Specialty Pharmacy News Roundup: April 2024

 

The latest specialty pharmacy news and insights. Stay up to date on industry and company trends with Specialty Pharmacy Database and custom research projects. 

 

Pyros Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pyros), a leader in the development of enhanced specialty pharmaceuticals for rare diseases, recently announced that VIGPODER (vigabatrin) for oral solution, USP, a treatment for appropriate patients with infantile spasms (IS), is now available. Anovo has been chosen as the exclusive distributor and specialty pharmacy for this innovative medication. Anovo goes beyond just distribution to provide support for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

 

Biologics by McKesson, an independent specialty pharmacy specializing in oncology and rare disease, was selected by Day One Biopharmaceuticals, as a limited network specialty pharmacy for OJEMDA (tovorafenib) for the treatment of pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG). OJEMDA, granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 23, 2024, is an oral, brain-penetrant, highly selective type II RAF kinase inhibitor for the treatment of pLGG. Biologics by McKesson is an independent specialty pharmacy with more than 30 years of experience connecting patients to life-changing medications in oncology and other rare and complex therapeutic areas.

 

In a landmark settlement, BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy compensates for a significant data breach with $2.2 million, setting precedents for data privacy. The plaintiffs alleged that the specialty pharmacy failed to adequately protect sensitive information, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, when the defendant sustained a data breach in 2021 between Oct. 25 to Nov. 11, court records show. And after two years of litigation, both sides reached a settlement for all persons impacted by the hacking.

 

CarelonRx announced the launch of SpecialtyRx Savings Navigator, a comprehensive approach to specialty medication savings across pharmacy and medical benefits. This solution aims to help employers plan for the specialty spend of tomorrow, while providing advocacy and care to their employees who utilize specialty medications today. Elevance Health’s CarelonRx segment markets and offers pharmacy services, including pharmacy benefit management services, to its affiliated health plan customers, as well as to external customers outside of the health plans the company owns.

 

Winrevair (sotatercept-csrk), the under-the-skin injectable treatment recently approved in the U.S. for adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), is expected to be available for dispensing at CVS Specialty and Accredo pharmacies by late April, Merck reported. Winrevair’s distribution network will continue to be evaluated after its commercial launch, a Merck spokesperson said in a written Q&A with Pulmonary Hypertension News.

 

Onco360, the nation’s leading independent Specialty Pharmacy, has been selected as a national pharmacy partner by Alexion Pharmaceuticals for Voydeya (Danicopan) as a first class oral, Factor D inhibitor. Voydeya is FDA-approved as add-on therapy to Ultomiris (Ravulizumab) or Soliris (Eculizumab) for patients living with PNH that experience continued anemia, or EVH. Onco360 is the nation’s largest independent Oncology Pharmacy and clinical support services company.

 

Orsini Specialty Pharmacy has been selected by Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals  as the preferred specialty pharmacy partner for the distribution of Yargesa (miglustat) capsules, 100mg. YARGESA is a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Type 1 Gaucher disease for whom enzyme replacement therapy is not a therapeutic option. Edenbridge accepted Orsini into YARGESA’s limited distribution network because of Orsini’s deep experience with rare diseases, home nursing network and ability to provide comprehensive compliance programs to support patients and providers in obtaining coverage and managing therapies.

 

PANTHERx Rare, a leader in rare disease product patient access and support services in the United States, is pleased to announced that it was selected by Edenbridge Pharmaceuticals for the distribution of Yargesa (miglustat) capsules, the first oral treatment option for adults with mild to moderate Type 1 Gaucher disease for whom enzyme replacement therapy is not a therapeutic option. PANTHERx Rare is a dual-accredited specialty pharmacy focused on rare and orphan disease, distributing several orphan products and providing access and support services to those needing them most. PANTHERx transforms lives by delivering medicine breakthroughs, clinical excellence, and access solutions to people living with rare and devastating conditions.

 

Polaris Specialty Pharmacy continues as part of the Edenbridge Pharma Specialty Pharmacy Network for Yargesa for the distribution of Yargesa (miglustat) capsules, the first oral treatment option for adults with mild to moderate Type 1 Gaucher disease for whom enzyme replacement therapy is not a therapeutic option. Polaris Specialty is a specialty pharmacy serving patients nationwide.

 

A little more than a month after there was talk of Walgreens divesting its specialty pharmacy unit Shields Health Solutions, the company announced plans to expand its specialty pharmacy services with a unit dedicated to gene and cell therapy services. Walgreens plans to expand its specialty pharmacy services and invest in its capabilities as the company further grows its core pharmacy business to improve patient outcomes and provide greater value to payers and partners. The company introduced Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, a holistic offering that expands access to care for patients with complex, chronic conditions and enables partnerships that drive profitability for Walgreens’ pharmacy business.