Specialty Pharmacy

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.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has filed for approval of a treatment for a rare genetic bleeding disorder, the Danish drug maker said Wednesday.

The company submitted to the Food and Drug Administration its application for recombinant factor XIII compound, for congenital factor XIII deficiency. Current treatments for FXIII deficiency use products derived from human blood plasma, which carries the risk of contamination.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Drug maker Gilead Sciences plans to buy out a privately owned Seattle company that makes treatments for cancer and inflammatory diseases, Gilead said Tuesday.

The Foster City, Calif.-based company will buy Calistoga Pharmaceuticals for $375 million, plus additional milestone payments of up to $225 million.

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Sales at Medco Health Solutions increased to $16.9 billion during fourth quarter 2010 and to $66 billion for the fiscal year as a whole, representing respective 11.1% and 10.3% increases over the same periods the year before, the pharmacy benefit manager said Tuesday.

Profits for the quarter were $378.5 million, a 10.8% increase over fourth quarter 2009, while profits for the year were $1.4 billion, an 11.5% increase over fiscal year 2009.