Pharmacy Daily Monday 22nd August 2011 T 1300 799 220 W www.pharmacydaily.com.au page 1

Monday 22 August 2011

an iPhone 4*

Don’t have a subscription?

Get it Now

WIN

$295excl. GST

Pharmacy career opportunities are available

in Singapore’s public healthcare institutions.

To find out more, visit www.ahp.mohh.com.sg

Email your queries and resume toapply@mohh.com.sg

Rigby reappointed CONSULTANT clinical pharmacistDebbie Rigby has been reappointedto the NPS Board for a further threeyear term, as the Health PractitionerClass (Pharmacist) director. Rigby first joined the NPS board in2008, and is also the current chairof the Australian Association ofConsultant Pharmacy and the QldBranch Committee of thePharmaceutical Society of Australia. Rigby is a member of the NPSAudit Committee, and alsorepresents the NPS on both thePharmaceutical Decision Supportand Medicines Line Advisory Groups.

Free pharmacy seminar TODAY’S Pharmacy Daily includesa full page promoting the upcomingAlive Discount Pharmacy seminarsin Brisbane on 29 Aug andMelbourne on 31 Aug. For details see page 3 or call NickLoukas on 0412 359 683.

PBAC Jul recommendations THE Pharmaceutical BenefitsAdvisory Committee has publishedthe outcome of its Jul meeting,with a number of recommendationsfor new PBS listings. AstraZeneca’s new Brilinta(ticagrelor) for Acute CoronarySyndrome (PD 21 Jun) has beenrecommended as an AuthorityRequired listing, on the basis of“acceptable cost-effectivenesscompared with clopidogrel incombination with aspirin”. Osteoporosis is also a focus of therulings, with a recommendation toremove the current three yeartreatment limit for Novartis’ Aclasta(zoledronic acid solution). Merck Sharp & Dohme’s FosamaxOnce Weekly, Fosamax Plus andFosamax Plus D-Cal products havealso been recommended for anextension of the current listing toinclude treatment of osteoporosisin patients aged 70 years or older. Other recommendations includean Authority Required listing forBristol-Myers Squibb’s Orencia(abatacept) rheumatoid arthritistreatment, as well as the firm’sEliquis (apixaban) anti-thromboticfor patients undergoing total kneeor hip replacements. Lundbeck Australia’s Saphris(asenapine) sublingual wafer is alsorecommended for a listing fortreatment of bipolar 1 disorder andschizophrenia. The PBAC is recommending anextension of the current S100listing for Ipsen Pty Ltd’s Dysport(botox) for the treatment ofblepharospasm and hemifacialspasm in adults, along with a new

300 units per vial presentation. Aspen Pharma has received arecommendation for an additionalpack size of 30 Actiq (fentanyl)lozenges, while Novartis’ COPDtreatment Onbrez (indacaterol) hasbeen recommended on a costminimisation basis, compared withfluticasone in combination withsalmeterol. Blackmores’ MagMin magnesiumtablets have been recommended asa restricted benefit for patientswith chronic renal failure to treathypomagnesaemia in Aboriginaland Torres Strait Islander persons. A GlaxoSmithKline submission toextend the National ImmunisationProgram to include active Boostrixvaccination of parents of newborninfants was rejected on the basis ofuncertain clinical effectiveness. Other first time rejectionsincluded BMS’ cancer treatmentYervoy (ipilimumab); Lundbeck’sAzilect (rasagiline); an extension ofthe current S100 listing for Pfizer’sGenototropin (somatropin) toinclude treatment of adults; and anextension to the listing of Pfizer’sSutent (sunitinib) cancer treatment.

PD Fri winner CONGRATULATIONS to SuzyWright from Bathurst HospitalPharmacy who was the luckywinner of a Slim Secrets gluten freepack in last Fri’s Pharmacy Daily. This week PD readers have theopportunity to win an Australiscosmetic pack - see page 2.

FDA Adcetris approval THE US Food and DrugAdministration has approvedAdcetris (brentuximab vedotin) forthe treatment of Hodgkinlymphoma, with the drug beingapproved under the FDA’saccelerated approval program. It’s the first new approval for thecondition since 1977, and is made byWashington-based Seattle Genetics.

