Author: Peter

Food and Drug Administration has revoked an approval issued in March to India's Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company Ltd to launch a drug (Elepsia XR, levetiracetam), for seizures, citing manufacturing quality problems at its production site…setback to SPARC, the research arm of India's largest drugmaker,…FDA issued it a "Complete Response Letter" in which it said "the compliance status of the manufacturing facility was not acceptable on the date of approval".

Munich Re to offer coverage for plants closed for regulatory issues…If a pharma plant closes because of an explosion or a natural disaster, well there is business interruption insurance for that. But if it closes to deal with issues after the FDA issues a Form 483 or a warning letter, then the drugmaker is on the hook for all of the costs. Now a couple of insurance companies say they will offer something to soften such blows…Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, says it will insure drugmakers against regulatory actions by the "FDA and its international counterparts" that could cause them to suspend manufacturing...

AmerisourceBergen (ABC) announced a new $2.4 billion share repurchase program. This new program brings ABC’s total repurchases to more than $4 billion in less than two years…ABC’s multi-faceted deal with Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA) is motivating these transactions…Under one crucial element of the deal, Walgreens Boots Alliance has the right to acquire up to a 23% ownership stake in ABC…they also have an option to buy an additional 5% …The agreement prevents WBA from owning more than 30% of ABC. Walgreens Boots Alliance will have the opportunity to add two directors to ABC’s board of directors… Is this a good deal?...We believe WBA may have cut the better deal initially, but ABC has been unusually shrewd with its hedging strategies.

Medical practices across the U.S. are now spending a lot more on technology this year, up nearly 34 percent from four years ago,…"As technology continues to evolve, medical practices must likewise also evolve,…"The way patients ask for and receive care is changing. The increased use of technology can improve the quality of patient care by improving records management, optimizing workflow and meeting HIPAA compliancy requirements."

Pharmacies in areas affected by wildfires in California can provide prescription medications to evacuees under a waiver granted by the state’s pharmacy board,..Responding to Gov. Jerry Brown’s declaration of emergency ,...California State Board of Pharmacy held an emergency meeting in Sacramento,..Under the action taken at this meeting, pharmacists in Lake, Napa, Amador, and Caleveras counties are now permitted to dispense medically necessary prescription drugs that patients could not otherwise access during this emergency situation…

Kristen L. Marjama, DNP, MSN, FNP-BC, clinical educator with Healthcare Clinic at Walgreens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, discusses counseling points for different asthma medication classes (video)

Drug Enforcement Administration…and United States Attorney...that nine individuals have been charged by indictment with participating in a drug trafficking ring that obtained more than 80,000 oxycodone pills by way of fraudulent prescriptions….and distributed the drug in the greater New Haven area. As part of the conspiracy, members of organization obtained the personal identifying information of medical practitioners and used the information to create fraudulent prescriptions…also purchased legitimate prescriptions for oxycodone from individuals…then used individuals, or "runners," to fill the fraudulent prescriptions at pharmacies throughout Connecticut. Once a runner provided his or her personal information to a member of the organization, the runner’s information was kept on file and used to create other fraudulent prescriptions.

Incident is one of at least seven reported at area pharmacies in 24 hours, all involving suspects 18 or younger…At least seven reported robberies or attempted robberies at Indianapolis-area pharmacies in the past 24 hours involved suspects who were 18 or younger, according to police reports…In a robbery attempt at a Northeastside Walgreens, a 12-year-old boy was arrested….Indiana battles No. 1 rank in pharmacy robberies…

A Facebook page can be a useful tool for cultivating patient loyalty, promoting pharmacy services, and educating patients. Pharmacists who want to increase engagement on their pharmacy’s Facebook page should follow these tips:

1. Maintain a Steady Flow of Content
2. Use Photos and Call to Actions
3. Respond to Questions or Comments
4. Track Your Facebook Analytics
5. Target Your Content
6. Pay for More Eyeballs
7. Refrain from Posting Negative Content

Biotech stocks closed out their worst week in four years after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to address 'price gouging'…Among the worst performers in trading Friday, Gilead Sciences, Pfizer, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and Celgene were all sharply lower.