Specialty Pharmacy

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy has begun filling prescriptions for patients prescribed the recently approved breast cancer treatment Verzenio (abemaciclib). The drug was approved to treat certain cases of advanced or metastatic breast cancer, either alone or in combination with Faslodex.

"This therapy represents yet another step forward in the way the healthcare community approaches treating advanced stages of this disease,” Diplomat president Joel Saban said. “We are proud to support patients dealing with breast cancer by dispensing VERZENIO.”

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy has made its second acquisition in two months, expanding the service capabilities of its EnvoyHealth support division and bringing on a new chief information officer in the process. The company has acquired 8th Day Software and Consulting, naming founder Dave Loschinskey CIO.

With the acquisition, EnvoyHealth can now offer its healthcare partners such services as IT outsourcing, consulting and product development.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Eli Lilly’s new treatment for certain breast cancers has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Verzenio (abemaciclib) was approved to as a treatment for patients with a hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer that is advanced or metastatic and has progressed following endocrine therapy.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new indication for Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the drug’s manufacturer Merck announced recently. The drug is now approved as a third-line treatment for patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma whose tumors test positive for a certain protein identified by an FDA-approved test.

With specialty pharmacy marking a growing component of community pharmacies’ business, inventory monitoring — particularly for specialty medications that are meant to kept at certain temperatures — is becoming an added stressor for pharmacists. Temptime VP global customer development Christopher Caulfield spoke with Drug Store News about how the company’s temperature monitoring tools help pharmacies deliver value to patients and the healthcare system. 

OMAHA, Neb. – Mike Agostino, president of Amber Pharmacy and Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions, has been awarded the 2017 Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.

“Nobody works as tirelessly as Mike when it comes to doing what’s right for our patients,” stated Micaila Ruiz, chief pharmacy officer Amber Pharmacy. “He has the ability to instill his mission of patient-centered care with everyone he meets, whether it’s a member of Congress in Washington, D.C., or a member of our staff.”

WASHINGTON — A new report from the Moran Co. for the Association for Accessible Medicines and its Biosimilars Council is projecting big savings to the federal government from biosimilars in the next 10 years. But the estimated $11.4 billion in savings would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to revise the way it currently reimburses for biosimilar drugs.