Canadian sale hits record low

With the dollar being what as high as it is and the new Medicare plan, I guess this is no surprise.

From the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
Sales of low-price prescription drugs from Canada, purchased through a state-sponsored program, plunged to their lowest level last month, Minnesota officials reported Wednesday.

The program of phone and Internet links to Canadian pharmacies was started two years ago by Gov. Tim Pawlenty as the first in the nation. Sales fell to $30,417 last month -- down about 30 percent from May and a shadow of the $153,000 during its best month in January 2005. ...more

Drug firms' research spending falls short

Here's an article that's a bit old, but it's interesting. I didn't realize that there are specific amounts that the brand name drug companies are supposed to spend on research in Canada. They seem to be having trouble reaching it over the last five years.

If the drug companies met this pledge, they would have a good statement to make in negotiations with governments when it comes to changes to formularies and patent laws (like the recent Ontario drug bill). They could say that they have held up their end of the negotiated bargain. Instead, I think they've left themselves open to criticism that is hard to deflect.

At least the stats are improving, up from 8.5% in 2004 to 8.8% last year.

From the Ottawa Citizen:
While seeing rising sales, Canada's big drug companies again failed to hit their promised target for spending on research and development of new medicines last year.

Brand-name drugmakers spent $1.2 billion or 8.7 per cent of their sales on research and development, marking the fifth consecutive year that the industry has failed to meet the 10-per-cent-of-sales ratio pledged when patent rules were strengthened in 1987. ...more

Native woman appeals demands to change drugs

From CBC News:
An aboriginal woman living in Winnipeg is appealing a demand that she switch medications for a health problem, saying the federal government's efforts to cut drug costs for First Nations people have gone too far.

Doreen Demas, 50, is blind and has diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. She takes medications that require an extra drug, a proton pump inhibitor, to protect her stomach. ...more

Pinning hopes on `wonder drug'

Here's another story regarding a really expensive new drug which treats a relatively uncommon but serious ailment. These stories are in the papers more and more these days. The issue here isn't so much about government approval as opposed to coverage of the drug. It's hard to draw the line of what is covered and what isn't, and sometimes it isn't fair. But isn't that essentially what the Canadian health care system is about? We have one dominant payer in the government which holds all the cards in these cases. The government decides what type of surgery, diagnostic test, or drug is covered and we essentially have to live with it. Or else we need to change the system.

From the Toronto Star:
...The Toronto resident is pinning all her hopes on a wonder drug called Avastin, which was approved by Health Canada in September 2005 for patients with metastatic colon cancer. The problem is the Ontario Drug Benefit program, which pays for drugs for seniors, those on disability and the poor, doesn't cover the steep cost of the medication, which is close to $40,000 for a round of treatment. For cancer patients who want to get the drug when they're in hospital, Ontario doesn't provide or cover it.

This month she began yet another round of chemotherapy as well as Avastin, which is delivered intravenously at a private health clinic in Toronto. Family and friends are raising money to pay the hefty bill. ...more

Viagra helps performance in more ways than one

Here's an interesting article about another potential use for Viagra. Pharamcologically, I understand what they are saying and see how it could work. And it's a sure headline grabber for any cagey newspaper editor.

From the Ottawa Citizen:
U.S. scientists, looking for a way to help soldiers perform in Afghanistan's mountains, have found a miracle pill that safely helps the heart and lungs work at high altitudes - Viagra.

In tests on cyclists in the thin air of high altitudes, it helped may men ride taller in the saddle, though it didn't boost the performance of everyone. ...more

Army wants medical recruits

We knew there was a shortage of pharmacists in the civilian world. Now it's spread to the military:

From the Toronto Star:
The Canadian Forces are hunting for nearly 300 medical personnel to serve at home, overseas and to staff the coalition hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and they're hoping lucrative signing bonuses will help bring in some new recruits.



"We are short 50 per cent of the pharmacists we need. The role of pharmacists is not just what you see happening in Shoppers Drug Mart. They manage our equipment. They co-ordinate all our supplies in and out of theatre. They handle some of our other medications and vaccinations we use to protect our soldiers that you might not use in the civilian environment."

US women may be part of reason sales of Plan B spiked in Canada

It seems rather unlikely to me, but a newspaper article suggests that American women are buying a lot of Plan B from Canadian online pharmacies.

From the Boston Globe:
Since Canadian regulators waived prescriptions for Plan B last year, sales of the emergency contraceptive have nearly doubled, and some of the additional customers are probably American women. ...more

Canadian researchers cure Huntington's disease in genetically altered mice

Maybe this is not directly pharmacy related, but I thought it was a pretty cool medical story so I thought I'd post it here:

From CBC News:
Canadian researchers have unlocked the molecular secret that eliminates the symptoms of Huntington's disease in mice, a landmark discovery that is offering new hope for preventing the devastating effects of the inherited disorder in humans.

A team of scientists from the University of British Columbia have discovered that by preventing the cutting, or "cleavage," of a protein responsible for Huntington's in genetically altered mice, the symptoms of the disease do not develop and the animals exhibit normal brain function. ...more

Dispute blocks cancer drug

From the Globe and Mail:
One of the world's most costly cancer drugs will not be marketed in Canada because the distributor can't charge the price it wants -- one a federal board has found to be too high.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada has taken the unusual move of not launching the colorectal cancer drug Erbitux after it could not agree on a price with the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. The drug was approved by Health Canada nine months ago. ...more

Minister must go: Liberals

From the Ottawa Sun:
The Liberals are calling for Health Minister Tony Clement's resignation after revelations he hired a campaign aide on a department contract immediately after he was appointed to cabinet. ...more

So does anyone out there know when Gord Haugh was hired by CIPA? Was it before, during, or after his federal contract?

Pharmacist 'scripts safe, group says

It looks like the turf war between pharmacists and physicians could heat up over the next few months. Today the RxA fired a response back to the physician groups in a press release.

“RxA is gravely concerned about how the AMA and CPSA have called into question the professionalism of Alberta pharmacists in comments made to their members and in the media, and the impact that may have on the public trust of pharmacists. The public has every reason to trust that their health and safety will be respected and protected by Alberta pharmacists,” said RxA CEO Barry Cavanaugh.

It's interesting to note that physicians have tried the scattershot approach to attack pharmacist prescribing. First there is mention of competency, then the talk turns to questioning a pharmacist's commercial interests, then the comments about liability concerns. It seems to me that they are throwing a lot against the wall and trying to see what sticks.

Why is it assumed by some that pharmacists are going to prescribe for their personal gain and that it's a conflict of interest? I have never heard anyone question veterinarians about this before. Vets have been prescribing and dispensing most of their own items for years.

I think physicians are raising some points that need to be considered, but I wish they would give pharmacists a bit more credit.

More from the
Calgary Sun

New regulations let pharmicists prescribe drugs

After years of lobbying, pharmacists in Alberta have been granted the ability of prescribe medications. The press release by the Alberta College of Pharmacists is located >here.

Health Minister Iris Evans stated, "Expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists is an example of the innovation possible in the health system to enable competently trained health professionals to use all of their education
and expertise to benefit Albertans."

Individuals with chronic or recurring conditions will be the primary beneficiaries of the new authority, in particular the authority for pharmacists to prescribe. For example, when an individual with asthma runs out of their medication and is unable to see their physician, the pharmacist will be able to provide an inhaler for use until the patient's appointment with their doctor.

It sounds like positive news, but the next question is how will these changes be implemented? What kind of courses will be required? I would suspect that a separate type of "prescribing pharmacist" license will also be required. It sounds like the College will have a lot of details to announce over the next few months.

Here's a link to the Edmonton Journal article regarding the legal changes...New regulations let pharmicists prescribe drugs

Triaminic Vapour Patch warning

From Health Canada:
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Triaminic Vapour Patch due to the serious adverse health effects that could result if the product is accidentally ingested by children.

