Specialty Pharmacy

NEW YORK — An experimental drug under development by Gilead Sciences for hepatitis C is safe and effective when combined with other treatments, according to a review posted on the Food and Drug Administration's website ahead of an expert panel meeting to take place Friday.

LAKE MARY, Fla. — A group that accredits healthcare organizations has renewed its certification for the Kroger Co.'s specialty pharmacy division.

Axium Healthcare Pharmacy said Wednesday that it received a renewal of its accreditation status from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care for its specialty pharmacy services.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted breakthrough therapy designation to an experimental drug made by Merck for hepatitis C, the drug maker said.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of a drug made by Genentech for rheumatoid arthritis that can be injected into the skin.

Genentech announced the approval of a subcutaneous formulation of Actemra (tocilizumab) in adults for adults with moderate RA who have not found sufficient relief by taking such disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs as methotrexate. Like the intravenous formulation of Actemra, the new version can be used alone or with drugs like methotrexate.

CINCINNATI — A mobile app described as the specialty pharmacy industry's first for patients with hemophilia has become available.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A privately owned pharmacy benefit manager has named BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy as one of its top providers, BioPlus said Wednesday.

The specialty pharmacy said MedImpact Healthcare Systems had named it a ChoiceSpecialty provider and one of the preferred pharmacy providers of hepatitis C medications to MedImpact members.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Biotech drug maker Amgen has acquired from Roche the rights to drugs used to boost the immune systems of cancer patients on chemotherapy in 100 markets.

NEW YORK — Keeping counterfeit and diverted drugs out of the U.S. drug supply chain will require closing vulnerable regulatory gaps that risk letting them in, according to a new report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.