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Institutional living facilities that serve seniors and others at higher risk of the most serious infections, as well as prisons, where it is difficult to adhere to social distancing guidelines, have been hard hit by the easily spread virus...HHS analysts, compliance officers and epidemiologists are attempting to use the data “to identify, control and contain the spread of COVID-19 among our most vulnerable residents living within skilled nursing and assisted living facilities,” according to a news release from the state’s COVID-19 response team...According to initial data state investigators are compiling, poor hand hygiene has emerged as the No. 1 factor in the spread of COVID-19 in skilled-nursing homes and similar communal care facilities in Nevada...READ MORE

The National Community Pharmacists Association announced the results from their latest survey, which found that nearly 90% of neighborhood pharmacies have experienced drug shortages since March 1, 2020, according to a press release...Among the most common drug shortages reported by neighborhood pharmacists were albuterol inhalers, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, as well as others that have seen spikes in demand since the outbreak began...READ MORE

Drug manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers oppose Buy American policies as likely to reduce reliable supplies and raise product costs...Efforts to shift more production of pharmaceuticals and APIs to the United States as a strategy for reducing drug shortages and ensuring access to needed medicines...The recent $2-trillion COVID economic stimulus legislation...supports exploration of federal “Buy American” policies, ostensibly to reduce US dependence on drugs and medical products imported from overseas...READ MORE

U.S. eyes have turned abroad as the coronavirus crisis raises concerns about the safety of the global drug supply. In moves that could shore up confidence, the FDA has given a trio of overseas generics plants the all-clear to produce...Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories and Biocon all received clean FDA reports at manufacturing facilities in India and Malaysia...With the novel coronavirus pandemic continuing its march, focus has turned to the stability of the supply chain, including for generic medicines...READ MORE

...British Columbia was already battling an opioid epidemic when the new coronavirus hit, compounding the threat to drug users, many of whom are homeless and particularly vulnerable during the pandemic...In March, the Canadian government urged provinces to lower barriers to prescription medications - allowing doctors to provide prescriptions for controlled substances by phone and pharmacists to deliver them - to better help citizens to practice physical distancing and self-isolation...B.C. is the first province to apply those guidelines to support people who use street drugs. Healthcare providers are ramping up the supply of prescription drug replacements for those who live with addictions to drugs like heroin, and even dispensing some of them via unique vending machines...READ MORE

The novel coronavirus pandemic has caused a host of problems in the global pharmaceutical supply chain—particularly in China, a major producer of drug ingredients. Now, seeing an opportunity, India is reportedly working on a plan to supersize its own ingredient manufacturing to combat Chinese dominance in the market...The Indian government is planning to escalate domestic production of pharmaceutical ingredients to counteract a perceived over-reliance on Chinese imports now hampered by COVID-19 shutdowns...READ MORE

The novel coronavirus has put an enormous strain on the pharmaceutical supply chain, with spot shortages of certain meds increasingly common. Now, with thousands of COVID-19 patients flooding U.S. hospitals, drugs used during treatment and ventilation are growing scarce...Increased demand for drugs used in hospitals as painkillers and surgical anesthetics for patients with COVID-19 have sapped supply, potentially threatening access for months...the FDA posted updated shortages of anesthetics propofol and midazolam, citing increased demand. For generic propofol, produced by a number of manufacturers, a resupply could occur as late as October...READ MORE

In the wake of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, both insulin manufacturers and legislators in some states are stepping in to ensure patients with diabetes are able to afford life-saving medications...Following announcements of its recently-launched Lilly Insulin Value Program, Eli Lilly has made available non-branded versions of insulin lispro protamine and insulin lispro injectable suspension 100 units/mL and insulin lispro injection, 100 units/mL at a 50% lower list price than branded versions...The non-branded insulin products are now available for order by US pharmacies, Lilly said. These non-branded insulin options are identical to the branded versions, with different packaging and a 50% lower list price of $265.20 for a package of 5 KwikPens...READ MORE

Though the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory has enough resources to continue testing at current levels, its capacity remains well below the level needed to conduct widespread disease surveillance to keep the spread of the novel coronavirus under control as governments begin easing restrictions on citizens, lab director Dr. Mark Pandori said...the lab is planning to bring additional equipment online in mid-May that could allow the lab to quadruple its current ability to test...“If we were to quadruple our throughput here at this lab and several other labs then we would be approaching a moment when we could start to screen well beyond just contacts of known cases and symptomatic people,” Pandori said...READ MORE

Prescriptions for vaccines are suffering materially during the COVID-19 pandemic...It’s understandable that retail prescriptions of drugs have declined since COVID-19 hit the U.S., as patients refrain from visiting physicians. But still, some drugs are suffering terribly, while others appear to be holding steady...total prescriptions for drugs for acute use have plummeted by 28% since February...vaccines saw the most decline, probably because people stopped going to public spaces to address a disease they don’t even have...the autoimmune market, HIV and anticoagulants have so far experienced no impact...READ MORE