Pharmaceutical Commerce - November/December 2011

Marken formally opens new clinical-distribution service depot in Buenos Aires

December 29, 2011

Plans to continue expanding in Europe, Asia and Americas

iMany offers Medicare Part D module for its contract-administration software suite

December 28, 2011

‘Pay and chase’ provisions require manufacturers to pay claims first, then reconcile disputes over charges

FDA approval and inspection process mostly protected American patients from allegedly defective French breast implants

December 27, 2011

A ‘media frenzy’ is ramping up in France and other countries over health authorities’ call for remedial action; meanwhile, US Congress looks at increased review of medical devices

CMS issues Sunshine Act

December 20, 2011

Proposed rules are sure to generate intense industry feedback

More actions by GPhA and Obama Administration to address drug shortages

December 20, 2011

GPhA proposes a central data clearinghouse on drug supplies; will wholesalers participate?

Hospital supply chain participants are gradually taking up GS1 'sunrise' standards

December 20, 2011

December 2010 and December 2012 dates for adopting GLN and GTIN codes mark steady, if slow, progress

Cold Chain Technologies extends ambient-temperature packaging line

December 20, 2011

Offers alternative to thermal blankets

ValueCentric and Walgreens sign agreement to make store-level data available to manufacturers

December 06, 2011

New channel data access could overcome the problem of ‘blinded’ pharmaceutical sales data

UPS Healthcare Logistics adds to network with an Italian acquisition

December 06, 2011

Purchase of Pieffe Group, combined with new facility launches, brings UPS capacity nearly to 5 million sq.ft. worldwide; more expected in 2012

Gartner 2011 Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 puts Cardinal Health at No. 1

December 06, 2011

Analysis combines financial and operational performance, and industry reputation, among manufacturers, distributors and healthcare systems

Ameritox proposes ongoing monitoring for pain patients, with a validated comparative database

December 06, 2011

Latest study validates an observational database as a measure across disparate geographies

Specialty drugs are generating a new paradigm: Commercial Innovation

November 29, 2011

Specialty drug market success requires patient-focused and therapy-specific channel and services strategies

GHX updates progress on a prototype data exchange for track-and-trace

November 22, 2011

E-commerce hub is soliciting more pharma participants to evaluate data-exchange protocols

Battle lines draw up between PBMs and manufacturers who use copay coupons

November 22, 2011

PCMA study estimates additional $32 billion in added healthcare costs through 2021; coupons ‘lure consumers to switch from generics to expensive brands’

AcuTemp builds out a global cold-chain distribution network

November 22, 2011

Supplier of active and passive containers lines up regional providers in Asia, Middle East and South America

IMS Health weighs in with its analysis of drug shortages

November 22, 2011

Production volumes are actually up for some short-supply drugs, indicating a disconnect between manufacturers and the marketplace. Meanwhile, NCPD fights ‘price gouging’ claim

Drug Shortages Continue To Rise, With No Near-Term Resolution

November 15, 2011

A combination of regulatory processes and business practices are worsening an already-bad drug shortage situation

Life Cycle Management Without Borders

November 15, 2011

Taking a market-by-market approach to maximizing value after loss of exclusivity

With coupons, pharma is saying 'Let's make a deal' to consumers

November 14, 2011

Pharma marketers become adept at refining coupon and voucher programs, while technology options multiply. Meanwhile payer criticism mounts

IT Trends From the Trading Partner perspective

November 14, 2011

New HDMA 2011-2012 HDMA Factbook finds gradual growth in IT-based collaborations

The Battle for Control of Specialty Drugs

November 13, 2011

Specialty distributors, specialty pharmacies and healthcare providers are all competing for a dominant position in drug delivery and reimbursement

ACOs and Their Impact on Pharma

November 13, 2011

Accountable care organizations will seek ‘economic and clinical value’ for pharmaceuticals

No major reaction to Obama drug-shortage executive order

November 08, 2011

Plan to address worsening drug-shortage sitaution has note spurred legislative activity

100% international air cargo screening is on hold, for now

November 08, 2011

Congressmen send a letter to TSA seeking an explanation for the delay

Where does the public go for flu info?

November 08, 2011

ComScore analysis finds CDC.gov highest-ranking site

AmerisourceBergen proposes a new approach to serialization

October 27, 2011

Tracking at the lot- rather than the item-level could address many security and tracking goals

Jazz Pharmaceutical's Xyrem drug has adverse-events, REMS problems

October 27, 2011

Company points finger at its specialty pharmacy for unreported deaths, but still gets hit with a Form 483

Middle Eastern logistics provider wins ISO 9001 certification for pharmaceutical warehousing

September 29, 2011

Tranzone Logistics plans to be hub for Gulf States and African distribution