). Under the $1.
AmerisourceBergen action plan targets opioid abuse
AmerisourceBergen has ramped up its efforts to thwart opioid diversion and abuse. The pharmaceutical distributor on Thursday announced ongoing operational commitments to prevent opioid abuse and abuse in line with its initiatives to protect the supply chain.
U.S. health care spending growth slows
Growth in prescription drug expenditures tailed off despite an overall gain in 2016 U.S. health care spending, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Last year, U.S. health care spending totaled $3.3 trillion, up 4.3%, compared with growth of 5.8% in 2015 and 5.
CVS goes live with same-day Rx delivery in Manhattan
CVS Pharmacy this week launched free, same-day delivery for prescription drugs and certain over-the-counter products in Manhattan. CVS said Wednesday that the delivery service is being offered at all locations in Manhattan.
HDA: Drug chains still Rx distributors’ biggest customers
Chain drug stores remain the largest customer segment for U.S. pharmaceutical distributors, according to the HDA Research Foundation. The 88th Edition HDA Factbook (2017‐2018) said chain drug retailers accounted for nearly 30% of all sales to drug distributors last year.
Aurora Pharmacy parent agrees to merger deal
Aurora Pharmacy is slated to become part of a much larger organization. Parent Aurora Health Care plans to merge with Advocate Health Care to form Advocate Aurora Health, which the companies said will be the nation’s 10th-largest nonprofit, integrated health care system.
Rite Aid, TV physician promote flu vaccination
Rite Aid Corp. has enlisted the help of Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a nationally renowned health expert and practicing family doctor, to highlight the importance of getting a flu shot during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW).
Senate tax reform bill may doom ACA’s individual mandate
The Senate’s repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate as part of its sweeping tax reform bill has likely spelled doom for the provision, which required people who didn’t obtain health insurance to pay a tax penalty. Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.
Amgen’s Repatha OK’d to help prevent heart attack, stroke
After a priority review of its supplemental Biologics License Application, Amgen has gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the cardiovascular drug Repatha.
APhA teams with Kroger, Solera to prevent diabetes
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation has partnered with The Kroger Co. and Solera Health for a program to help reduce the incidence of diabetes through community pharmacies.
Canada plans changes to drug pricing rules
The Canadian government is stepping up efforts to rein in the cost of prescription drugs. At the start of this month, Canada proposed the first major update to the Patented Medicines Regulations in more than 20 years.