Diabetes

CHICAGO — With the explosion in such mobile devices as smart phones, Walgreens is expanding its access across an ever-wider array of options for health consumers, president and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Companies that lower co-payments on prescription drugs while promoting disease management can lower their own healthcare costs, according to a three-year study commissioned by the Florida Health Care Coalition and published in the journal Health Affairs.

The study, which focused on patients with diabetes, found that companies combining disease-management programs with “value-based insurance design” can earn a return of $1.33 for every dollar they spend upfront on medication.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association is honoring Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for demonstrating leadership and commitment in stopping diabetes.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A program developed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators seeks to educate pharmacists on how to help teach patients to better manage their diabetes.

The Diabetes Accreditation Standards-Practical Applications program will be offered four times this year, the first one being held at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego Jan. 21 to 23, the groups said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The independent pharmacy lobby has issued a letter to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., with insight on how certain current or proposed federal regulations can burden pharmacies and their patients.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application for a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes made by Merck, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Merck announced the acceptance of its application for extended-release Janumet, which combines in a single pill the active ingredient sitagliptin with extended-release metformin, a drug commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes.

MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacies has signed a lease for a new 14,000-sq.-ft. store in north Miami. With a store opening planned for the summer of 2011, the newest store will be the company's 29th location and its first new store opening since its airport location opened in 2007.

INDIANAPOLIS — U.S. drug maker Eli Lilly and German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim will collaborate to develop drugs for diabetes, the companies said Tuesday.

The agreement centers around investigative drugs currently in mid- to late-stage clinical development, including two oral drugs made by BI, BI10773 and linagliptin, and two basal insulin analogues made by Lilly, LY2605541 and LY2963016. The deal also includes options to develop and commercialize a Lilly monoclonal antibody.