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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle
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02-06-2006 Quote of the day: Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Mission Statement Most corporations have a mission statement that defines the organization. Do you have a personal mission statement? The one you synthesize should contain two elements: Vision and Action. Vision without action is just a wish list. Action without vision and a plan is just burning energy…. you don't know if what you did moved you toward your goal of away from it. In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People we are urged to "start with the end in mind". You vision can be as simple as "I want to get to Heaven". This should define your actions when there is not other compass to guide you. If you choose "To be a millionaire " then explain how watching television is going to get you there. Plan your work and work your plan. You homework for this week is your Vision statement. If any of you have already done one and want to share then send it to me by e-mail. I won't use your name but it may inspire others. =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Not half bad!"
pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience.
==================================================== 1) Who is the "idio" in "idiopathic"? When physicians can't figure out the cause then a malady is deemed "idiopathic". FDA approved Amitiza (lubiprostone) to soften stools and treat "idiopathic" constipation. Would you be surprised to find out that "diarrhea" is found among the most common side effects? I hadn't heard of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals until now. .http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2006/NEW01305.html 2) New combo diabetes pill approved Combines Avandia and metformin in one pill. Will not be a blockbuster but may simplify pill taking for some. (Side effect includes extension of the Avandia franchise), I haven't priced it but it COULD be less expensive that paying 2 copays: one for Avandia and one for generic metformin. 3) Cali-FORE-nia tees off on the Feds States wanted the Feds to control drug costs. Part-D (with all its flaws) was passed. States agreed to "the deal' but now balk at following the agreement and refuse to pay back the long-term savings. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=285096+02-Feb-2006+RTRS&srch=drug 4) Generic "Statin" to "disrupt" the market. I guess it all depends on your point of view… If you make a brand name statin you will lose market share. If you make Zocor brand then you will lose about 90% of what you had to generic houses. If you are a generic manufacturer you are smiling. Patients will have a choice, with a willing physician, to obtain a "statin" for a lower copay or lower price. Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone…. the patent length and marketing exclusivity time table have been set for years.
5) Will you respect me in the morning? Wal-Mart is being sued for omitting the abortifacient, "morning after", pills from its inventory. From the story, it sounds like Wal-Mart may be weakening it its resolve. It is sad that the government feels it has to force retailers to carry specific inventory and even sadder that the drug will likely become OTC before any lawsuit is settled making the suit moot. http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-wal-mart-contraception,0,744376.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines 6)Nobody is quite sure EXACTLY how Ranexa (ranolazine) works… but the FDA approved this new drug for chronic angina. (Maybe that's why there is an "X" in RaneXa… for the unknown). http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2006/NEW01306.html 7) Senate says no to PART-D penalty-free extension. Seniors have until May to sign up without penalty (some wanted December). Procrastinators will have to pay an additional 1% premium for EVERY MONTH that they delay signing up. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/health/13778223.htm ------------ Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2006 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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