Specialty Pharmacy

WASHINGTON — At the first full day of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy’s Annual Meeting & Expo, Walgreens announced a collaboration with NASP and continuing pharmacy and medical education company ProCE on a web-based continuing education (CE) center for Walgreens Specialty Pharmacists. 

 

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy announced Tuesday that it had received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) with a distinction in oncology. 

 

The distinction recognizes BioPlus’s abilities to deliver medications for cancer-specific conditions, identifying the toxic nature of the medications and collaborating with the physician and patient for best outcomes while containing costs. 

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Amgen’s Amjevita (adalimumab-atto), a biosimilar of AbbVie’s Amgen (adalimumab) and the fourth U.S. biosimilar, the company announced Friday. The drug — Amgen’s first biosimilar — is indicated to treat seven inflammatory conditions, among them moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. 

 

NEW YORK — After a period of evaluation, Pfizer announced Monday that its board of directors and executive leadership team had decided not to split the company into two separate companies, Pfizer Innovative Health and Pfizer Essential Health. The two will remain separately managed units within Pfizer. 

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Janssen Biotech announced Monday that the Food and Drug Administration had approved its Stelara (ustekinumab) to treat moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease.  

 

It is now indicated for adults with Crohn’s disease who have failed or were intolerant to corticosteroid or immunomodulator treatments, but never failed treatment with a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, or who failed or were intolerant of one or more TNF blocker treatment. 

 

WASHINGTON — The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on Wednesday brought 60 of its member companies’ researchers to Capitol Hill for meetings with members of Congress. The researchers will discuss with lawmakers how they can support developing new, innovative medicines. 

 

DUBLIN — On the same day that it announced the acquisition of Tobira Therapeutics, Allergan acquired Akarna Therapeutics, a biotech company that, like Tobira, focuses on developing treatments for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe type of fatty liver disease.