Key drug approval: Solvadi for Hepatitis C

1. Expect lots of hepatitis C patients to receive this medication since it can be used without an interferon.  Patients dislike taking interferons since it makes them feel like they have the flu every time the receive it.
2. It costs $84,000 for the 12-week treatment.

Press release

Express Scripts claims they will aggressively pit the multiple hepatitis C treatments against each other in an effort to lower costs without lowering quality.  Here's the Drug Channels link.  I'll be interested to see if they can pull that off.

Outpatient Drug Approvals for October 2013

Zohydro ER (hydrocodone) Extended-Release Capsules

Treatment for: Pain

Zohydro ER (hydrocodone) is a single-entity (without acetaminophen) extended-release opioid analgesic for around-the-clock management of moderate to severe chronic pain.

Comments:  Like Oxycontin, this medication can provide needed relief to true severe pain patients but will be abused by many others.
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Outpatient Drug Approvals for September 2013

Brintellix (vortioxetine) Tablets

Treatment for: Depression

Brintellix (vortioxetine) is a multimodal antidepressant for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Comments:  

Similar to Cymbalta and offers no new benefits to patients with depression.  

Recommended Value Rating:  D (high-cost per success)

Recent Outpatient Drug Approvals through August 2013

The greatest impact for your trend will likely be the new cancer agents that continue to allow treatment to move from inpatient to outpatient settings.[1]