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Specialty Pharmacy

  • FDA approves Genentech’s targeted bladder cancer treatment

    SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Genentech’s  Tecentriq (atezolizumab), the company announced Thursday. The drug is a first-in-class treatment for urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer. The drug works by blocking interactions with PD-1/PDL-1 proteins. 
     

  • BCBSA study: Specialty main driver of spending growth from 2013-2014

    Spending on specialty pharmacy medication rose about 26% between 2013 and 2014, according to a new report on spending per member from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and HealthCore. 
     
    The report uses data on specialty drugs covered through both pharmacy and medical benefits, the latter of which can provide particular insight into changes in spending on cancer drugs — 80% of which are billed through the medical benefit. 
     

  • FDA approves Eisai’s Lenvima for advanced renal cell carcinoma

    SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a new indication for Eisai’s Lenvima (lenvatinib). The multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor has been approved to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in combination with everolimus in patients previously treated with an anti-angiogenic therapy. 
     

  • Smith Drug, Diplomat partner to bring specialty offerings to independents

    SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Smith Drug Co. on Monday announced that it would be partnering with Diplomat Pharmacy to offer its customers specialty pharmacy services through the Diplomat Retail Specialty Network. 
     
    The agreement will allow pharmacies to provide full-service specialty offerings for patients with complex chronic conditions and it will see Diplomat providing 24/7 access to specialty pharmacists and technicians. 
     

  • 70 groups pen letter to FDA on biosimilar naming

    SILVER SPRING, Md. — A group of 70 healthcare stakeholders sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration this week, urging the agency to use meaningful, distinguishable suffixes when naming biosimilars. According to the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines, the letter was spurred by the agency choosing a random suffix when it approved the second biosimilar earlier this year. 
     

  • Mylan to acquire Renaissance’s specialty, generics businesses

    PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Thursday announced the planned acquisition of Renaissance Acquisition Holdings’ specialty and generics businesses, which are focused on topical treatments. The deal will see Mylan paying $950 million in cash at closing, as well as additional contingent payments up to $50 million based on customary adjustments. 
     

  • Benzer Pharmacy receives full URAC specialty accreditation

    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Benzer Pharmacy on Wednesday announced that it had received specialty pharmacy accreditation from the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC). 
     
    “Achieving the specialty accreditation from URAC reaffirms our company’s dedication to consistency and excellence in delivering great services as the pharmacy is projected to grow rapidly in order to reach more customers and to make sure their experiences match their expectations,” Benzer Pharmacy president Alpesh Patel said. 

  • PhRMA, ALS Association: more than 560 rare disease treatments in development

    WASHINGTON — The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, in partnership with the Association, published a report Monday on the state of rare disease drugs currently in development. The report looks in-depth at the more than 560 drugs being developed that take new approaches to disease targeting. 
     
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