Health body chairs FEDERAL Health Minister NicolaRoxon has named Ms PatriciaFaulkner as the inaugural chair ofthe new National HealthPerformance Authority (NHPA)once the required legislation passesthrough parliament. The vice-chair will be John Walsh,while the new IndependentHospital Pricing Authority will bechaired by Shane Solomon, withdeputy chair Jim Birch.

Primary Pan payout PRIMARY Healthcare todaydisclosed $9.38 million in extracorporate revenue as a result of its“net litigation proceeds” from thePan Pharmaceuticals class action. The company’s results for theyear to 30 Jun saw a 41% dive innet profit after tax, with an overallfigure of $78.3 million. Primary said the figure wasaffected by significant governmentfunding reductions over the lasttwo years, as well as periods of“below normal patient demand” forboth GP and diagnostic services.

New UK guidance THE Royal Pharmaceutical Societyof Great Britain has issued a newdocument giving pharmacistsguidance on safe custody ofcontrolled drugs. The document explains whichControlled Drugs require safecustody, including dealing withpatient returns and out of date orobsolete medications. See www.rpharms.com.

BYS Christmas packs BYS has today officially launchedits 2011 Christmas Gift Pack range,with options including “Wild andChic”, “Smokey Eyes”, “Glam andGlitter”, “Animal Instinct, “PaintBox” and “Colour Change”. For info see www.bys.com.au.

Monday 22 August 2011

EDITORS Bruce Piper and Amanda Collins EMAIL info@pharmacydaily.com.au ADVERTISING Lisa Maroun EMAIL advertising@pharmacydaily.com.au page 2

Weekly Comment

Welcome to Pharmacy Daily’sweekly comment feature.This week’s contributor is

Clint Dowdell fromHiLife Health and Beauty.

The skinny onweight loss

IN what is always a slow time forweight loss and diet categories,should we be offering solidadvice to consumers who arealready seeing their “wintercoat” in full swing? Absolutely. It’s now we havethe opportunity to point peoplein the direction of the programsthat can start supporting ahealthy weight loss system andenable them to achieve resultsBEFORE they need to beexposed on the beach. Pharmacies are able to effectthe most change of habits inlifestyle than most retail outlets,due to the fact people are likelyto seek advice, rather than justconsume. But what advice is goodadvice? Fads and dangerousmethods of dropping weight arenot going to build loyalty andtrust. We need to supporthealthy living, easy to follow dietplans and see real results. Take for example the Rapidseries (Rapid Detox, Rapid Burnand Rapid Loss). The backendsupport system in place isstronger than any other on themarket and teaches achievable,long-term, healthy habits. Justlook at the already outstandingresults of the Rapid Challengeonline for the proof! To your store, the Rapid brandmeans happy and regularcustomers. To your customers, itcan be a lifechangingrecommendation. Can youafford not totry and leanto the lighterside of life?

Weekly Comment

Follow us on:

Just one click away fromkeeping up to date with all

the breaking news as itcomes to hand...

WIN AN AUSTRALIS COSMETIC PACK

Pharmacy DailyPharmacy DailyPharmacy DailyPharmacy DailyPharmacy Dailyhas teamed up

with AAAAAustralisustralisustralisustralisustralis

this week and is

giving Paparazzi

Perfect High

Definition packs

to five lucky

readers.

Introducing Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition range!

A revolutionary range containing an intelligent mix of light

reflecting properties and skin balancing pigments which

provide a flawless, smooth complexion under any light! Bring

on the Paparazzi!

Each pack includes Blush in Poser, Foundation in Natural Beige,

Eyeshadow in Snap Attack, Tinted Moisturiser in Med-Dark and

Paparazzi Perfect Keyring Camera.

For your chance to win this exciting prize pack, simply be the

first person to send through the correct answer to the question

below to comp@pharmacydailycomp@pharmacydailycomp@pharmacydailycomp@pharmacydailycomp@pharmacydaily.com.au.com.au.com.au.com.au.com.au:

Hint: Visit wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.australiscosmetics.com.au.australiscosmetics.com.au.australiscosmetics.com.au.australiscosmetics.com.au.australiscosmetics.com.au

What type of makWhat type of makWhat type of makWhat type of makWhat type of make-up is thee-up is thee-up is thee-up is thee-up is the

AAAAAustralis Pustralis Pustralis Pustralis Pustralis Paparazzi Paparazzi Paparazzi Paparazzi Paparazzi Perfect range?erfect range?erfect range?erfect range?erfect range?

