Generics

WASHINGTON — The Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Indiana Health Industry Forum on Thursday commended the Indiana Senate for passing legislation designed to create a pathway for the substitution of interchangeable biologic medicines.

The policies outlined in the identical SB 262 align with BIO’s principles on biologic substitution, therefore BIO and IHIF support passage of this bill as it moves along for consideration by the Indiana House of Representatives.

If you don't succeed the first time, try, try again. That's exactly what McKesson did when it announced that it reached an agreement with Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH to acquire its entire holding of Celesio shares. And in a separate and subsequent agreement, McKesson also picked up the Celesio convertible bonds from Elliott.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's January same-store sales increased 1.8%, beating out an analyst projection of a 0.5% increase in overall comparable-store sales. Total drug store sales for the four weeks ended Jan. 25 increased 1.5% to $1.9 billion.

January front-end same-store sales decreased 1.3%, of which 1.4% was attributable to a decrease in sales of flu-related over-the-counter products. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 124 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 3.2%. 

DUBLIN — Actavis last week announced that it has signed and completed an agreement for Zhejiang Chiral Medicine Chemicals Co. to acquire Actavis' interest in Actavis (Foshan) Pharmaceuticals Co., an Actavis subsidiary based in Foshan, China.  

Actavis intends to continue further commercial operations in China in collaboration with its preferred business partners.

Americans by and large have lousy diets, pharmacist and supplement expert James LaValle, CEO of Integrative Health Resources, told DSN Collaborative Care recently. Over a lifetime, those nutrient-poor diets contribute to the development of such chronic disease states as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The medicines prescribed to treat those conditions then further deplete essential vitamins and minerals.

WASHINGTON — The Generic Pharmaceutical Association on Tuesday announced the hiring of Jonathan Marks as VP international affairs. Marks brings to GPhA more than 20 years of experience, including previous roles within the Department of Commerce. 

In 2012, compounding made headlines when 64 people died as a result of fungal meningitis caused by contaminated compounded products.

History

Pharmacists and nurse practitioners are trusted healthcare professionals who provide instructions and advice based on peer-reviewed guidelines and clinical data. They have the opportunity and responsibility to educate patients about the benefits of childhood vaccines and to be advocates for immunizations as they relate to public health. Immunizations remain one of the most important public health discoveries of all time and are responsible for the decreased amount of infectious disease.