Branded

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — An experimental drug for treating a rare genetic disease appears effective, according to a late-stage clinical trial.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two companies have signed a deal to provide access to real-time medication history to healthcare providers.

Pharmacy management services provider PDX and healthcare revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange services provider Emdeon announced the deal Monday, whereby medication history will be delivered from PDX's Electronic Pharmacy Record to Emdeon's Clinical Exchange and then to hospitals, providers, health information exchanges, nursing facilities and ambulatory and acute inpatient facilities that request it.

OSAKA, Japan — Drug makers Takeda Pharmaceutical and H. Lundbeck have applied with the Food and Drug Administration for a new drug to treat depression in adults.

Japan-based Takeda and Denmark-based Lundbeck announced the submission of a new drug application for Lu AA21004 (vortioxetine) for major depressive disorder.

CLEVELAND — More than 20,000 RxAlly member pharmacies — including independent pharmacies, regional chains and Walgreens — will begin accepting a new federally qualified Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, SmartD Rx, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Developed by Smart Insurance Company with the input of pharmacists, SmartD Rx will be offered to beneficiaries for the first time this fall during Medicare’s open enrollment period. 

BOTHELL, Wash. — Drug maker OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals has started its third late-stage clinical trial of a drug for treating a type of lung cancer.

OncoGenex announced Friday the initiation of the phase-3 "ENSPIRIT" trial of custirsen in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, also known as metastasis, and whose disease has progressed after initial treatment with chemotherapy has failed.

 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for psoriasis of the scalp made by a subsidiary of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

Stiefel announced Friday the approval of Sorilux (calcipotriene) foam for psoriasis of the scalp in adults. The drug was already approved for psoriasis of other parts of the body in October 2010.

WASHINGTON — Keynote speeches by pharmaceutical industry and regulatory leaders got top billing as more than 140 government, healthcare industry, law enforcement and patient advocacy officials gathered to find ways to combat the spread of counterfeit medicines.

NEW YORK — For the first time in a decade, sales of vaccines declined, Kalorama Information noted in a report released Thursday. A weak flu season last year was one factor that led to a 30% decline in the market to $19.8 billion in 2011, down from $24.1 billion in 2010. However, Kalorama projects that the world vaccines market will rebound — increasing at a compound annual rate of 8.9% during 2011-2016.