Regulatory and Washington

50 years after linking cigarettes to lung cancer, Surgeon General rallies nation behind cessation efforts
WASHINGTON — Approximately 5.6 million American children alive today — or 1-of-13 children younger than 18 years — will die prematurely from smoking-related diseases unless current smoking rates drop, according to a new Surgeon General’s report released Friday.
NCPA: Preferred pharmacy networks don't necessarily net prescription savings
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Medicare Part D program and taxpayers often pay more when prescription drugs are obtained through "preferred" pharmacies and mail order than they would if the same prescriptions were filled through other, "non-preferred" pharmacies, according to a cost comparison made by the National Community Pharmacists Association released Thursday using the Medicare Plan Finder website. The findings come shortly after recently proposed requirements that officials with the U.S.

CHPA responds to Food and Drug Administration’s APAP recommendation

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday responded to the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation to discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination medicines that contain more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit, suggesting it would not impact use of over-the-counter formulations containing acetaminophen.
NCPA places support behind Diabetic Testing Supply Access Act

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday expressed its support behind the Diabetic Testing Supply Access Act (S. 1935).

The legislation would allow independent community pharmacies to provide same-day delivery of diabetes testing supplies to Medicare beneficiaries and was introduced by Senss Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and John Thune, R-S.D.

Since July 1, 2013 community pharmacies have been banned from delivering DTS to beneficiaries, including those who are homebound or in long-term care or assisted living facilities.
SIUE professor nabs U.S. patent

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Dr. Ronald Worthington, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, obtained U.S. Patent No. 8,563,293 for his invention to protect against bacterial contamination.
FDA warns of flammability of cryogenic wart removers

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued a warning that some cryogenic wart removers — which remove warts from the skin by freezing them off — have caught fire during use at home, harming consumers or setting fire to items around the house.

Since 2009, FDA has received 14 such reports about over-the-counter wart remover products. Ten patients have described singed hair, blisters, burns or skin redness, the agency stated.
House restores $85 million in FDA sequestered user fees

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to restore $85 million in Food and Drug Administration sequestered user fees.
FDA recommends health professionals prescribe no more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dose

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended healthcare professionals discontinue prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products that contain more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet, capsule or other dosage unit.
FDA issues final guidance distinguishing liquid dietary supplements from beverages

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration earlier this week issued final guidance for the industry on distinguishing liquid dietary supplements from beverages. "We are issuing this guidance to help dietary supplement and beverage manufacturers and distributors determine whether a product in liquid form is properly classified as a dietary supplement or as a beverage," the agency stated.
Reports: Ill. pharmacists hope to dispense medical marijuana

NEW YORK — Pharmacists in Illinois are pushing for the state to let them run medical marijuana dispensaries, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune reported that pharmacists are trying to get the state to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II controlled substance. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies it as Schedule I, making it illegal in all circumstances at the federal level; the proposed rescheduling would mean it was legal for medical use, but still tightly regulated, similar to opioid painkillers.

50 years after linking cigarettes to lung cancer, Surgeon General rallies nation behind cessation efforts

NCPA: Preferred pharmacy networks don't necessarily net prescription savings

CHPA responds to Food and Drug Administration’s APAP recommendation

NCPA places support behind Diabetic Testing Supply Access Act

SIUE professor nabs U.S. patent

FDA warns of flammability of cryogenic wart removers

House restores $85 million in FDA sequestered user fees

FDA recommends health professionals prescribe no more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dose

FDA issues final guidance distinguishing liquid dietary supplements from beverages

Reports: Ill. pharmacists hope to dispense medical marijuana