INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES

SILVER SPRINGS, Md. — Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for treating cystic fibrosis for patients who have a specific genetic mutation, but that also treats the underlying cause of the disease rather than the disease itself.

MASON, Ohio — A personalized medicine company said a new study justifies clinical use of pharmacogenomic testing to help predict patients' response to psychiatric medications and improve treatment outcomes.

CINCINNATI — Vaccination of adolescents against whooping cough appears to result in fewer hospitalizations, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Michigan and published in the journal Pediatrics, found that hospitalizations for whooping cough, also known as pertussis, were lower than would be expected if they had not been inoculated.

WASHINGTON — A trade group for supplement makers is suggesting that people with diabetes talk to their physicians about chromium picolinate supplementation, based on a recent study.

CHICAGO — A growing number of consumers are concerned about their privacy when they sign up for loyalty card programs, according to a new survey.

Market research firm Mintel found that 32% of Americans believe the privacy of their personal information is an important attribute of a loyalty program, and one-tenth or more express frustration or dissatisfaction with too much personal information being requested during enrollment and lack of control over the privacy of their information. The report was based on a survey of 2,000 adults.

With is proposed acquisition of German wholesaler Celesio, McKesson creates a global distribution enterprise on the scale of Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen before them. In addition to wholesaling, Celesio operates about 2,200 pharmacies across six countries and is the No. 2 operator in the United Kingdom. 

PHILADELPHIA — Many pet owners are confused about pet nutrition and industry standards, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted by petMD, found that nearly 80% of respondents were aware of the importance of a balanced diet for their pets, but less than half had ever checked the label of their pet's food to make sure it met industry-wide standards.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to officially recommend that products containing 15 mg or less of the opioid painkiller hydrocodone be rescheduled as Schedule II controlled substances, from the current Schedule III classification. While the idea is to combat abuse and misuse of the drugs, pharmacy groups say the rescheduling would make them harder to obtain for patients who legitimately need them.