Specialty Pharmacy

NEW YORK — Taking drugs for treating HIV might reduce the risk of infection among heterosexual couples, according to two new studies conducted in Africa.

One study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and conducted among 4,758 couples in Kenya and Uganda, found that when taken daily, Gilead’s Viread (tenofovir) reduced the rates of infection by at least 62% compared with placebo. Truvada (tenofovir and emtricitabine), another drug made by Gilead, reduced infection risk by 73%.

ST. LOUIS — Retail pharmacy and specialty distributor Foundation Care has acquired a new office and warehouse space to accommodate new demand for its pharmacy and distribution services, the company said.

The 20,000-sq.-ft. space is adjacent to its Earth City, Mo., location, and the company said it would ensure adequate space to cater to its current and future pharmaceutical, biotech and device business partners.

PLANEGG-MARTINSRIED, Germany — The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to a cancer treatment in mid-stage development made by German drug maker 4SC, the company said Tuesday.

4SC announced that it received the designation for resminostat, currently in phase-2 clinical trials as a treatment for hepatocellular cancer, or HCC. The FDA grants orphan drug designation to drugs for diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States.

FLINT, Mich. — The country’s largest privately owned specialty pharmacy provider recently got a visit from the U.S. secretary of labor.

Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy announced last week that labor secretary Hilda Solis toured the company’s new headquarters at a former General Motors building in Flint, Mich.

“This is testimony of what people can do when they pull together,” Solis said, referring to Diplomat’s use of the building. “Flint, Mich., is on the map again.”

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy has named Bill Cook VP sales, the company said.

Cook previously worked as SVP business development and sales at CareSouth and also has worked as VP sales at United Therapeutics, Accredo Health and Gentiva. In his new position with BioPlus, Cook will be responsible for the national sales force.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions’ specialty pharmacy division, Accredo Health Group, has managed to drive down costs for treating hepatitis C by an average of $13,000 per patient, the company said Tuesday.

Medco said Accredo had been successful in using genotype information to identify patients who only may need 24 weeks of therapy, as opposed to 48 weeks, thus reducing costs.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Archimedes Pharma for treating breakthrough pain in cancer patients, Archimedes said last week.

Archimedes announced the approval of Lazanda (fentanyl) nasal spray for cancer patients who have acquired a tolerance to opioid drugs. Breakthrough pain is an intense, sudden pain that is unpredictable and often debilitating and occurs despite otherwise appropriate pain therapy.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its antibacterial drug.

The drug maker said that the FDA approved polymyxin B for injection USP. Sagent said that polymyxin B sulfate is used to treat infections of the urinary tract, meninges and bloodstream caused by susceptible strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The drug was developed in partnership with Strides Arcolab. Under the collaboration, Strides develops and supplies injectable products that Sagent will market in the United States.