Specialty Pharmacy

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy on Monday announced that it has initiated a content partnership with the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy.

The new partnership will support Diplomat’s recently launched web platform, diplomat.is, and its goal to be a leading resource for specialty pharmacy. Additionally, the partnership will further establish NASP’s position as a leading voice in specialty pharmacy and clinical news.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Vimizim (elosulfase alfa), the first FDA-approved treatment for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA (Morquio A syndrome), which is a rare disease caused by a deficiency in N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate sulfatase (GALNS).

DEERFIELD, Ill. — With new advances in treatment therapy now available for hepatitis C patients, Walgreens on Monday announced it is expanding access to Walgreens Connected Care hepatitis C program through its more than 100 hepatitis C-specialized pharmacies. Walgreens Connected Care is an education and support plan designed to help patients achieve a sustained virologic response and improved quality of life through medication adherence. 

“No one gets paid unless patients improve adherence.”

That’s what Aaron McKethan, SVP of strategy and business development for RxAnte, had to say in a Jan. 13 article on Forbes.com, “A digital health acquisition to watch.” The story focused largely on RxAnte’s recent acquisition by Millennium Laboratories in December — which the author described as a “little-known, private equity-backed urine drug testing company” — and the technology it uses to improve patient adherence.

DUBLIN — Actavis and Forest Labs. on Tuesday announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Actavis will acquire Forest for a combination of cash and equity valued at approximately $25 billion, or $89.48 per Forest share ($26.04 in cash and 0.3306 Actavis shares for each share of Forest common stock). The per share consideration represents a premium of approximately 25% per share over Forest’s stock price, and a premium of approximately 31% over Forest’s 10-day volume weighted average stock price, as of the close of trading on Feb.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee on Monday announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Amber Pharmacy, a specialty pharmacy solutions provider based in Omaha, Neb. Hy-Vee and Amber Pharmacy have been partners in Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions since 2010. This acquisition allows Hy-Vee to expand its current specialty pharmacy business, providing customers with increased specialty options, access and affordability.

BASEL, Switzerland — Novartis on Monday announced that it is broadening its cancer immunotherapy research program with the acquisition of CoStim Pharmaceuticals, a Cambridge, Mass.-based, privately held biotechnology company focused on harnessing the immune system to eliminate immune-blocking signals from cancer.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries on Thursday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval of Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for injection.

The drug is indicated for adult patients with chronic phase or accelerated phase chronic myeloid leukemia with resistance and/or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors.