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Formulary, A peer-reviewed drug management journal for managed care and hospital decision-makers
Part of the Modern Medicine Network

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FormularyJournal.com

September 2, 2011

Formulary
Home Medication Safety FDA Actions Latest News Policy Watch Drug Watch
In This Issue
Study provides first evidence-based colchicine dosing recommendations
Linaclotide reduces symptoms for patients with chronic constipation, studies show
FDA Safety Alert: Abnormal heart rhythms associated with high doses of citalopram hydrobromide
FDA approves Xalkori with companion diagnostic for a type of late-stage lung cancer
FDA approves tapentadol ER for management of moderate-to-severe chronic pain
FDA approves Botox to treat a form of urinary incontinence
FDA approves icatibant to treat acute attacks of hereditary angioedema

Survey

Last month's survey results:

With the evolution of the medical home and ACO models of healthcare delivery, what do you see as the most essential means by which pharmacy departments can support the success of such models?

Click Here to Vote

a) More active direct patient outreach, education and consultation. 40%

b) Enhanced provider education and drug info support. 9%

c) Improved ability to deliver more timely and actionable patient-specific drug alerts to PCPs/care managers. 18%

d) Enhanced mechanisms to monitor and improve patient compliance. 23%

d) More advanced analytics to better risk stratify patients for intervention need. 5%

e) More timely and robust reporting to measure pharmacy-specific quality performance metrics. 5%

This month we would like to know...

With the recent announcement of Medco's acquisition by Express Scripts, potentially bringing 2 of the nation's largest PBMs together, what do you see as the most significant implications of such consolidation for the industry:

a) Enhanced competition within the industry, inevitably translating to even lower drug costs for PBM payer clients.

b) Unfair advantages for Express Scripts based upon its size, thus reducing competition and potentially increasing long-term costs for payers.

c) Increased pressures on retail pharmacies forcing more pharmacies out of business.

d) Increased quality of PBM clinical, analytic and administrative services across the industry, as other PBMs strive to stay competitive.

e) Minimal, if any, impact.

Click Here to Vote

Digital Edition

Formulary Digital Edition View Current Edition Subscribe to the Digital Edition

Study provides first evidence-based colchicine dosing recommendations

Colchicine, a widely used drug for the prevention and treatment of gout flares, interacts dangerously with many commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals, such as antibiotics, antihypertensive drugs, antifungals, immunosuppressants, and protease inhibitors, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. However, most patients can take colchicines safely with these medications as long as the dose is adjusted, the study indicated. Read full article.

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Formulary Staff

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Linaclotide reduces symptoms for patients with chronic constipation, studies show

Linaclotide, an investigational drug for the relief of chronic constipation, appears to be effective and safe, according to the results of two phase 3 trials published in the August issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Read full article.

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FDA Safety Alert: Abnormal heart rhythms associated with high doses of citalopram hydrobromide

FDA has notified healthcare professionals and patients that the antidepressant citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa, Forest Laboratories) should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart. Read full article.

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FDA approves Xalkori with companion diagnostic for a type of late-stage lung cancer

FDA approved crizotinib (Xalkori, Pfizer) the first and only therapy specifically for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. Read full article.

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FDA approves tapentadol ER for management of moderate-to-severe chronic pain

FDA has approved tapentadol extended-release tablets (Nucynta ER, Janssen Pharmaceuticals), an oral analgesic taken twice daily, for the management of moderate-to-severe chronic pain in adults when a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic is needed for an extended period of time. Read full article.

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FDA approves Botox to treat a form of urinary incontinence

FDA has approved onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox, Allergan) for injection for the treatment of urinary incontinence resulting from detrusor overactivity associated with a neurologic condition (eg, spinal cord injury [SCI], multiple sclerosis [MS]) in adults who have an inadequate response to or are intolerant of an anticholinergic medication. Read full article.

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FDA approves icatibant to treat acute attacks of hereditary angioedema

FDA has approved icatibant (Firazyr, Shire Human Genetic Therapies) injection for the treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema (HAE) in patients 18 years of age and older. Read full article.

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