Regulatory and Washington

WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration should ensure patient access, safety and efficacy; create a transparent and scientific regulatory structure; and enable innovation and competition when creating regulations governing follow-on biologics, according to testimony released in advance of an FDA hearing by a drug lobbying group.

ALEXANDRIA A group representing the drug retailing industry commended a senator's support of the military healthcare program Tricare.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced its $1 million contribution to the National Consumers League's medication adherence awareness campaign.

With strong support from pharmacy leaders, Congress is moving to shut down prescription medication abuse and diversion with a multipronged legislative cudgel.

Prior to its October recess, the U.S. House of Representatives passed three industry-backed bills in September to help seal up the nation’s leaky prescription drug pipeline. The bills are expected to pass under “suspension of the rules,” which allows for expedited consideration of legislation.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. A group representing the nation's chain pharmacies alerted retailers and manufacturers Thursday about a new rule, part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, that requires tracking labels on certain products.

ARDEE, Ireland The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive from Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said Friday.

The company said it plans to launch Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) early next year. The company said the contraceptive contains the lowest dosage of estrogen — 10 micrograms — of any oral contraceptive currently available in the U.S. market.

WASHINGTON The National Association of Chain Drug Stores emphasized the importance of pharmacy-patient interaction at this year's Senate Health Fair, held last week in Washington, D.C.

SILVER SPRING, Md. Patients taking a certain class of drugs mostly used for prostate cancer may be at higher risk of heart disease and diabetes, the Food and Drug Administration warned on Wednesday.