Pharmacy

New Formulations/Combinations: Oral form of corticosteroid for Tx of mild to moderate Crohn's disease

New Indication: Maintenance treatment of COPD

NMEs/biologics:Cephalosporin for various infections

NMEs/biologics: Longer-lasting erythropoietin product for anemia related to renal failure

With the government spending billions to fight terrorism at home and abroad, federal investigators are looking closely at all health care programs for opportunities to stymie abuses and collect big penalties.

University Hospital and Medical Center (Tamarac)/University of Florida (Gainesville)-Dalteparin appears to be at least as clinically effective as enoxaparin for the prevention or treatment of the consequences of venous and arterial thromboembolic diseases, say clinicians from these two facilities.

New Formulations/Combinations: Fixed-dose analgesic combination for short-term acute pain management

New Indication: Combination use with docetaxel for breast cancer; new black box

New Indication: Antiepileptic cleared for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome; glaucoma warning added

New Indication: Oral contraceptive approved for acne

New Indication: Low-dose t-PA for catheter clearance

NMEs/biologics:Short-infusion bisphosphonate for hypercalcemia of malignancy

Patients' adherence ability is by far the top patient factor guiding selection of a first-line antiretroviral regimen for HIV, according to a new physician survey.

Abciximab reduces nonfatal outcomes as part of a new reperfusion regimen for acute myocardial infarction (MI) but appears not to benefit patients with acute coronary syndromes who don't undergo early revascularization.

The unprecedented Medicaid disease management deal struck between Florida and Pfizer this summer represents an important "move past unit cost control into total disease control," according to Perry Cohen, PharmD.

A few weeks ago, it looked like the national economic slowdown, which was eroding the anticipated federal budget surplus, might put the costly Medicare pharmaceutical benefit on the endangered list. Congress was having trouble agreeing on a coverage plan, and interest groups were squabbling over how to craft a fair and effective pharmacy program for the elderly.

Flush from victory in passing patients' rights legislation, Senate Democrats are expected to push for a Medicare prescription drug benefit this fall. The new Senate leadership seems to have found that championing health care is a winning strategy and is eager to build on its success.