Specialty Pharmacy

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Thursday announced that its subsidiary has launched repaglinide tablets, a generic version of Novo Nordisk's Prandin. The drug is used to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Repaglinide tablets in 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg had sales in the United States of approximately $212.95 million for the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2013, according to IMS Health.

LAVAL, Quebec — Valeant Pharmaceuticals International on Thursday announced the expiration of the tender offer by a subsidiary of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Solta Medical for $2.92 per share in cash, without interest (less any applicable withholding taxes). 

The offer expired at midnight on Jan. 23, 2014. 

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. — Anoka-Ramsey Community College announced that it will offer an associate in science degree in pharmacy technician. The required general education courses for the new program can be taken at either the Cambridge or Coon Rapids locations.

Program-specific courses are held at the Cambridge campus to help meet the needs of area pharmacies, according to the college.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Assembly Member Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, on Tuesday introduced legislation that would authorize a pharmacist to dispense the narcotic antagonist naloxone hydrochloride without a prescription in California. 

Naloxone is used to treat overdoses of narcotic medications including morphine, codeine and oxycodone and works by reversing the side effects of the narcotic, such as sedation and decreased breathing rate.

ARLINGTON, Va. — When selecting an exchange health plan under the Affordable Care Act, consumers should be able to evaluate plans’ success in medication management, among other quality measures, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores stated in comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Specifically, NACDS urged CMS to adopt measures related to medication adherence and appropriate medication use as part of its Quality Rating System for Qualified Health Plans, which are offered through health insurance exchanges.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — Due in part to the new Walgreens pharmaceutical business, AmerisourceBergen on Thursday reported revenue of $29.2 billion, up 38.5%, for its fiscal year 2014 first quarter ended Dec. 31.

“In our December quarter, we delivered solid results as we onboarded substantial new business,” Steven Collis, AmerisourceBergen president and CEO, said. “We performed well operationally, made meaningful progress through a significant working capital transition, and positioned ourselves well to meet our objectives for the fiscal year.”

PHOENIX — Avella Specialty Pharmacy on Thursday was recognized in Chief Executive magazine’s first list of the “Mid-Market Elite.” Avella joins other highly-regarded companies, including Twitter, LinkedIn and LifeLock, in receiving this honor that is given to 100 companies. 

WASHINGTON — According to an economic impact analysis released Tuesday by Martin Kennedy, a former professor of economics who spent seven years on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University, adopting a prescription requirement for pseudoephedrine products in Tennessee would result in an influx of more than 497,000 additional physician office visits at a direct cost of $44.3 million annually.