Specialty Pharmacy

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Fertility clinic network Vivere Health has inked a deal with Metro Medical Supply to launch a specialty pharmacy company, Vivere said Monday.

Avanti Specialty Pharmacy Management will provide fertility pharmacy and related management services, Vivere said.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb has donated $6.9 million to a nonprofit group that helps people pay for medical treatments, the company said.

Bristol made the donation to the HealthWell Foundation, which provides financial assistance to eligible people for covering co-insurance, co-payments, healthcare premiums and deductibles for certain treatments. The drug maker's donation is targeted toward underinsured cancer patients.

According to the American Diabetes Association’s latest figures, 79 million Americans have prediabetes, but only 1-out-of-10 knows it. That suggests a terrific upside in the market of diabetes-testing supplies and diabetes-supportive products as more of those Americans become aware of their condition. 


Record-breaking attendance and four panel discussions on such topics as specialty pharmacy and diabetes set the stage for the 13th annual Drug Store News Industry Issues Summit held on Nov. 29 in New York City. This year’s event attracted more than 30 retailers and 200 industry suppliers. 


CVS Caremark is reinventing pharmacy and unlocking the full potential of its distinctive model. The company is doing this by capitalizing on what Larry Merlo, president and CEO, has referred to as “integration sweet spots,” which are capabilities unique to CVS Caremark’s integrated model. In this issue of DSN, we explore what we believe are 10 keys to driving growth across CVS' network and transforming the retail health landscape.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a lower-dose formulation of a drug made by Gilead Sciences for treating HIV in children, the company said.

Gilead announced the FDA approval of Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in the 150-mg, 200-mg and 250-mg strengths combined with other antiretroviral drugs in patients ages 6 to 12 years while also approving an oral powder formulation for children ages 2 to 5 years. The agency approved the drug in the 300-mg strength for adults in 2001 and for patients ages 12 to 17 years in 2010.

HOLZKIRCHEN, Germany — Drug maker Sandoz has started two late-stage clinical trials of biosimilar drugs for treating cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the company said Thursday, saying the studies were meant to support the drugs' eventual marketing in the United States.

PHOENIX — The wholesale arm of specialty pharmacy The Apothecary Shops has received distribution rights to a drug for treating age-related macular degeneration, the company said Thursday.

Apothecary Shops Wholesale has begun distributing Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' Eylea (aflibercept) to physicians and patients. The drug is used to treat neovascular or "wet" AMD. The "wet" form usually leads to more serious vision loss.