Generics

Now that most generics have declined in cost, plans will look for new ways to control health spend and ensure that generics are being used whenever possible. Prescription drug spending is down, and generic drugs made up 77% of all 2012 prescriptions, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Could this generic utilization percentage go even higher as a result of recent healthcare legislation?

Medicaid is increasingly becoming a managed care program, and states are looking to entities like pharmacy benefit managers to help them manage their drug spend.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson and Rite Aid on Tuesday announced the signing of an expanded distribution agreement to include both brand and generic pharmaceuticals. The new five-year agreement, which extends through March 2019, creates efficiencies for both companies by leveraging the strength of Rite Aid as one of the leading national drug store chains in the United States, and McKesson as a leader in pharmaceutical sourcing and supply chain management, the companies reported. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Roxane Labs on Tuesday announced the introduction of doxercalciferol capsules, available in strengths of 0.5-mcg, 1-mcg, and 2.5-mcg in 50-count bottles for immediate shipment to wholesalers and pharmacies across the nation.  

Doxercalciferol is used to lower elevated parathyroid hormone levels in patients who undergo kidney dialysis. Roxane Labs’ doxercalciferol capsules is AB Rated in the Food and Drug Administration Orange Book to Hectorol (doxercalciferol) capsules, 0.5-mcg, 1-mcg, and 2.5-mcg.

“No one gets paid unless patients improve adherence.”

That’s what Aaron McKethan, SVP of strategy and business development for RxAnte, had to say in a Jan. 13 article on Forbes.com, “A digital health acquisition to watch.” The story focused largely on RxAnte’s recent acquisition by Millennium Laboratories in December — which the author described as a “little-known, private equity-backed urine drug testing company” — and the technology it uses to improve patient adherence.

The federal agency in charge of Medicare is pushing for a major overhaul of its Medicare Part D drug benefit program for seniors. Those changes, if adopted, could help level the competitive playing field for pharmacy retailers in Part D plan networks, reduce competitive advantages for preferred pharmacy networks and mail-order pharmacies, and put a tighter squeeze on pharmacy benefit managers.

Thus, the proposals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the 2015 federal fiscal year could spell big changes for retail pharmacies. Among the most far-reaching are:

SILVER SPRING, Md. — After meeting for two days earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration's Arthritis Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted 16-9 against changing the label of naproxen to highlight a lower cardiovascular risk profile as compared to other NSAIDs, according to published reports. 

Those advisory panels who voted against the change felt the data were insufficient to say naproxen was safer than other NSAIDs.

DUBLIN — Mallinckrodt and Cadence Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which a subsidiary of Mallinckrodt will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Cadence Pharmaceuticals for $14.00 per share in cash or approximately $1.3 billion on a fully diluted basis, which represents a 32% premium to the trailing 30-trading-day volume weighted average price of $10.62 per share for Cadence Pharmaceuticals.

WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association on Tuesday announced its support of Georgia SB 370, introduced by pharmacist and Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Ga. District 1,  because it will allow unimpeded patient access to interchangeable biologics. The bill mirrors current pharmacy practice for interchangeable generic substitution language, and is aligned with Food and Drug Administration definitions, the association noted.