Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Studies Suggest Flu Vaccine Is Long-Lasting and Reduces Hospitalizations

pharmacist writing down information on clipboard

In this Issue


•	IVIG/Albumin Supply Index
•	Open Market Pricing
•	New Products from FFF
•	Current Medicare IVIG / SCIG Rates
•	Resources
•	Subscribe to IG Living and BioSupply Trends Quarterly

The protective effect of influenza vaccination lasts six months through the entire flu season, and it has been shown to reduce hospitalizations in children, according to a pair of studies presented in August at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID). [ read more ] Accessed from Free Medscape Account

New Study Finds No Evidence of a Link Between Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines and Autism

A study of thimerosal-containing vaccines or saline placebos administered to rhesus macaques in accordance with recommended pediatric vaccination schedules found no differences in neuronal structure or aberrant behaviors of the types seen in autism spectrum disorder.
[ read more ]

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) May Be Effectively Treated with Plasma Exchange

Plasma exchange therapy is effective in a subset of patients with severe, long-standing CRPS who are either poor responders or non-responders to their current treatment, according to a new retrospective case series study.
[ read more ]

Industry News

From Octapharma

NUWIQ, antihemophilia factor (recombinant), has been approved for on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes, routine prophylaxis to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes, and perioperative management of bleeding in adults and children with hemophilia A.
[ read more ]

From Merck & Company

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval for pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for treatment of patients with advanced (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across all histologies whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, as well as a targeted agent in epidermal growth factor receptor- or anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive patients.
[ read more ]

From Novartis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an expanded use for Promacta (eltrombopag) to include children 1 year of age and older with chronic immune thrombocytopenia who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immune globulin or splenectomy.
[ read more ]

IVIG & Albumin Supply Index

IVIG and Albumin Supply Index from April - October 2015

Log in to BioSupply for IVIG and Albumin Product Pricing

Featured Product Of The Month

• Bivigam (BioTest)

BIVIGAM (immune globulin intravenous (human) 10% liquid) is indicated for the treatment of primary humoral immunodeficiency, including but not limited to the humoral immune defect in common variable immunodeficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, congenital agammaglobulinemia, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and severe combined immunodeficiencies. The product has a median half-life of 30 days, contains no sucrose/glucose/maltose, is stabilized with glycine, has trace amounts of IgA, contains a latex-free stopper, features tamper-evident seals and can be stored for up to 24 months (until expiration date on vial packaging) at 2 degrees to 8 degrees Centigrade.

For more information about Bivigam, go to biosupply.fffenterprises.com

New Products From FFF

• Miacalcin Synthetic Injection (Mylan Institutional)

Miacalcin synthetic injection is a calcitonin indicated for treatment of 1) symptomatic Paget’s disease of bone when alternative treatments are not suitable; 2) treatment of hypercalcemia; and 3) treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis when alternative treatments are not suitable.

• VariZIG Liquid Formulation (Emergent BioSolutions)

Varicella zoster immune globulin (human) is indicated for post-exposure prophylaxis in high-risk individuals, including immunocompromised children and adults; newborns of mothers with varicella shortly before or after delivery; premature infants; infants less than 1 year old; adults without evidence of immunity; and pregnant women.

• Zerbaxa (ceftolozane/tazobactam) 1.5 g vial/10 pack (Merck)

Combination cephalosporin-class antibacterial drug and a beta-lactamase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of the following infections caused by designated susceptible microorganisms: 1) Complicated intra-abdominal infections, used in combination with metronidazole and 2) Complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis.

• Stratis Needle-Free Injection System 0.5 mL (PharmaJet)

Needle-free injection system that delivers vaccines either intramuscularly or subcutaneously via a narrow, precise fluid stream syringe that delivers the medicine or vaccine through the skin (only approved for use with AFLURIA 5 mL 10 DS vial)

• Novoeight 250 IU vial, 500 IU vial, 1000 IU vial, 1500 IU vial, 2000 IU vial, 3000 IU vial (Novo Nordisk)

Antihemophilic factor (recombinant) indicated for use in adults and children with hemophilia A for 1) control and prevention of bleeding, 2) perioperative management and 3) routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes.

• Sivextro Tedizolid Phosphate 200 mg tablet-6 pk, 200 mg tablet-30 pk, 200 mg IV vial-10pk (Merck)

Antibacterial drug for the treatment of adults with skin infections and to reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria

• Tice BCG 50 mg SDV (Merck)

Intravesical vaccine for the treatment and prophylaxis of carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder, and prophylaxis of stage Ta and/or T1 papillary tumor of the urinary bladder

• Gardasil 9 0.5 ml PFS (Merck)

Human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine approved for females ages 9 years through 26 years of age and boys 9 through 15 years of age

These products can be ordered from FFF Enterprise's BioSupply Online Ordering System or by calling Wow! Customer Care at (800) 843-7477.

Current Medicare IVIG / SCIG Rates

Rates per gram are effective October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

Product	J Codes	ASP + 6% (before sequester)	ASP + 4.3%* (after sequester)
IVIG
Bivigam	J1556	$76.98	$75.75
Carimune NF	J1566	$66.21	$65.15
Flebogamma	J1572	$71.31	$70.17
Gammagard S/D	J1566	$66.21	$65.15
Gammaplex	J1557	$74.56	$73.37
Octagam	J1568	$85.60	$84.23
Privigen	J1459	$76.10	$74.88
SCIG
Hizentra	J1559	$84.69	$83.33
HyQvia	J3490 or J3590	**	**
IVIG / SCIG
Gammagard Liquid	J1569	$77.13	$75.89
Gammaked	J1561	$80.59	$79.30
Gamunex-C	J1561	$80.59	$79.30

*Reflects 2% sequestration reduction applied to 80% Medicare payment portion as required under Budget Control Act of 2011.
**Pricing not yet available.

Resources

FFF customers may order the following complementary resources to help you with your practice:


•	IG Immune Globulin (Human)
•	Hyperimmune Globulins
•	Anti-Inhibitor, Factor VIIa & IX
•	Factor VIII & von Willebrand Factor
•	Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

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Trends Quarterly

BioSupply Trends Quarterly magazine is the definitive source for industry trends, news and information for the biopharmaceuticals marketplace.