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20% Price Hike Among Pfizer Drugs
The increasing cost of drug has been the subject of concern and review - by legislators, reporters and patients.
The Financial Times has reviewed the annual price increases for the 91 drugs in Pfizers portfolio, showing an average price increase by 20 percent in the past year.
Read ArticleOhio Sues Five Pharma Companies Over Opioid Epidemic
Ohio is suing five major drug manufacturers, accusing them of misrepresenting the risks of prescription opioid painkillers that has resulted in the current opioid epidemic.
Read ArticleBiologics Before Triple DMARD is Not Cost Effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Stepping up to biologic therapy when methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy fails was not shown to be cost effective, compared to first trying triple therapy, in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review - 26 May 2017
Dr. Jack Cush Reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review – 12 May 2017
Dr. Jack Cush highlights the big stories, news and articles from this week at RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleAbove-Label Dosing and Noncompliance with Biologics in Psoriatic Arthritis
Claims data analysis of 4245 psoriatic arthritis patients on TNF inhibitors showed both higher than expected durations of noncompliance and higher than label dosing - all at an increased cost.
Read ArticleUS Drug Spending Will Rise Steadily Thru 2021
Reuters has reported that U.S.spending on prescription drugs in 2016 increased by 5.8 percent over 2015 levels to $450 billion based on list prices, and by 4.8 percent to $323 billion when adjusted for discounts and rebates.
Read ArticleWill Restricting Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Access Result in Healthcare Savings?
A current JAMA report shows that the implementation of policies at academic medical centers that restricted pharmaceutical sales representative (PSR) detailing was associated with modest but significant reductions in prescribing of detailed drugs across six of eight major drug classes; however, c
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review – 21 April 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:
Read ArticleSpinal Manipulation Equal to NSAIDS for Acute Low Back Pain
JAMA has published a review of 15 RCTs (1711 patients) analyzing the role of spinal manipulation therapy in patients with acute low back pain. The authors found modest improvements in pain and function at up to 6 weeks, with temporary minor musculoskeletal harms.
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review – 31 March 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the news and Advances in Targeted Therapies meeting in Mandelieu, France:
Tweeting this week from Advances in Targeted Therapies #ATT2017 in Mandelieu, France.
Read ArticleMortality in Gout Increased
Two current articles in the Journal of Rheumatology address issues surrounding mortality risk among those with new and established gout.
Read ArticleICER Report Claims RA Drugs are Not Cost Effective
On Friday March 24, the nonprofit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) presented its report on the cost and value of targeted immune modulators (TIMs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a meeting in Boston that included clinical experts, manufacturers, payers, and patients.
Read ArticleACR Says the New AHCA is Insufficient for Arthritis Patients
Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, President of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has issued a press release condeming the insufficiencies of the newly proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA).
Read ArticleInterns Can Now Work 24 Hour Shifts
The ACGME has revised its traing guidelines such that, starting July 1st, new interns are allowed to work shifts lasting as long as 24 hours, and as much as 28 hours according to a recent New York Times article.
Read ArticleEuropean Biologic Manufacturers Issue Warnings About Biosimilar Switching
Reuters has reported that European drugmakers have taken the tact of warning EU physician contemplating the switch from existing (originator) biologic therapy to newer, cut-rate biosimilar. Biosimilar use is widespread outside the USA.
Read ArticleCDC Says 1 in 5 Have Arthritis
In the United States, doctor-diagnosed arthritis is a common and widespread chronic condition (1,2). Arthritis is a leading cause of disability (3) and is projected to affect 78.4 million adults by 2040.
Read ArticleACP Recommends a Drug-Free Approach to Back Pain
The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends that physicians avoid prescribing drugs, especially narcotics, for patients with acute or subacute low back pain.
Read ArticleThe High Cost of Psoriatic Arthritis
New research confirms that patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) face significant healthcare and socioeconomic hurdles.
Read ArticleChronic Pain Associated with Poverty and Less Education
Poorer and less-educated older Americans are more likely to suffer from chronic pain than those with greater wealth and more education, but the disparity between the two groups is much greater than previously thought, according to new research.
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