Regulatory and Washington

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will hear arguments later this month in a case that could determine the future of many patent settlements between brand and generic drug makers.

The high court will hear arguments in the case, Federal Trade Commission v. Actavis, on March 25. The case was originally titled FTC v. Watson, but has changed since Watson Pharmaceuticals changed its name following its acquisition of Swiss generic drug maker Actavis.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Every year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issues a "call letter" to lay out various policies and requirements for the coming program year within the Medicare program.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Friday released a statement regarding a poll released last week by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

TOKYO — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a once-monthly treatment for schizophrenia.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical and H. Lundbeck announced the FDA approval of Abilify Maintena (aripiprazole) for extended-release injectable suspension, an intramuscular depot formulation indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia.

The companies described Abilify Maintena as the first dopamine D2 partial agonist approved as a once-monthly injection, contributing to a new treatment option to address the ongoing need for relapse prevention in patients with schizophrenia.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has launched a mobile app for its upcoming 2013 Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., the retail pharmacy trade group said.

Sponsored by the Emerson Group, the app is designed to provide attendees with an updated schedule, list of speakers, floor plan, list of companies and other important information. The meeting takes place from April 20-23.

WASHINGTON — The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is making changes to its certification program that it said would advance pharmacy tech certifications, the group announced.

The PTCB said that over the next seven years, it would phase in the changes, which include mandatory background checks, accredited education requirements and changes in acceptable continuing education programs for recertification. The group said its requirements have remained largely unchanged since its 1995 founding.

ATLANTA — The number of adult smokers who had used electronic cigarettes more than doubled in the space of a year, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pharmacy benefit managers are becoming increasingly adept at leveraging the power of generics to save client healthcare dollars and improve their own standing, reports indicated.

"The opportunity for lowering costs by promoting generics over brands has never been greater, given the unprecedented number of drugs set to lose patent protection over the next few years," noted the "2012 Towers Watson/National Business Group on Health Employer Survey on Purchasing Value in Health Care."