Specialty Pharmacy

DUBLIN — Actavis will lay off more than 30% of the sales staff from its branded-drugs division as part of its acquisition of Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

Nowhere is the need to engage more effectively with patients  more apparent than in the area of medication adherence.

“Over 50% of patients with chronic conditions stop taking their medications,” said Diane Gilworth, a geriatric nurse practitioner and chief clinical officer for Dovetail Health. “So we have to find a way to help patients take better care of themselves.”

BURLINGTON, Mass. — While drug companies are developing treatments for a wide variety of diseases, the greatest amount of mid- to late-stage research and development activity is in cancer treatments, according to a new report.

According to healthcare market research company Decision Resources, among the top 25 drug companies, oncology is the focus for 30% of phase-2 drugs and 22% of phase-3 drugs. Other areas seeing strong activity include drugs for obesity, diabetes, infections and central nervous system disorders.

It has been called “the blockbuster drug of the century,” the holy grail of health care and the next great frontier in the search for a more responsive and cost-effective healthcare system. But is it a truly achievable goal, and will it really transform the way health care is delivered in the United States?

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat senior director of education and quality Jennifer Hagerman has been named as president-elect of the Michigan Pharmacists Association for 2014, the specialty pharmacy company said Wednesday.

Diplomat said members of the MPA had voted in Hagerman, who directs Diplomat's training arm, Diplomat University, as well as overseeing the company's quality assurance program and directing its Postgraduate Year One Pharmacy Residency Program.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas attended the grand opening of a new pharmacy hub that will serve post-acute patients in and around the state.

AlixaRx announced Wednesday the opening of the 11,400-sq. ft. Lenexa, Kan., hub, for which the company invested $1.4 million in new equipment and training and hired 42 employees. The hub will provide pharmacy services to nursing facilities in Kansas and neighboring states.

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Use of injectable drugs for multiple sclerosis declined during the 12-month period that ended on June 30 as orally administered drugs for the condition became more popular, according to a new report.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Specialty drug spend is expected to more than quadruple by 2020, reaching approximately $402 billion a year, according to a new CVS Caremark report released today.