Specialty Pharmacy

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. government are suing two generic drug makers to stop them from launching a generic drug for HIV, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported Thursday that Tibotec, a subsidiary of J&J, and the government were separately suing Mylan and Lupin over a generic version of the drug Prezista (darunavir ethanolate), alleging patent infringement.

ST. LOUIS — Pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts has created what it calls the industry’s most comprehensive specialty benefits organization, the company announced Thursday.

ROCKVILLE, Md. A decision by a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee could pave the way for the first new drug to treat lupus in decades.

The FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 13-2 Tuesday to recommend approval for Benlysta (belimumab), a drug for systemic lupus erythematosus made by British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline and U.S.-based Human Genome Sciences, the two companies announced. Lupus is an inflammatory disorder that affects internal organs, joints and skin and, in its severest forms, can be fatal.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has recommended expanded approval of a vaccine for genital warts.

Merck announced Wednesday that the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended approval of Gardasil (human papillomavirus quadrivalent [types 6, 11, 16 and 18] vaccine, recombinant) for males and females ages 9 to 26 years to prevent anal cancer and anal intraepithelial neoplasia, both diseases that result from infection by the human papillomavirus.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. Patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease said the illness prevented them from living life to its fullest, according to research conducted by drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

SAN DIEGO — The Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to a drug for treating sickle cell disease.

LAKE MARY, Fla. A specialty pharmacy provider and a manufacturer will collaborate to provide treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Axium Healthcare Pharmacy and Firma Medical announced the partnership Wednesday where by Axium’s erectile dysfunction line of injectable compounded pharmaceuticals will be marketed to Firma’s physician and patient customers around the country. The companies said the deal would give Axium broader distribution while increasing the number of treatment options for Firma’s customers.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. Watson Pharmaceuticals biotech subsidiary Eden Biodesign has signed a manufacturing agreement with Dutch biotech company Crucell that will give Watson access to Crucell’s cell line technology, the two companies announced Wednesday.

Under the agreement, Eden will provide process development and current good manufacturing practice services using Crucell’s PER.C6 technology to licensees using the technology to develop vaccines and gene therapies.