Hematology Times
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PharmacyStudy suggests drug side effects are inevitable
Structure of proteins
with similar binding pockets Credit: Mu Gao Side effects from small-molecule compounds may be impossible to avoid, according to research reported in PNAS. The study revealed a relatively small number of unique sites where compounds can bind to proteins, and this suggests that side effects may be inevitable. By studying a set of artificial proteins and comparing them to natural proteins, the researchers discovered there may be no more than about 500 unique protein pocket configurations that serve as binding sites. [Read Article] Anticoagulation model can impact patient satisfaction
Patient consulting pharmacist
Credit: Rhoda Baer An inpatient pharmacist-directed anticoagulation service (PDAS) can improve patient satisfaction and potentially boost Medicare reimbursement, according to a report in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy. Researchers surveyed 689 patients who received anticoagulant therapy at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. The results suggested that patients felt more informed about their therapy and more satisfied with their care when the PDAS model was in place. [Read Article] Medicare overpaid for ESAs, iron supplements
Vials and a syringe
A newly published report suggests Medicare could have saved more than $500 million for anemia management drugs in 2011 if the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) base rate had reflected the actual use of such drugs. Specifically, Medicare could have saved $510 million on the erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) epoetin alfa (Epogen) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp) and $19 million for the iron supplements sodium ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit) and iron sucrose (Venofer). [Read Article] NICE says ruxolitinib isn’t cost-effective
Myelofibrosis
Credit: Peter Anderson The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a final draft guidance not recommending ruxolitinib (marketed as Jakavi or Jakafi) for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly or its symptoms in adults with myelofibrosis. Although NICE found the drug to be clinically effective in these patients, the organization concluded that use of the drug is not cost-effective. However, NICE has not yet issued the final guidance to the National Health Service (NHS), and the . . . [Read Article] FDA approves product to reverse anticoagulation
Fresh frozen plasma
The FDA has approved a new plasma product for the urgent reversal of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulation in adults with acute major bleeding. The product—called human prothrombin complex concentrate (Kcentra)—is made from the pooled plasma of healthy donors. It contains 4 vitamin K-dependent factors: factor II (prothrombin), factor VII, factor IX, and factor X, as well as antithrombotic proteins C and S. Actual plasma is the only other product approved . . . [Read Article] |
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