Triaminic Vapour Patch contains camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. The reported side-effects from swallowing products containing camphor or eucalyptus oils vary from minor symptoms such as burning sensation in the mouth, headache, nausea and vomiting to more severe and life-threatening reactions such as seizures. ...more

Pharmacy rebate program on hot seat

Update: apparently the $25 markup cap has been taken off the table. There is a comment in this article that suggests the government may move their position a bit.

Health Minister George Smitherman offered a reprieve to worried pharmacists by announcing plans to scrap a proposed $25 cap on markups put on special, expensive medications such as HIV drugs — a move that will save pharmacies $13 million.

And he hinted that the controversial rebate ban could use some further definition.

“This continues to be, frankly, a very, very murky area of the Ontario drug system,” he said prior to the start of the hearing.

But he stressed the province’s bottom line was to rein in soaring costs of the drug program, estimated to eat up 10 per cent of overall provincial health-care spending, and get the best possible pricing for medicine.

It looks like the pressure being put on the government is having an effect.

More in this Toronto Star article here

Pharmacy battles for life in Ontario

There is a lot of news regarding the new legislation in Ontario. This article in the London Free Press talks about the beginning of hearings that will give stakeholders such as pharmacists, drug companies, and patients a chance to give their opinions.

There is no word if pharmacy owners will be asked to the table. Their advocacy group, called the Coalition of Ontario Pharmacy has repeatedly asked for a voice. They have even sent a couple of letters to the minister responsible with no response.

Canadian online pharmacies rebound from sales slump caused by U.S. plan

From the Brandon Sun:
As President George W. Bush mounted a final push this week to sign seniors up for a new prescription drug benefit, Canadian online pharmacies said business is already rebounding from an early hit caused by the U.S. plan.

Americans who've enrolled since January are starting to realize there are a lot of gaps and shortfalls in the Medicare benefit, with some drugs not covered at all, industry experts said. ...more

Vioxx's risk high in first two weeks, study finds

From the Globe and Mail:
The blockbuster drug Vioxx was pulled from the market in the fall of 2004 after research showed that the painkiller doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke and that its use may have contributed to thousands of deaths in North America.

Now, a new Canadian study shows that the risk was even more dramatic because one in four of the heart attacks that occurred were within two weeks of the start of treatment. ...more

Druggists fear new bill's rebate ban

From the London Free Press:
Neighbourhood drugstores may have been handed a lethal prescription from the Ontario government, say those who work in the business.

The province is proposing a law that would prohibit pharmacies from receiving rebate payments from generic drug companies -- something that would hit independent pharmacies the hardest.

"It will have a huge influence on the very existence of pharmacies in Ontario," said Hesham Abdelsayed, president of Ontario Medical Group, which operates three pharmacies in London and one in the region. ...more

Smitherman tells drug companies to pipe down

From the Toronto Star:
Canada’s brand-name pharmaceutical companies should “tone down their rhetoric” and work with the Liberal government to help save Ontario’s taxpayers millions of dollars in drug costs, Health Minister George Smitherman said Friday.

Smitherman was reacting to Paul Lucas, the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, who warned Thursday that the province’s cost-saving plan will do to Ontario’s research-based drug companies what the Diefenbaker government’s cancellation of the Avro Arrow jet fighter did to the aerospace industry. ...more

Smitherman tells drug companies to pipe down

From the Toronto Star:
Canada’s brand-name pharmaceutical companies should “tone down their rhetoric” and work with the Liberal government to help save Ontario’s taxpayers millions of dollars in drug costs, Health Minister George Smitherman said Friday.

Smitherman was reacting to Paul Lucas, the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, who warned Thursday that the province’s cost-saving plan will do to Ontario’s research-based drug companies what the Diefenbaker government’s cancellation of the Avro Arrow jet fighter did to the aerospace industry. ...more