- Generics companies expand scope, capabilities to fight headwinds (drugstorenews.com)
At a time when people expect negative news in the generics industry — whether it is unabating competition, price deflation, product quality and recall issues, or product supply shortages — many generics firms are managing to thrive...Amidst this disruption, many players in the generics sector are counterpunching with innovative strategies, accelerating their efforts to pursue a diversified business model and focusing on significantly increasing their pipeline of products to include new therapeutic areas and new dosage forms. They also are developing and commercializing complex medicines and delivery systems that position their business for continued long-term growth...READ MORE
- New Reports Show Skyrocketing DIR Fees (drugtopics.com)
Two new reports quantify the problem that community pharmacists have experienced firsthand: direct and indirect remuneration fees are skyrocketing, causing some pharmacies to go out of business...DIR fees have skyrocketed by 1600% in the last 5 years, totaling $8.5 billion since 2013, according to a new policy analysis...Pharmacy benefit managers are profiting from DIR fees in excess of 500% per prescription, compared with the average PBM administration fee...A loophole in the program allows health plans and PBMs to pocket an excessive amount of pharmacy DIR fees rather than offset prescription costs for seniors...READ MORE
- Healthy Nevada Project Statewide Initiative Seeks to Improve Population Health (nevadabusiness.com)
A project that began in 2016 through a partnership with Renown Health and the Desert Research Institute, Healthy Nevada has gained national attention for its approach to population health. The study involves harvesting DNA from a significant population, providing individuals with information on their health risks as well data to study population health issues and concerns. According to Dr. Anthony Slonim, president and CEO of Renown Health...“We hope to improve the health of the community,” explained Slonim. “We hope to provide individuals with improved understanding of their health and their healthcare risks so they can change their behavior. And, we hope that we can make our community, our state and, potentially, our nation healthier as a result of this data.”...READ MORE
- FDA clarifies biosimilar labeling, advertising guidelines (mmm-online.com)Promotional Labeling and Advertising Considerations for Prescription Biological Reference and Biosimilar ProductsQuestions and AnswersGuidance for Industry (fda.gov)
The Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission have drawn a line on anticompetitive practices in the complex biosimilar market...The agencies have announced their intent to enforce false or misleading claims about biosimilars and their reference products. They also plan to educate consumers and doctors about biosimilars…the FDA...released a draft guidance this week, advising the industry how to properly label and promote biosimilars and reference products...The guidance focuses on how biologic and biosimilar labels and promotions should reference the other product. The agency is particularly intent on ensuring that biologic makers don’t suggest their product is safer, more effective or clinically different than its biosimilar...READ MORE
- FDA monitoring impact of coronavirus outbreak on medical product supply (biopharmadive.com)
The Food and Drug Administration...outlined its efforts to track potential supply chain disruptions emanating from the spread of the new coronavirus from China, noting increased ordering of surgical masks, gowns and other personal protective equipment through distributors...Agency chief Stephen Hahn said in a statement that shifting ordering patterns has yet to result in shortages but warned the situation is "evolving and very dynamic."...The agency is holding off on conducting medical product inspections in China, heeding the State Department's warning against traveling to the country where the outbreak began. Still, Hahn noted the FDA is working to use other information "to inform decisions allowing the products to enter the U.S. market."...READ MORE
- This Week in Managed Care: February 14, 2020 (ajmc.com)
Christina Mattina, welcome to This Week in Managed Care from the Managed Markets News Network
- New cancer drug take-back program can reduce financial burdens and save lives (thehill.com)New Repository Program Accepts Oral Cancer Drug Donations to Help Patients in Need (cancer.osu.edu)
Finding quality cancer treatment is a life-altering pursuit, but too often financial challenges force patients to decide whether they can afford a potentially life-saving treatment...This month, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy changed its policy on drug donations, allowing patients to donate unneeded oral cancer therapy drugs to others fighting cancer. Drugs that were opened and in possession of one patient can now be used to help those in need, reducing waste and cutting costs...Thanks to that policy change, the OSUCCC (Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center)...has created a drug repository program that will provide patients in financial need with drugs donated by patients who no longer require them...READ MORE
- How will coronavirus hit U.S. drugmakers? Depends what kind of drugmaker you are: Moody’s (fiercepharma.com)Concern for drug shortages grows as COVID-19 outbreak drags on (fiercepharma.com)Coronavirus outbreak begins to disrupt booming China drug trials (reuters.com)Live version of coronavirus map (gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com)China sees fall in coronavirus deaths but WHO urges caution (reuters.com)
Spread of the novel coronavirus in China and beyond would have mixed effects on U.S. biopharma companies, says Moody's...the impact on their businesses may be mixed...If the virus persists long enough, branded drugmakers may see decreased demand for their innovative drugs in China...the global spread of the virus could lead to government stockpiling of certain drugs such as antivirals...As for generic players, which depend on China for active pharmaceutical ingredients, a continued outbreak may increase the risk of supply disruption...READ MORE
- February 14: Pharmacy Week in Review (pharmacytimes.com)
Nicole Grassano, PTNN, Pharmacy Week in Review, this weekly video program provides our readers with an in-depth review of the latest news, product approvals, FDA rulings and more.
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine report addresses statewide physician shortage, challenges and opportunities for growth (med.unr.edu)
A physician shortage continues to be a problem in Nevada and is hindering patient care access hardest in rural regions, according to a recent report focusing on health care workforce trends in the Silver State...According to the latest data published in the report, "Physician Workforce in Nevada: A Chartbook - January 2020," demand for physicians in Nevada continues to exceed the current supply. While the number of licensed physicians in the state has increased over a decade, Nevada ranks 45th for active physicians per 100,000 population, 48th for primary care physicians per 100,000 population and 50th for general surgeons per 100,000 population...READ MORE