Specialty Pharmacy

DUBLIN — British drug maker Shire again is trying to win approval for a hereditary angioedema drug that the Food and Drug Administration had previously declined to approve.

Shire said Monday that it had submitted a response to the "not approvable letter" the FDA sent to German subsidiary Jerini AG in April 2008 for the drug Firazyr (icatibant).

LISLE, Ill. — Pharmacy benefit manager SXC Health Solutions had revenues of $1.95 billion in 2010, compared with $1.44 billion in 2009, according to an earnings report released Thursday.

Profit for the year was $64.7 million, compared with $46.1 million in 2009.

WASHINGTON — More than 400 drugs are in late-stage clinical development or awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval as treatments for rare diseases, according to a report by the drug industry lobby.

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Savient said its newest drug is the first and only therapy available to treat chronic gout in adult patients refractory to conventional therapy.

The drug maker announced the U.S. commercial launch of Krystexxa (pegloticase).

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has filed for approval of a treatment for a rare genetic bleeding disorder, the Danish drug maker said Wednesday.

The company submitted to the Food and Drug Administration its application for recombinant factor XIII compound, for congenital factor XIII deficiency. Current treatments for FXIII deficiency use products derived from human blood plasma, which carries the risk of contamination.

MEMPHIS — Sales at specialty pharmacy provider Accredo Health Group for the fourth quarter grew to $3 billion, a 21.3% increase over fourth quarter 2009, according to parent company Medco Health Solutions.

Sales for the year were $11.3 billion, a 19.1% increase over 2009. The company said the growth was the result of new clients and growth across the specialty business.

Growth in sales helped drive operating income for the quarter up by 30.7% to $109.9 million, while operating income for the full year increased by 22.7% to $438.2 million.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — Drug maker Gilead Sciences plans to buy out a privately owned Seattle company that makes treatments for cancer and inflammatory diseases, Gilead said Tuesday.

The Foster City, Calif.-based company will buy Calistoga Pharmaceuticals for $375 million, plus additional milestone payments of up to $225 million.

ELMSFORD, N.Y. — Specialty pharmacy provider BioScrip has launched a Web service designed to connect healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers in order to help patients manage their medications and improve their overall care experience.

The website, myBioScrip.com, uses HealthyCircles, an online platform that enables people to use manage and share health information.