Regulatory and Washington

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Capitol Hill will turn into a sea of white lab coats Wednesday and Thursday as more than 350 pharmacy advocates from almost 40 states visit Washington for the third annual National Association of Chain Drug Stores RxImpact Day, NACDS said Wednesday.

The event will include pharmacy and retail executives, division and store managers, pharmacists, pharmacy school deans and students advocating on behalf of pharmacy to members of Congress.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A report by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General found that beneficiary premiums in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program are higher than than they should be, due to overpayments to plan sponsors, including pharmacy benefit managers.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday urged Congress to permit the Federal Reserve Board to expedite the implementation of an amendment to the financial-reform legislation from Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., that would limit the fees charged to retail merchants on debit card transactions (known as “swipe fees”) to a level that is “reasonable and proportionate” to the costs incurred by the banks and credit card associations to process these transactions.

WASHINGTON — Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced new legislation that seeks to curb prescription drug theft through strengthened penalties and additional tools for law enforcement.

If approved, the legislation would:

• Increase possible sentences for robbing pharmacies of controlled substances;

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association is looking for a new CFO to replace Roger Browning, who will retire, the group said Tuesday.

Browning has worked in senior financial executive positions for the APhA since 1995, serving as SVP finance and CFO since 2007. Before working for the APhA, he was VP finance at the International Franchise Association.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve a drug made by Salix Pharmaceuticals for irritable bowel syndrome, Salix said Tuesday.

The FDA issued a complete response letter to Salix for Xifaxan (rifaximin), a treatment for nonconstipation IBS and IBS-related bloating. Salix said it had anticipated that it would receive the letter based on an understanding that the agency needed more information related to retreatment.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application for a Type 2 diabetes drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca, the two drug makers said Tuesday.

The FDA accepted the application for dapagliflozin, an investigational drug for adults with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 1-in-11 U.S. adults has diabetes, with 90% to 95% of them having Type 2 diabetes.

The agency expects to take action on the application in late October.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In line with NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill this week, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores will hold a press conference in support of S. 274, The Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2011.

The legislation, which was introduced by Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and cosponsored by Sens. Al Franken, D-Minn.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Tim Johnson, D-S.D.; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will be discussed Thursday at the Reserve Officers Association.