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ssherritze@medimedia.com
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lgardineer@medimedia.com
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Statement of Purpose
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Masthead
Editorial Board
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Recent Issues
April 2011
Features
Editor’s Memo
Bigger and Better Things
Sonja Sherritze
Commentary
Track-and-Trace Drug Verification
FDA Plans New National Standards, Pharmacies Tread with Trepidation
The government will be setting standards to prevent counterfeit products from getting into pharmacies. Implementing the requirements for applying an electronic pedigree to all drug packages will be a huge task for manufacturers and hospitals.
Stephen Barlas
Impact of Alvimopan (Entereg) on Hospital Costs After Bowel Resection
Results From a Large Inpatient Database
In a study to evaluate the economic impact of the alvimopan after bowel surgery, the authors found that patients receiving alvimopan capsules had faster recoveries, lower hospital costs, and shorter stays than matched controls.
Sara Poston, PharmD; Michael S. Broder, MD, MSHS; Melinda Maggard Gibbons, MD; Robert MacLaren, PharmD; Eunice Chang, PhD; Christine J. VandePol, MD; Suzanne F. Cook, PhD; and Lee Techner, DPM
Jet Lag
Current and Potential Therapies
Rapid air flights over two or more time zones can cause symptoms of jet lag (circadian desynchrony) in many travelers. Selected medications for sleep disorders, caffeine, central nervous system stimulants, and light therapy may help travelers alleviate fatigue and malaise in the new time zone.
Mary Choy, PharmD; and Rebecca L. Salbu, PharmD, CGP
Meeting Highlights
Inhibiting the Akt Pathway in Cancer Treatment
Three Leading Candidates
Serine–threonone protein kinase B (Akt) leads to cell growth and proliferation. Three investigative Akt pathway inhibitors—perifosine (KRX-0401), MK-2206, and GSK-2141795—represent potential targeted therapies for various tumors.
Walter Alexander
Pharmaceutical Approval Update
Topics include human Factor XIII concentrate (Corifact) to treat Factor XIII deficiency, a form of hemophilia; hydroxyprogesterone caproate (Makena) to reduce the risk of preterm births; and azilsartan medoxomil (Edarbi) for hypertension.
Marvin M. Goldenberg, PhD, RPh, MS
Departments
Editorial
Timeout!
P&T committees will be facing tough decisions as they debate whether to approve expensive new drugs such as sipuleucel-T (Provenge), a new prostate cancer vaccine with a price tag of $93,000 over the course of therapy.
David B. Nash, MD, MBA
Medication Errors
Action Is Neeeded to Prevent Heparin–Insulin Mixups
Strategies for preventing mixups with heparin and insulin are discussed.
Matthew Grissinger, RPh, FASCP
Prescription: Washington
President Obama Reopens Debate on Patented Biologics
Will the FDA Quickly Define an Abbreviated Pathway for Biosimilars?
The President’s goal of reducing 12 years of patent exclusivity for biologics to seven years could result in some short-term savings but might end up costing the government more money in the long run.
Stephen Barlas
New Drugs/Drug News/New Medical Devices
FDA approvals, drug indications, and updates
Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) Injection
The First Immunotherapy Agent (Vaccine) For Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), a vaccine for prostate cancer
Enock Anassi, MD, PharmD; and Uche Anadu Ndefo, PharmD, BCPS
