Specialty Pharmacy

Walgreens joins Magic Johnson Foundation on Point Forward Day
LOS ANGELES — The Magic Johnson Foundation on Monday initiated Point Forward Day, marking 20 years to the date that Johnson announced his HIV status and subsequent retirement from the National Basketball Association.

In partnership with AIDS Healthcare Foundation, MJF will host free confidential testing events at retailers, including Walgreens in Chicago. At select locations, testing will include participation from government officials, dignitaries and athletes who will lead their communities by getting tested first at on site mobile units.
FDA gives new approval to Bristol-Myers Squibb's, Lilly's Erbitux
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly & Co. for treating head and neck cancer, the agency said Monday.

The FDA announced the approval of Erbitux (cetuximab) for use with chemotherapy in treating head and neck cancer that had spread to other parts of the body. The drug originally was approved in 2004 for treating certain cases of late-stage colon cancer in patients who had stopped responding to chemotherapy.

FDA appoints new commissioner's chief of staff

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has appointed a new chief of staff for commissioner Margaret Hamburg, according to a letter sent to agency employees Monday.

In the letter, Hamburg announced the appointment of Lisa Barclay. Barclay, currently a partner at the Washington law firm Zuckerman Spaeder, will replace Molly Muldoon, who was previously chief of staff and more recently the agency's acting COO.
Abbott announces results of phase-3 trial of Humira

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — A large number of patients with a serious form of arthritis experienced improvement in their condition after taking a drug made by Abbott Labs for three months, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial announced Monday.
Reports: FDA finds manufacturing problems at Genentech plant

NEW YORK — A new report from the Food and Drug Administration indicated that Roche division Genentech may not have followed proper procedures to prevent the contamination of certain drugs, according to published reports.

Dow Jones Newswires reported that an FDA report from September regarding an inspection of a plant in South San Francisco, Calif., found problems related to gaskets and caps used to cover vials of the cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab).

The caps are made by a contract manufacturer, according to the reports.
Octapharma USA to reintroduce immune disorder drug

HOBOKEN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has cleared the way for the return to market of a drug for treating immunodeficiency diseases following its recall by the manufacturer in response to patients developing internal blood clots.
BMS to present abstracts from Orencia studies at American College of Rheumatology meeting

NEW YORK — Drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb will present 20 study abstracts at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, the company said Thursday.

Bristol said that of those, 18 contain new data from studies of Orencia (abatacept) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus nephritis.
FDA report: 35 new drugs approved in past year

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved 35 new drugs over the past 12 months, the agency said Thursday.
FDA approves update to Takeda cancer drug label

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved changes to the labeling of a cancer drug made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said.

Takeda and Millennium, the Japanese drug maker's cancer-drug subsidiary, announced Tuesday that the FDA approved a supplemental new drug application for the injectable multiple myeloma drug Velcade (bortezomib) that updates its label to include additional data from a clinical study showing that the drug extended patients' survival time.
ABC posts 3% revenue gain with $80.2 billion in sales

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Tuesday recorded revenues of $20.4 billion for fourth quarter 2011 ended Sept. 30, up 3.5%. Diluted earnings per share increased 8% to 54 cents. For the year, AmerisourceBergen posted $80.2 billion in revenue, up 2.9%.

Walgreens joins Magic Johnson Foundation on Point Forward Day

FDA gives new approval to Bristol-Myers Squibb's, Lilly's Erbitux

FDA appoints new commissioner's chief of staff

Abbott announces results of phase-3 trial of Humira

Reports: FDA finds manufacturing problems at Genentech plant

Octapharma USA to reintroduce immune disorder drug

BMS to present abstracts from Orencia studies at American College of Rheumatology meeting

FDA report: 35 new drugs approved in past year

FDA approves update to Takeda cancer drug label

ABC posts 3% revenue gain with $80.2 billion in sales