News on Prescription Drugs

Israel's Teva buys German drug firm for $4.9-bln

2010-03-18T06:15:49Z

<div><p>Israeli pharma giant Teva said on Thursday it had signed a deal to buy Ratiopharm, Germany's second largest generic drugs producer, for 3.6 billion euros (4.9 billion dollars).</p><p>"The acquisition will position Teva as the leading generic pharmaceutical company in Europe," the Connecticut this week was just the most audacious example of a growing phenomenon: Thieves are stealing large quantities of prescription drugs for resale on the black market.</p><p>Pharmaceutical heists in the U.S. have quadrupled since 2006, a coalition of industry and law enforcement estimates. And...

Walgreen reportedly in drug plan talks with Delta

2010-03-10T10:15:30Z

<div id="subtitle">Reports say Walgreen may offer drugs directly to Delta workers; Walgreen won't confirm talks</div><div><p>Media reports on Wednesday indicated drugstore chain Walgreen Co. is in talks about a plan to offer prescription drugs directly to employees of Delta Air Lines Inc.</p><p>Walgreen and Delta would not con...

Few U.S. studies compare one drug to another: report

2010-03-09T13:47:09Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Comparing medical treatments to find the best and the cheapest may be a pillar of U.S. healthcare reform efforts, but very little such research is being done, according to a report published on Tuesday.</p><p>Most of the so-called comparative effectiveness research is done at academic institutions or by other noncommerc...

Thailand seeks WTO solution on generic drugs

2010-03-08T11:16:21Z

<div><p>A senior Thai official voiced hope Monday for a WTO solution on the production of low-cost generic drugs, an issue that has stirred friction with Western companies.</p><p>A military-backed government in 2006 suspended patent protections for expensive cutting-edge treatments for AIDS, cancer and heart disease, giving Thais access to cheap copycat versions.</p><p>Activists against AIDS and poverty hailed Thaila...

Earns Medco Health

2010-02-23T05:31:06Z

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2006 file photo, bottles of prescription medications move along a production line at Medco Health Solutions, Inc.'s Willingboro Dispensing Pharmacy, in Willingboro, N.J. Pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. said Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, its profit climbed 24 percent in the fourth quarter on higher revenue due to higher...

Earnings Preview: Medco to report 4Q results

2010-02-22T12:01:28Z

<div id="subtitle">Analysts to look for generic prescription, contract details in Medco Health's 4th-qtr report</div><div><p>Medco Health Solutions Inc. reports its fourth-quarter results before the stock market opens Tuesday.</p><p>WHAT TO WATCH FOR: How the Franklin Lakes, Brittany Murphy's death ruled accidental from pneumonia, with prescription drugs playing role</div><div><p>Brittany Murphy, the star of "Clueless" and "8 Mile," died from pneumonia, with prescription drugs and anemia also playing a role, a coroner's official said Thursday.</p><p>The Dec. 20 death of the actress was accidental and lik...

Health spending to get bigger share of economy

2010-02-22T12:02:22Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health spending will grow faster than the overall economy this decade and by 2019 nearly 20 cents of every dollar spent in the United States will go for healthcare, U.S. government analysts said on Thursday.</p><p>Economists at the Reuters) - Generic drugmakers would pay the U.S. government $38 million to help speed reviews of their medicines under President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget plan released on Monday.</p><p>The Obama administration will ask Congress to pass legisl...

The Basics on Medicaid and Medicare

2010-02-22T13:29:04Z

Medicaid and Medicare are essential programs for practicing physicians, members of the American Medical Association, and the entire nation. The programs were developed in 1965 to assist certain categories of individuals with their medical costs. Today, Medicaid provides coverage to over 50 million Americans whil...

NY gov wants new regs on gifts to docs

2010-02-22T15:05:44Z

<div id="subtitle">NY governor wants state regulations for gifts from pharmaceutical representatives to doctors</div><div><p>New York Gov. David Paterson is proposing new, tougher prohibitions on pharmaceutical companies, restricting them from dispensing gifts and misleading production information to doctors while promoting the use of specific drugs.</p><p&...

FTC wants ban on drug settlements in health bill

2010-02-22T20:56:07Z

<div id="subtitle">FTC and lawmakers say certain drug patent settlements cost consumers billions each year</div><div><p>The Federal Trade Commission says patent settlements between drugmakers that cost U.S. consumers billions each year are on the rise.</p><p>The agenc...

"Extraordinary" increases in drug prices: report

2010-02-22T21:36:45Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prices for hundreds of brand-name drugs have soared since the beginning of the decade, especially those that treat depression, infections and heart disease, according to a U.S. government report on Monday.</p><p>The nonpartisan

Drug benefit expanded to 1 million more seniors

2010-02-22T23:41:02Z

<div id="subtitle">A 'twist' in law expands prescription drug benefit to 1 million more seniors</div><div><p>In case the prospect of nearly $4,000 in prescription assistance isn't enough to perk up low-income seniors, the government is using '60s singer Chubby Checker to publicize "the twist" in the Medicare drug program.</p&am...

Five Prescription Medications That Work Well in the Treatment Warts

2010-02-23T00:29:09Z

Warts can be scary, especially when one notices them on their skin for the first time. Some types of warts can also be awkward, an instance of these being genital warts ? that grow in the most embarrassing of locations. There are warts that can interfere with a person?s looks, an instance of these being the finger-like filiform warts that have a tendency to grow on the eyelids and on the lips: just where they are most conspicuous. Then there are warts that cause actual pain; instances of thes...

Obama seeks drug imports outside of health bill

2010-02-23T13:23:40Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House pledged on Sunday to move forward on allowing imports of safe prescription drugs from nations like Canada where they are less expensive, but not in the healthcare reform legislation now before Congress.</p><p>The pharmaceutic...

California Wins $21 Million Settlement Over Albuterol Price Hikes

2010-02-23T14:21:01Z

<div id="subtitle">Firm accused of cheating state health system</div><div><p> Drug giant Schering-Plough Corporation, accused by the state of California of deliberately inflating the price of Albuterol and other drugs, will pay $21.3 to settle the state's lawsuit.</p><p>Albuter...

Senators: Drugmakers will pay more for health bill

2010-02-23T15:05:44Z

<div id="subtitle">Senators believe drugmakers will contribute more money to close Medicare coverage gap</div><div><p>Democratic senators said Wednesday they've been told the pharmaceutical industry will contribute billions of dollars more than it has previously promised for President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, with the money be...