Regulatory and Washington

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In anticipation of hundreds of meetings between pharmacy advocates and members of Congress and their staff as part of NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores sent a letter to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., applauding the introduction of her legislation on Tuesday that would establish Medicare standards for pharmacy audits and reimbursement by pharmacy benefit managers.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Tuesday joined forces with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion on an initiative to develop and promote dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association has applauded a member of its organization for participating in the organization's drug disposal program.

WASHINGTON — Cardinal Health's appeal to delay a Drug Enforcement Agency suspension of its license to distribute controlled substances out of its Lakeland, Fla., distribution center was denied Friday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The ruling lifts a previously granted emergency stay issued by the appellate court earlier this month.

WASHINGTON — More than 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare saved billions on prescription drugs, thanks to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

New data found that these individuals saved more than $3.2 billion on prescription drugs, while savings for seniors included a one-time $250 rebate check to those who hit the "donut hole" coverage gap in 2010 and a 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs in the donut hole in 2011.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging the patent protection on a drug made by Abbott for treating cholesterol, the company said.

Watson, through a subsidiary, filed with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of niacin extended-release tablets in the 500-mg and 1,000-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Abbott's Niaspan.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic version of a drug for treating and preventing osteoporosis in women after menopause, the agency said Monday.

The FDA announced the approval of ibandronate tablets in the 150-mg strength made by Apotex, Orchid Healthcare and Mylan Pharmaceuticals. Genentech makes the branded version of the drug.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is praising lawmakers in Medco Health Solutions’ home state of New Jersey for delivering what NACDS called “a bold and revealing blow” to the PBM’s proposed merger with Express Scripts.