Generics

NORTH WALES, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceuticals announced the introduction of moxifloxacin hydrochloride tablets, the generic equivalent to Avelox tablets. The drug is available in 400-mg strength.

Moxifloxacin hydrochloride is used to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria, the company said.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Tricare for Life beneficiaries soon will receive letters guiding them to Tricare Pharmacy Home Delivery or a military pharmacy for some prescriptions as part of a congressionally mandated pilot program, officials of the military healthcare plan reported Tuesday.

Tricare for Life is secondary coverage for Tricare beneficiaries who have both Medicare Parts A and B in the United States and U.S. territories.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced the initiation of the Secure Supply Chain Pilot Program to enhance the security of imported drugs. 

In August 2013, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 51192) to solicit companies to voluntarily submit applications for participation in this two-year program. Thirteen prequalified companies have now been designated to take part, and will receive expedited entry for the importation of up to five selected drug products into the United States.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson and Rite Aid on Tuesday announced the signing of an expanded distribution agreement to include both brand and generic pharmaceuticals. The new five-year agreement, which extends through March 2019, creates efficiencies for both companies by leveraging the strength of Rite Aid as one of the leading national drug store chains in the United States, and McKesson as a leader in pharmaceutical sourcing and supply chain management, the companies reported. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Roxane Labs on Tuesday announced the introduction of doxercalciferol capsules, available in strengths of 0.5-mcg, 1-mcg, and 2.5-mcg in 50-count bottles for immediate shipment to wholesalers and pharmacies across the nation.  

Doxercalciferol is used to lower elevated parathyroid hormone levels in patients who undergo kidney dialysis. Roxane Labs’ doxercalciferol capsules is AB Rated in the Food and Drug Administration Orange Book to Hectorol (doxercalciferol) capsules, 0.5-mcg, 1-mcg, and 2.5-mcg.

“No one gets paid unless patients improve adherence.”

That’s what Aaron McKethan, SVP of strategy and business development for RxAnte, had to say in a Jan. 13 article on Forbes.com, “A digital health acquisition to watch.” The story focused largely on RxAnte’s recent acquisition by Millennium Laboratories in December — which the author described as a “little-known, private equity-backed urine drug testing company” — and the technology it uses to improve patient adherence.

The federal agency in charge of Medicare is pushing for a major overhaul of its Medicare Part D drug benefit program for seniors. Those changes, if adopted, could help level the competitive playing field for pharmacy retailers in Part D plan networks, reduce competitive advantages for preferred pharmacy networks and mail-order pharmacies, and put a tighter squeeze on pharmacy benefit managers.

Thus, the proposals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the 2015 federal fiscal year could spell big changes for retail pharmacies. Among the most far-reaching are:

DUBLIN — Actavis and Forest Labs. on Tuesday announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Actavis will acquire Forest for a combination of cash and equity valued at approximately $25 billion, or $89.48 per Forest share ($26.04 in cash and 0.3306 Actavis shares for each share of Forest common stock). The per share consideration represents a premium of approximately 25% per share over Forest’s stock price, and a premium of approximately 31% over Forest’s 10-day volume weighted average stock price, as of the close of trading on Feb.