Specialty Pharmacy

PHOENIX — A deal that would make a specialty pharmacy a distribution source for an oral-liquid drug may benefit breast cancer patients who have trouble swallowing pills.

Avella Specialty Pharmacy announced Monday a deal with Dara BioSciences that would make a distribution source for Soltamox (tamoxifen citrate) oral solution in the United States. The drug is the only available oral liquid formulation of tamoxifen, previously available in pill form only.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

Pharmacy OneSource announced the release of a new version of Simplifi 797, used for ensuring compliance with USP chapter 797 regulations, which call for proper training of staff who prepare sterile compounded products.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to a new drug for HIV made by an Indian company.

FDA records show that the agency gave tentative approval tablets and oral suspension that combine lamivudine, nevirapine and zidovudine in the 30-mg/50-mg/60-mg strength.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved what it called the first drug to treat an eye condition that can interfere with the part of the retina responsible for reading vision.

The agency announced the approval of Jetrea (ocriplasmin), made by Iselin, N.J.-based ThromboGenics. The drug is used to treat symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.

PRINCETON, N.J. — A cancer drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb has received an award from Galien Foundation, the drug maker said Wednesday.

The company said Yervoy (ipilimumab) received the 2012 Prix Galien USA Prize in the Best Biotechnology Product category. Yervoy — used to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body, known as metastasis — is the first new drug for melanoma that is metastatic or can't be removed through surgery in more than a decade.

SUMMIT, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an injected drug for lung cancer made by Celgene, the company said Friday.

Celgene announced the approval of Abraxane (paclitaxel) protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, for the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer that has advanced locally or spread to other parts of the body, in combination with carboplatin, for patients who are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation therapy.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new use for a drug made by Roche division Genentech.

The drug maker said Friday that the FDA had approved Actemra (tocilizumab) for adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded adequately to one or more disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. The drug was already approved for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Medical supply company BD has introduced a disposable injection pen that it said was designed for drugs requiring frequent, low-volume injections or variable dosing.

The company's BD Medical division announced the introduction of the Vystra, which it will showcase at the 2012 Parenteral Drug Association meeting in Las Vegas.

The company said the pen is designed for ease of use, comfort and reliability, including design features like multi-dosing, simple dose dialing and correction with audible clicks and large and clear dose markings.