Survey

With several proton pump inhibitors now available OTC, what do you believe is the most appropriate coverage for this class of agents within managed care drug benefit programs?

1) No coverage should be provided for OTC or prescription products under the drug benefit.

2) Coverage of prescription products only under the drug benefit without restriction.

3) Coverage of prescription products only under the drug benefits with restrictions (eg, step therapy).

4) Coverage of both prescription and OTC products under the drug benefit without restriction.

5) Coverage of both prescription and OTC products under the drug benefit with restriction (eg, step therapy).

Digital Edition

Medication use increasing among pregnant women

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Formulary Staff

FDA approves telaprevir for
hepatitis C

Birth defects risk appears low with newer-generation antiepileptics

First-trimester exposure to antiepileptic drugs compared with no exposure does not appear to increase the risk of major birth defects, according to a Danish study, published in the May 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read full article.

FDA approves Sutent for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

FDA has approved sunitinib malate (Sutent, Pfizer) as the first anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy to treat progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease. Read full article.

Drug proves effective in
opioid-induced constipation

At a fixed dose of 12 mg, methylnaltrexone bromide (Relistor, Progenics Pharmaceuticals) subcutaneous injection proved generally safe and well tolerated in
non-malignant pain patients with opioid-induced constipation, according to a recent study. Read full article.

Study: Pirfenidone shows promise
as IPF treatment option

Pirfenidone, an investigational drug (InterMune) that inhibits the synthesis of TGF-beta and TNF-alpha, was associated with positive effects on lung function,
6-minute walk test distance, and progression-free survival in patients with mild-to-moderate idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to the results of 2 phase 3 trials published in The Lancet. Read full article.

Hope for advances in glaucoma management fueled by promising pipeline

A look at the therapeutic pipeline for glaucoma shows several medications representing new pharmacologic classes are currently being evaluated in clinical trials, said John R. Samples, MD, at ASCRS Glaucoma Day 2011, San Diego. Read full article.

New assay helps determine antibiotic efficacy for ocular surface infections

A newly developed assay can measure the ability of antibiotics to associate with mammalian cells and protect the cells from bacterial destruction. Of 4 antibiotics tested in this assay, the data showed a range of therapeutic effectiveness in 2 cell lines that clinicians can consider when establishing dosing regimens, according to Jeremy Wingard, MD, who reported his group's findings at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting, San Diego. Read full article.

Top 5 Web Stories

1. FDA Pipeline Preview, May 2011 (Eli Lilly, Vertex, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Nile Therapeutics, Provectus)
   
   
2. FDA Actions in Brief May 2011 (Actemra, Menactra, Zytiga, Rituxan, Invega, Vandetanib, Viramune XR, Horizant)
   
   
3. A review of systemic lupus erythematosus and current treatment options
   
   
4. Bazedoxifene: An investigational selective estrogen receptor modulator for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women
   
   
5. FDA, NIH, pharma companies seek new strategies to spur drug development