LATEST NEWS

Cigna First Private Insurer to Consider Exoskeleton Device Coverage
Policy Could Be Life-Changing for People With Spinal Cord Injury
Oncology Drug PV-10 Gets Orphan Drug Status for Ocular Melanoma
Intratumoral Injection Stimulates Immune Activation
Breakthrough Blood Test for Pain Could Help Stanch Opioid Crisis
Test Determines Severity of Pain, Helps Physicians Select Best Options
Egaten Approved for the Treatment of Tropical Disease Fascioliasis
Liver Fluke Infestation Affects Almost 2.5 Million People Globally
FDA Approves Daratumumab Split-Dosing Regimen for Multiple Myeloma
New Administration Option for Patients
Lung-Cell Changes Happen Rapidly After Exposure to Low-Molecular Weight Compounds
Early Cancer Development May Begin in Just 30 Minutes
Tortoise Inspires Development of Tiny, Insulin-Injecting Robotic Capsule
Diabetes and Cancer Patients Could Soon Avoid Injections
KEYTRUDA® Gets Priority Review for Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancers
65,000+ New Diagnoses in U.S. Expected in 2019
Cat's Claw is Powerful Inhibitor and Reducer of Brain Plaques and Tangles
In Most Cases, Plaque/Tangle Dissolution Occurred Almost Instantly
Is HPV Behind Increase in Vocal-Cord Cancer in Young Nonsmokers?
High-Risk Strain Detected in Tumor Analysis
Prostate Cancer Prediction Tool Has Unparalleled Accuracy
Novel Framework Distinguishes Precisely Between Low-, High-Risk Cancer

P&T January/February 2019
Table of Contents

Features

Biosimilar Roadblock Removals Seem Tailor-Made for Trump/Democrats Agreement
Development of New Biosimilar Drugs and Marketing of Few Approved Drugs Stymied
The United States is lagging behind Europe in biosimilar use, and missing out on a wider range of medication options and huge savings in drug expenditures. What’s causing the holdup?
Meeting Highlights
American Heart Association 2018 Scientific Sessions
We report on sessions on the dapagliflozin effect on cardiovascular events; angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibition for acute decompensated heart failure; rivaroxaban’s effect on thromboembolic events with heart failure, sinus rhythm, and coronary disease; trial results on the withdrawal of pharmacological heart failure therapy in recovered dilated cardiomyopathy; and more from AHA’s November meeting.
Biosimilars: Considerations for Payers
Evaluating biosimilars requires payers to go beyond cost considerations: safety and efficacy, reliability of supply and logistics, and the impact of state laws on substitution and interchangeability must all be deliberated.
Aligning Formulary Restrictions Across a Health System and Improving Access to and Clarity of Medication Restrictions
The authors proposed to align formulary medication restrictions, improve access to restriction information, and clarify the restrictions for pharmacists within their health system. After review and implementation by the system’s pharmacy, nutrition, and therapeutics committee, aligned medication restrictions increased from 11% to 100%.

Departments

Medication Errors
Prescribing Errors with Levetiracetam Oral Solution
Incorrectly prescribed medications can have serious implications, especially in young children. Safe practice recommendations include listing patients’ age, weight, and date of birth on prescriptions, verifying discharge orders, and involving pharmacists in reconciliation.
Prescription: Washington
Latest Opioid Abuse Bill Contains Over 100 Provisions But No Far-Reaching Pharmacy Mandates
Will the new opioid abuse bill prove more effective than its predecessor? A plethora of provisions will have little impact on pharmacists and pharmaceuticals.
Drug and Device News February 2019
Approvals, new indications, drug safety issues, and more
Pharmaceutical Approval Update February 2019
Arikayce (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension) for <em>Mycobacterium avium</em> complex lung disease; Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for acute uncomplicated influenza; and Nuzyra (omadacycline) for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and/or acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections
Research Briefs February 2019

Industry announcements

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