New diabetes drug offers unique treatment approach

FDA's recent approval of canagliflozin (Invokana, Janssen Pharmaceuticals) for adults with type 2 diabetes, represents a new efficacy and unique approach to diabetes treatment, according to industry experts. » Full article

Novartis loses Glivec India patent case

On April 1, the Indian Supreme Court denied Novartis' appeal challenging the rejection of a patent for its cancer drug Glivec (imatinib mesylate), which has been patented in almost 40 countries including China, Russia, and Taiwan. This landmark ruling ends a 7-year legal battle by Novartis, which never has been granted an original patent for Glivec in India. The ruling will hinder medical progress and innovation, the manufacturer said.
» Full article

Support for sublingual immunotherapy

In an examination of a type of treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma that is used in Europe but not approved by FDA, researchers found moderate strength in the evidence from previous studies to support the use of sublingual immunotherapy for the treatment of these conditions, according to a review article in the March 27 issue of JAMA. » Full article

Humana, Boehringer partnership

Humana and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals have announced a multi-year collaboration to address key questions regarding treatment and healthcare costs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and other disease states. » Full article

Continuing Education

New CPE Series: Pain Management Considerations

Welcome to our new CPE series: Pain Management Considerations for Medication Therapy Management, which has been designed for pharmacists who take care of patients who need pain relief. You can earn up to 10 credits from April 2013-August 2013 with 5 monthly knowledge-based activities and 2 credits from September 2013-October 2013 with 2 monthly interactive online case studies. The April activity covers concepts and definitions of pain management.

To read and print the article with TEST QUESTIONS, click here. To proceed to the online exams and earn up to 2 CPE credits, click here to login.

LIVE EVENT!

Medication Therapy Management for Patients with Diabetes CPE Series

Reserve the dates—May 22 or May 23—to attend an innovative 6-hour live program at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy campus. Learn motivational interviewing skills, apply medication therapy management concepts to patients with diabetes, and practice your new skills to earn 6 CPE credits and a certificate of achievement (additional 6 CPE credits are awarded for post-activity requirements) – for a total of 12 CPE credits.

Prerequisite: Completion prior to the event of the 7 knowledge-based and 3 application-based activities in this CPE series by University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Drug Topics.

Click here for more information and to register.

Diabetes CPE Series: March activity available now

Welcome to Case Studies in Diabetes Care-Part 1. This is the first of three studies offering you an opportunity to apply diabetes management concepts from the knowledge-based diabetes series. Earn 1 hour of CPE credit by completing this application-based activity.

Announcement: Welcome to the new user registration process. This new process requires all pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to provide or update their NABP e-Profile ID in order to electronically keep track of CPE credits from ACPE-accredited providers. If you have not done so, you can obtain your NABP e-Profile ID now at www.MyCPEmonitor.net. This profile will enable you to have one login for all the NABP programs and services you will need throughout your career.

Review of the pharmacologic arsenal for the war on obesity

This article reviews the pharmacologic treatment of obesity including past treatment options, lessons learned in recent years, current short- and long-term treatment options, and future direction. Formulary considerations of currently available agents are discussed. » Full article

• Canagliflozin approved

• Generic exclusion agreements

• Generic Singular approval

• Long-term mortality seen after young-adult stroke

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