Specialty Pharmacy

RALEIGH, N.C. — Specialty pharmacy services provider MedPro Rx announced that it has expanded its Web portal.

The portal, which can be accessed on the company's website, provides patients, physicians, nurses and case managers with the ability to access targeted content to review medical records and clinical follow-up, drug dispensing/refill and shipping history. The portal also can be used as a tool to communicate with the clinical staff at MedPro Rx and utilizes a secure, password-protected customer log-in to allow for privacy of information and ease of use for clients.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by Forest Labs, the agency said Tuesday.

DUBLIN — British drug maker Shire again is trying to win approval for a hereditary angioedema drug that the Food and Drug Administration had previously declined to approve.

Shire said Monday that it had submitted a response to the "not approvable letter" the FDA sent to German subsidiary Jerini AG in April 2008 for the drug Firazyr (icatibant).

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a GlaxoSmithKline drug for a rare blood disorder, GSK said Friday.

The drug maker announced the approval of Promacta (eltrombopag) for chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, in patients who have not responded adequately to other therapies. Chronic ITP results in increased destruction of inadequate production of platelets in the blood, creating an increased risk of bruising and bleeding.

The FDA granted Promacta orphan drug designation in May 2008 and accelerated approval in November 2008.

WASHINGTON — More than 400 drugs are in late-stage clinical development or awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval as treatments for rare diseases, according to a report by the drug industry lobby.

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Savient said its newest drug is the first and only therapy available to treat chronic gout in adult patients refractory to conventional therapy.

The drug maker announced the U.S. commercial launch of Krystexxa (pegloticase).

LISLE, Ill. — Pharmacy benefit manager SXC Health Solutions had revenues of $1.95 billion in 2010, compared with $1.44 billion in 2009, according to an earnings report released Thursday.

Profit for the year was $64.7 million, compared with $46.1 million in 2009.

MEMPHIS — Sales at specialty pharmacy provider Accredo Health Group for the fourth quarter grew to $3 billion, a 21.3% increase over fourth quarter 2009, according to parent company Medco Health Solutions.

Sales for the year were $11.3 billion, a 19.1% increase over 2009. The company said the growth was the result of new clients and growth across the specialty business.

Growth in sales helped drive operating income for the quarter up by 30.7% to $109.9 million, while operating income for the full year increased by 22.7% to $438.2 million.