People With Diabetes Warned About Fake Test Strips
WASHINGTON - The government warned diabetics Friday to watch for counterfeit versions of test strips commonly used to monitor blood sugar levels. The test strips, for use in glucose monitors made by a Johnson & Johnson company, were distributed nationwide, the Food and Drug Administration said in a public alert.
The phony test strips are for use with various models of LifeScan Inc.'s OneTouch brand of blood glucose monitors.
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New Type 2 diabetes drug wins approval
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Diabetics gained a new way of controlling their blood sugar levels Tuesday with federal approval of a novel pill for Type 2 diabetes, which affects about 20 million Americans.
The Food and Drug Administration said it approved Januvia, which enhances the body's own ability to lower blood sugar levels, after clinical trials showing the new pill works just as well as older diabetes drugs, but with fewer side effects such as weight gain. The drug is made by Merck and Co. Inc.
Merck is expected to charge $4.86 for the once-daily tablet, a price tag that may limit its use. Older diabetes drugs can cost 50 cents a day.
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FTC and FDA Act Against Internet Vendors of Fraudulent Diabetes Cures and Treatments
Measures are Part of Coordinated Effort by United States, Mexico, and Canada
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with government agencies in Mexico and Canada, have launched a drive to stop deceptive Internet advertisements and sales of products misrepresented as cures or treatments for diabetes. The ongoing joint campaign has so far included approximately 180 warning letters and other advisories sent to online outlets in the three countries.
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November 2006

New at 4D
  
4D announces the introduction of our Health Awareness Calendar.
Our Health Awareness Calendar is devoted to promoting particular health concerns.  Employers can use these special times to sponsor health promotion events, stimulate awareness of health risks, or focus on disease prevention.  This month is American Diabetes Month. This newsletter includes recent news relating to diabetes and we invite you to visits our Health Awareness Calendar for more information about this health condition.  

4D introduces U&C Enforcer to its clients:
Surely you have heard all the noise associated with generic price competition.  4D has started a program to insure that all clients receive the lowest generic price available.
Download the details on the U&C Enforcer here. 

PBM’s Raise the Curtain
Finally people are beginning to understand what 4D has been saying about the PBM industry all along...
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Generics Come and Gone….
Court  Halts Sale of Generic Plavix. 
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Many vulnerable elderly face drug signup hurdle
Washington (AP) -- The federal government has told about 632,000 elderly and disabled people that they won't be automatically enrolled in a Medicare drug plan next year.
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Drugs Slip Through FDA Cracks, Sell Unapproved by the Millions
(Bloomberg) —Almost 2 percent of U.S. prescriptions dispensed last year, or as many as 73 million, were for unapproved medicines such as Balamine, the FDA estimates. After years of paying little attention, the FDA now says it will step up efforts to get many of the drugs approved or taken off the market.
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Pfizer Drug Dealt Blow in Testing
Pfizer said yesterday that clinical trials of torcetrapib — a heart medication that is the most important drug in the company’s pipeline — confirmed that it raises blood pressure, a potentially serious side effect.
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Revenue Transparency - we pass our savings directly to the customer

 

November
American Diabetes Month

Quote of the Month:

“Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don’t.”

Pete Seeger