Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - (Page 6) 6 DRUG TOPICS APRIL 28, 2008 www.drugtopics.com >>> NEWS Roundup Chains & Business Ralphs pharmacies, Fred Meyer stores, QFC introduce $4 generic drugs Ralphs pharmacies, owned by Kroger, announced that it has begun offering pharmacy customers generic drugs for $4 per prescription at its stores in southern California. The $4 price will apply to hundreds of generic drugs prescribed for 30-day supplies and will be available at 90 pharmacies in Ralphs stores throughout southern California. A list of the participating pharmacies and eligible generic drugs is available at Ralphs. Fred Meyer Stores and QFC, which are also owned by Kroger, are also launching the $4 generic program, which will be available at all QFC pharmacies in Washington and Oregon, and at all Fred Meyer pharmacies in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The $4 price will apply to more than 300 generic drugs prescribed for 30-day supplies for commonly prescribed dosages. Lists of the participating pharmacies and eligible generic drugs are available online from Fred Meyer Stores. pitals, for an undisclosed amount. The privately held CPS, which claims to be the nation’s largest independent pharmacy services provider, said that after the deal closes, it will serve 218 facilities in 41 states and employ 1,450 pharmacy professionals. Industry insiders believe that one reason MMM is exiting the field is because it had been linked to several incidents of drug errors and drug diversion at some client hospitals in Nevada in 2006. Don Nickleson, CEO of CPS, said the purchase of MMM will position the company as the “employer of choice” in a field plagued by a shortage of pharmacy professionals. Government & Law DEA proposes new rule to curb fentanyl abuse Because there has been an unprecedented outbreak of hundreds of fentanyl-related overdoses in recent months, the Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to designate a chemical used by clandestine laboratory operators to make fentanyl as an immediate precursor to the Schedule II controlled substance. In addition, DEA wants to classify the chemical as a Schedule II substance. The chemical in question is ANPP or 4-anilino-N-phenethyl-4-piperidine. The DEA proposal was published in the April 9 Federal Register. DEA is accepting comments on the proposal through June 9. Chain CEOs’ compensation: Nice pay if you can get it Ever wonder how much the CEOs of the country’s largest drug chains are paid? In a table listing the pay of 200 CEOs for large public companies that filed proxies for last year by March 28, the New York Times published that Thomas Ryan of CVS Caremark fetched a total compensation of $17.7 million last year, up 4% from the year before. In contrast, Jeffrey Rein of Walgreen pulled in a more modest amount of $5.8 million, a 27% drop from the year before. Total compensation includes base salary, cash bonus, stocks, options, and other perks. Both Ryan and Rein are pharmacists by training. FDA and ISMP warn of fosphenytoin overdoses Despite label changes made to Cerebyx (fosphenytoin sodium injection, Pfizer) in 1999, the Food & Drug Administration and Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported that overdoses are still occurring because some health providers are continuing to misinterpret the per mL concentration of the product (50 mg PE/mL) as the total amount of drug in the vial. To avert errors, FDA and ISMP urge hospitals to check the screen displays on their automated dispensing cabinets, shelf labels, and printed requisitions to make sure that the total drug content per container is identified, instead of the concentration per mL. Because the 10-mL vial is associated more frequently with the overdoses, FDA and ISMP recommend that pediatric hospitals stock only the 2-mL vials. McKesson to acquire McQueary Another independent wholesaler has decided to pack it in. It’s McQueary Brothers, a regional, private, and family-owned distributor based in Springfield, Mo. It’s being absorbed by McKesson Corp., at a purchase price of $190 million. To be completed by June, the deal will give McKesson more than 400 independent and regional chain pharmacy customers in the Midwest. McKesson sheds its hospital outsourcing business Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS) has agreed to buy McKesson Medication Management (MMM), which provides pharmacy outsourcing services to hos- Neupro patches to be recalled due to crystallization At the end of this month, Schwarz Pharma, a subsidiary of UCB group, will recall Neupro (rotigotine http://www.drugtopics.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 Contents Comparing Treatments for Effectiveness Gaining Support in Washington Pharmacogenetics: Pharmacists Should Own It, Not Fear It Cardinal Health Offers Strategies to Improve Patient Safety Latest News Roundup Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Comparing Treatments for Effectiveness Gaining Support in Washington (Page 3) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Pharmacogenetics: Pharmacists Should Own It, Not Fear It (Page 4) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Cardinal Health Offers Strategies to Improve Patient Safety (Page 5) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 6) Drug Topics - April 28, 2008 - Latest News Roundup (Page 7)
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