Generics

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo Co. today announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug applications for fluocinolone acetonide scalp oil, 0.01%, the generic equivalent to Derma-Smoothe/FS Scalp Oil, and fluocinolone acetonide topical oil, 0.01%, the generic equivalent to Derma-Smoothe/FS Body Oil. Perrigo expects to begin shipments of both products next month.

HYDERABAD, India — Dr. Reddy’s has announced the appointment of Dr. Sripada Chandrasekhar as the president and global head of human resources; he will also be a member of Dr. Reddy’s Management Council. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Chandrasekhar brings a rare blend of experience across India’s leading firms in Public, Private and Multi-National sectors — both in the early economy areas of steel and manufacturing as well as in the more recent domains of Telecom, IT Services and Consulting.

 PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis and Warner Chilcott have received approval from all necessary antitrust clearances for their merger from regulators outside the United States, the companies said Friday.

The drug makers said that the French Competition Authority had approved U.S.-based Actavis' acquisition of Ireland-based Warner Chilcott. The German Federal Cartel Office had previously approved the deal as well.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — VoicePort, LLC announced today the launch of its Medication Synchronization automated solution with two U. S. pharmacy chain clients and are in final stage negotiations with several others in support of helping pharmacies deliver increased patient health-and-wellness.

The urgency behind Diplomat's launch of its Retail Specialty Network isn't hard to fathom. As the growth momentum in pharmaceuticals shifts from traditionally developed drugs to more complex and expensive specialty and biotech products, traditional pharmacies without access to these specialized medicines — and the patients who depend on them — find themselves stranded in a receding market like boats at low tide.

Results of a recent federal survey of Medicare Part D claims is again roiling the sometimes strained relationship between independent and smaller-chain community pharmacies and managed care, and could herald a growing threat to those pharmacies as health plan payers and pharmacy benefit managers abandon open pharmacy provider networks and shift more business to exclusive preferred pharmacy groups.

Can one of the nation's premier specialty pharmacies maintain its focus on each patient it serves while simultaneously smashing its own growth records and reaching national power-player status in the rarified world of specialized medication services?

The Supreme Court usually has a lot on its plate in any given year, but this year's term included a pretty big case for the pharmaceutical industry: the Federal Trade Commission v. Actavis, which concerned legal settlements between branded and generic drug makers that often occur when the latter attempts to market a generic drug before the former's patents have expired.