Specialty Pharmacy

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration expects to approve an increasing number of drugs, according to published reports.

Reuters quoted FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research director Janet Woodcock as saying the number of drugs approved gradually could increase, already having reached a “nadir.” The report noted that 12 drugs had won approval this year so far, and Woodcock speculated that the agency would approve more than the 21 it approved last year.

PARIS — French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis has shortened its name to Sanofi, the company said.

The company, which acquired Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech giant Genzyme for $20.1 billion earlier this year, had planned to vote at its shareholder meeting Friday.

According to published reports, the previous name was difficult to pronounce for people in many countries.

MADISON, Wis. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to a treatment made by Mithridion for a rare neurological disorder, Mithridion said Monday.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Novartis as the first treatment for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, Novartis said Thursday.

Novartis announced the approval of Afinitor (everolimus), saying it marked the first approval of a drug for advanced pancreatic NET in nearly 30 years. The drug already is approved for treating cancers of the kidneys and brain.

ELMSFORD, N.Y. — First quarter 2011 sales at specialty pharmacy provider BioScrip increased by 31.1% over first quarter 2010. The company also showed a profit, compared with losses during the same period last year, according to financial results released Tuesday.

The company had sales of $439.3 million, compared with $335.1 million in first quarter 2010, while profits were $2.9 million, compared with losses of $7.2 million a year ago.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Armada Health Care has launched a new Web-based specialty pharmacy therapy management system designed to allow pharmacies to optimize drug utilization and clinical outcomes while providing enhanced patient care, Armada said Monday.

The company announced the launch of ReachRx OTM, which includes features such as patient support protocols, side effects management, therapy discontinuation surveys and patient outcomes reporting.

JERUSALEM — Cephalon has another suitor in the form of the world’s largest generic drug company.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said Monday that it would buy Frazer, Pa.-based Cephalon for $6.8 billion, undercutting efforts by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, which had offered $5.7 billion in March.

The boards of both companies have agreed to the acquisition, equal to $81.50 per share. Cephalon previously had turned down Valeant’s offer, prompting the Mississauga, Ontario-based company to take its case directly to Cephalon’s shareholders.

HORSHAM, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for prostate cancer made by Johnson & Johnson.

Centocor Ortho Biotech, J&J’s biotech subsidiary, announced Thursday the approval of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate), a daily pill for use in combination with the corticosteroid prednisone for treating castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body in men who have received prior chemotherapy with Sanofi-Aventis’ Taxotere (docetaxel).