Pharmacy Week in Review: Vecuronium Bromide Recalled, Effect of Eliminating ACA Penalty Evaluated

A look at last week's top stories in the world of pharmacy.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Pharmacy Times News Network. I’m Nicole Grassano your host for our Pharmacy Week in Review.

Sun Pharmaceutical is voluntarily recalling 3 lots of 10-mg vecuronium bromide for injection and 1 lot of 20-mg vecuronium bromide for injection to the hospital level, Pharmacy Times reported. These products, which are used as adjuncts to general anesthesia, have been found to contain particulate matter identified as glass. The administration of a glass particulate, if present in an intravenous drug, may result in local irritation or swelling in response to the foreign material. More serious potential outcomes include blockage and clotting in blood vessels, which may be life-threatening. To date, Sun Pharmaceutical has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

A mobile medical application for adults with opioid use disorder is now available by prescription, Contemporary Clinic reported. Pear Therapeutics’ reSET-O app aims to increase patient retention for adults who are in outpatient treatment programs. The new app, a cognitive behavioral therapy that can be downloaded to a patient’s mobile device, is intended to be used in addition to outpatient treatment under the care of a health care professional. The app should also be used in conjunction with treatment that includes a behavior modification intervention that establishes a connection between new, targeted behavior; buprenorphine and contingency management; and the opportunity to obtain a desired reward, according to the FDA

A new study estimates that eliminating the individual mandate penalty in the Affordable Care Act may reduce insurance coverage enrollment and boost premiums, according to a survey of enrollees in the 2017 individual market in California, Specialty Pharmacy Times reported. The survey was conducted by investigators at the Mongan Institute Health Policy Center and the results were published in a Health Affairs report. The individual mandate provision has been a controversial component of the Affordable Care Act. However, the tax penalty for noncompliance was eliminated starting in 2019. According to the study, the researchers aimed to evaluate the potential impact of the change on enrollees’ decisions to purchase insurance and on individual market premiums.

Pharmacists may get more questions about Orilissa if their patients have seen a new commercial for the prescription product. In the spot, called “Or, I Can: Choose a Solution,” 3 women are tired of their endometriosis pain causing problems for them at work. They decide to talk to their doctors about Orilissa. According to the commercial, Orilissa helps reduce painful periods, pelvic pain between periods, and pain with sex.

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Thanks for watching our Pharmacy Week in Review. I’m Nicole Grassano at the Pharmacy Times News Network.