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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle
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03-27-2006 Quote of the day: "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." Anne Dudley Bradstreet.
Spring Spring officially arrived at 1:26 pm (EST) on March 20th this year. A wimpy winter, by most accounts, has passed. The sun in now high enough in the sky that whatever snow there is won’t be around long. I have already seen a few robins and the crocus and tulips will start popping up soon. Other signs of spring include the AMCP meeting (this year in Seattle)…. A chance to brush away any winter mental cobwebs and learn more about drugs, how people use them and the myriad ways in which we find to finance that use. The recent start of the Medicare Prescription Plan (Part-D) faced a number of challenges. Most PBM’s experience similar problems every year during the first week in January as drug plans, eligibility, and formularies change. Right about now things should be settling down and allow everyone to take a deep breath of fresh spring air. If other things in your life have you down then just imagine how much sweeter things will seem when they finally do turn around for you. If you live in Arizona then just ignore everything I just said because you probably are thinking in reverse…your horrid weather is just about to start! =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Irish"
pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience. ------------
1) China to become number 5 in drug consumption When the Chinese start taking more drugs there will be added temptation to bootleg patented products. China isn’t doing such a great job policing the other intellectual property issues so this will become huge. Unless we become aggressive in enforcement then there will be HUGE losses for patent holders around the world. (anyone remember China vacating the patent on Viagra?... that was the first domino)
2) Colorado kills pbm bill in committee Bill would have required the lives of many a Colorado Spruce for all of the paperwork and, although requiring business disclosures, would not have saved the state any money. http://www.pharmasentry.com/news/newsletter.cfm?linkid=1FD7C94B%2DD608%2D4279%2DA1F15816DB9B3D83
3) Nano technology and Drug delivery A look into the future of drug delivery. Different ways of delivering drug to the specific target organ are discussed. (for you Pharmacy nerds out there… and you know who you are). http://www.pharmasentry.com/news/newsletter.cfm?linkid=1FD7C999%2DD608%2D4279%2DA0D8BFC96657BA5B
4) BiDil fizzles and Execs flop CEO and CFP left NitroMed, Inc after the combination pill that was approved less than a year ago flopped. The stocked climbed after their departure so not everyone must be sad about it. (take-over rumors are the suspected cause)
5) Part D Tune-up (and check the oil) CMS released a toolkit to help with the transition to Medicare Part D. Stuff for pharmacists and patients alike to assure continuity of medical care. Includes information on appeals and grievances as well (not that anyone is complaining) http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/18_transition.asp
6) Pfizer plant proudly picks pockets Indy tax incentives (coming from the good taxpayers of Indiana) entice Pfizer to build their newest manufacturing plant in Indiana. Traditionally a stronghold of Lilly... http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060322/BUSINESS/603220501/1003
7) Tee many matoonies? Texas is now arresting drunks inside bars…before they can go out and hurt themselves or others. Whoever thought to look in bars for drunks must be a genius… I would have looked in Congress.
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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