Specialty Pharmacy

MIAMI — The utilization of specialty pharmacy is projected to steadily increase, Walgreens VP clinical affairs David Lorber told attendees Tuesday at the Pinsonault Associates Managed Markets Summit, which accentuates a need to augment patient compliance and help payers get a handle on what have become rapidly shifting economics.

FRISCO, Texas — Specialty pharmacy provider Assured Pharmacy will reduce its stock through a reverse stock split, the company said Thursday.

The company, which trades on the pink sheets but seeks to eventually be listed on a larger exchange, announced that it had filed an amendment to its articles of incorporation whereby it would convert every 180 shares of stock to a single stock, reducing the total number of shares of outstanding common stock from 416,200,000 to 2,321,222, while reducing authorized shares of common stock from 3 billion to 16,666,667.

HAYWARD, Calif., and HIGH POINT, N.C. — Impax Labs will collaborate with a specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and manufacturing of unique gelatin-based dosage forms.

Impax said it has entered a deal with Banner Pharmacaps in respect to the supply and commercialization of two softgel capsule products.

The products and terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

SAN DIEGO — Pfizer is partnering with San Diego biotech company Zacharon Pharmaceuticals to develop treatments for rare genetic disorders Zacharon said Thursday.

Under the collaboration, which could garner Zacharon up to $210 million, the companies will discover and develop pharmaceutical drugs for treating lysosomal storage disorders, a class of illnesses that includes Fabry disease, Gaucher disease, Pompe disease and Tay-Sachs disease.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A treatment made by Shionogi for chronic, severe drooling in children and teenagers with neurological conditions has become available, the drug maker said Thursday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by AstraZeneca for treating a rare form of thyroid cancer, the agency said.

The FDA announced the approval of the daily pill vandetanib for late-stage medullary thyroid cancer in patients whose disease is growing and causing symptoms but who are ineligible for surgery.

Medullary thyroid cancer involves specific cells found in the thyroid gland and can occur spontaneously or be part of a genetic disease. There currently are no FDA-approved treatments for this cancer.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens VP clinical affairs David Lorber will present during the Pinsonault Associates Managed Markets Summit on April 12 in Miami, Fla., the retailer announced Thursday.

The session, titled "Employer Issues in Specialty Pharmacy," will examine concerns for payers, including cost management and containment, benefit and coverage decisions, formulary and medical policy, pipeline management, provider network, member satisfaction and disruption, and compliance.

ELMSFORD, N.Y. — Washington-based healthcare accrediting organization URAC has awarded specialty pharmacy and mail-service pharmacy accreditation to BioScrip, the specialty pharmacy provider said Wednesday.