EMERGENCY services in Austriasay they will be able to get to illpatients in traffic jams andshopping centres much fasterafter announcing the purchase ofa fleet of Segway scooters. The space-age transportation -more often seen in movies orbeing used by tour operators - willbe equipped with sirens andflashing lights. Officials said the Segways hadsignificantly outperformedambulances and paramedicmotorbikes in trials. “They go places thatconventional vehicles could neverreach,” said a spokesman. He said that although theSegways weren’t able to carrypatients, they could be fitted withmost items needed for first aidoperations, including a heartdefibrillator. The Segway trial had beenparticularly effective duringrecent marathons in Vienna andLinz, where crowds of runners andspectators blocked access tolarger vehicles.

A US man is standing up for therights of elderly people to coverthemselves, suing the New YorkDepartment of Parks andRecreation for making him wear apair of skimpy speedos. 61-year-old Roy Lester says he’sbeen working as a lifeguard at thestate’s Jones Beach for more than40 years, but lost his weekend jobafter the imposition of “newswimsuit rules” which mandatethe iconic Aussie cossie. “People don’t want to see oldpeople in Speedos and that’swhat it comes down to, and Iagree with them,” he said,refusing to don the skimpyswimwear to undertake an annual“rehire test” requiring guards toswim 100m in 75 seconds. Lester claims the new policy ispart of a concerted push forlifeguards to look “young andattractive,” aiming to force outolder employees.

Valeant acquisition VALEANT Pharmaceuticals hassettled its US$441 millionacquisition of Lithuanian specialtypharmaceutical maker AB Sanitas. AB Sanitas sells its range ofaround 400 generic medications inseveral countries in eastern Europeincluding Poland and Russia.

Major mental health push THE Council of AustralianGovernments has announced anew National PartnershipAgreement on Mental Health, withthe aim of addressing “major gaps”in the treatment of mental illness inAustralia. Plans include a 10-year roadmapfor mental health reform, settingout the “priorities and sequencingof reforms across a range ofgovernment services”. The National PartnershipAgreement will focus on stableaccommodation and support; thepresentation, admission anddischarge planning in majorhospitals and emergencydepartments; and related supportservices for sufferers. “By addressing priority servicegaps in Australia’s mental healthsystem the National Partnershipwill help move Australia’s mentalhealth system away from crisis-driven activity towards prevention,early intervention and care in thecommunity,” COAG said.

The increasing priority of mentalhealth is also reflected in a budgetallocation of $2.2 billion over fiveyears (PD 10 May) for mental health. The Pharmaceutical Society ofAustralia has suggested thecreation of a “liaison pharmacist”role to assist patients with mentalillness transferring between health-care settings and providers. The PSA is also set to undertake amajor review of the Statement ofMental Health Care Capabilities forPharmacists (PD 15 Aug). COAG said it would furtheraddress the National PartnershipAgreement before the end of 2011.

NICK LOUKAS(Managing Director of RetailPharmacy Group) talks about store

NORMAN THURECHT (Partner Johnston Rorke Pharmacy Services) talks about

make your business stronger

RSVP FridayP August 26th 2011zorbie@retailpharmacygroup.com.au

or Nick Loukas on 0412 359 683

See www.alivepharmacww y.com.auyy for more information

on the Alive Discount Pharmacy Brand

Presenting in Melbourne and Brisbane

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS ON HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS

AND INCREASE YOUR PROFITS

Businessis BoomingP ti i M lb d B i b

Hear frff omrr rrr rent international trr rrr

rrr

FREESEMINAR

Brisbane | Monday August 29th 2011Riverside Southbank – William Jolly RoomWW

20 Montague Road, South Bank, Brisbane

6.30pm for 7pm – 9pm

Melbourne | Wednesday August 31st 2011Downtowner on LygonLL

66 Lygon Street, Carlton, MelbourneLL

6.30pm for 7pm – 9pm

DON’T MISS OUT, LIMITED SEATSAA AVVV

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

SPECIAL OFFERHear on the night about an exclusive offer to join our

NEIL ARROWSMITH(Director of Angley

Fax your completed form tor reserve your seat todar y.yy

Booking Name: Numbers of Attendees:

FAX:FF (07) 4051 2292 Brisbane / Melbourne (Please circle)

Contact email________________________ Contact Phone___________________