Specialty Pharmacy

PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Psoriasis Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation are presenting the country's first program specifically devoted to psoriatic arthritis this week, the two organizations said Monday.

The groups will sponsor the event, Be Joint Smart, at Queens College in New York, on Saturday.

NEW YORK — State representatives in Massachusetts have unanimously passed a bill that would allow patients to check the safety records of compounding pharmacies there, according to published reports.

The Boston Globe reported that the state Senate would take up a bill that would require the publishing of the pharmacies' safety records in light of the nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak last year linked to the New England Compounding Center. The bill would also require pharmacists who prepare sterile drugs to take continuing education classes.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is requiring Johnson & Johnson to use long-lasting ink in the labeling and dosage strength of an opioid painkiller patch it markets in order to make it easier to see.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Outcomes improve, and there can be significant cost savings when infusion pharmacists monitor patients receiving home-based infusion services and intervene when dose adjustments are necessary, according to a Walgreens outcomes analysis study being presented Wednesday at IDWeek 2013 in San Francisco.

BRUSSELS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new usage for a drug made by UCB, the drug maker said Monday.

UCB announced the approval of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for psoriatic arthritis in adults. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints, usually combined with the skin lesions of psoriasis. The drug was already approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Monday announced full ownership acquisition of Triplefin, a reimbursement, patient assistance and pharmaceutical brand-support services company headquartered in Cincinnati. H. D. Smith secured majority representation on Triplefin's board of directors in January 2013 and majority stock ownership interest in May 2013. 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for treating early-stage breast cancer before surgery, the agency said Monday.

NEW YORK — The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is putting $7 million toward research into ways to speed repair of the nervous system in patients with MS, the organization said Friday.