Specialty Pharmacy

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The Food and Drug Administration is requesting additional data from two drug makers for a treatment for immune system disorders.

Baxter and Halozyme said the FDA wanted more data to review their application for HyQ, a combination of immune globulin and recombinant human hyaluronidase.

The companies said they would work to develop studies to provide additional data to address the agency's concerns.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Two drug makers have signed a deal to develop an experimental drug for treating two types of cancer.

Merck and Endocyte announced that they would develop and commercialize the latter's drug EC145 (vintafolide), currently in a phase-3 trial, as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and a phase-2 trial for non-small cell lung cancer. Both studies are also using Endocyte's experimental diagnostic agent, EC20 (etarfolatide).

ST. LOUIS — Fresh off the heels of its merger with Medco Health Solutions, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts announced Monday the launch of a medication nonadherence detection system and offered a preview of its annual "Drug Trend Report."

One of the highlights for Rite Aid’s business has been Wellness+, its loyalty card program that has played a major role in driving growth in the company’s comps, as well as attracting new and more loyal customers.


WASHINGTON — Drug companies invested nearly $50 billion in research and development in 2011, according to a new report by a drug industry trade group.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and healthcare partner Humana are out with a new prescription drug program called Rx4Value that guarantees savings and relies on the proven strategy of improving affordability by restricting choice to generic drugs.

With the rise in people diagnosed with complex illnesses like cancers, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, Crohn’s disease and rare genetic disorders, the need for specialty pharmacies to deal with the complex drug regimens they require will rise as well.


MONTREAL — Valeant announced that it has acquired a privately owned specialty pharmaceutical company based in the United States.

Pedinol Pharmacal, a podiatry-focused company that has been in business for more than 85 years, was acquired for an undisclosed amount that was said to be 1.5 times sales. Pedinol touted $18 million in revenue last year.