Retail Clinics

NEW YORK — Adding pharmacists to a primary care team could help diabetics better manage associated risks, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alberta.

Among 153 hypertensive Type 2 diabetes patients studied, 82 who had advice from a pharmacist were more likely to reach blood pressure treatment targets recommended by the Canadian Diabetes Association.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic, CVS Caremark's network of walk-in medical clinics, was highlighted as a breakthrough innovator in healthcare delivery by the World Economic Forum's Innovative Health Care Delivery Project.

In addition, MinuteClinic president and CVS Caremark SVP and associate chief medical officer Andrew Sussman presented MinuteClinic's approach to care at a World Economic Forum satellite session attended by healthcare experts, regulatory representatives, researchers and other innovators in Montreux, Switzerland, this week.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. Arctic Ease on Thursday announced the launch of its Arctic Ease cryotherapy pads and wraps. The cold therapy products can be used at room temperature, conform to the body and adhere directly to the skin, the company said.

"The wraps and pads conform to the affected area, allow a full range of motion and provide a cooling therapy that is simple, convenient and incredibly effective," stated Carol Forden, president and CEO of Arctic Ease.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee has recommended expanded approval of a vaccine for genital warts.

Merck announced Wednesday that the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended approval of Gardasil (human papillomavirus quadrivalent [types 6, 11, 16 and 18] vaccine, recombinant) for males and females ages 9 to 26 years to prevent anal cancer and anal intraepithelial neoplasia, both diseases that result from infection by the human papillomavirus.

HAYWARD, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment made by Impax for seasonal allergies, Impax said Tuesday.

The drug maker announced the approval of its generic version of Sanofi-Aventis’ Allegra-D (fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) tablets in the 60-mg/120-mg strength.

NEW YORK — Drug maker Takeda Pharmaceuticals is launching a campaign to raise awareness of gastroesophageal reflux disease, the company said Tuesday.

Takeda created the website GetToKnowGERD.com to coincide with GERD Awareness Week, which takes place from Nov. 21 to 27. The company also is using the occasion to promote the GERD drug Dexilant (dexlansoprazole).

CHICAGO — A social media go-to-market strategy is fast becoming a must-have for companies these days, especially those companies operating in the healthcare arena. It’s no longer enough to push patient education out through a branded online page, not with the growing prominence of social media sites. Today, companies need to seed that education across Facebook and Twitter and/or actively engage bloggers and heavy users to successfully get that education out to the masses online.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — There is a direct correlation between the amount of a patient's out-of-pocket co-pay and prescription abandonment, according to the findings of a CVS Caremark-sponsored study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study also found that e-prescriptions are more likely to be abandoned at retail compared with handwritten prescriptions.