Archives by
Month/Year
Controlling Drug Plan Costs in the Information Age
February 2011
Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute (CPBI) Benefits Outlook, Mississauga
Update on the CADTH Biologics Review in Rheumatoid Arthritis
February 2011
In November 2010's Cubic Health Monthly, we focused on findings from a study conducted by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) comparing the efficacy, safety and cost between different specialty drugs (i.e. biologics) used in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). This study found that there were no significant differences between five of the most commonly prescribed biologic agents for RA. However, concerns from a number of stakeholders prompted CADTH to release a number of amendments to its original report. View post
The link between autism and vaccines – a lesson in scientific fraud
February 2011
Twelve years after the original publication date, the fraud behind the 1998 study thought to link the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine with the onset of autism in children with bowel problems has been exposed. The article has been fully retracted. This situation highlights the need for the scientific community to not place an undue amount of attention and significance to findings from a study where such a small sample size (12 patients) was used. It also highlights the significant consequences of the general public jumping to conclusions. View post
NOC Watch – Vitaros, Daxas
February 2011
Vitaros is a new topical cream product for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) that has recently been approved by Health Canada...Daxas is the first of a new class of medications used in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) introduced to the Canadian market in over 10 years. View post
What can the VA system teach Canadian plan sponsors?
Cubic Health Monthly
Is there value in paying for expensive, brand name drug in cases where cost-effective generic alternatives exist? In an effort to evaluate prescribing patterns for the use of brand vs. generic drugs, and understand whether higher per-capita spending on drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol and diabetes translated into better quality measures, a recent study looked at prescription drug use in these areas in the Veteran's Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the United States. View post
Latest News
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N.S. tightens rules on OxyContin -Globe and Mail (February 20, 2012) - Provinces become proactive after being accused of inaction in the face of rising addiction rates - Nova Scotia has become the latest... View post
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Another Blockbuster Falls: Generic Plavix® Now Available - February 2012 - After over 8 years of patent challenges between the Canadian generic manufacturing company Apotex and the product’s innovator, sanofi-aventis, clopidogrel (generic for... View post
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Protecting Your Plan from the Gravy Train - February 2012 - Although full-product direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is illegal in Canada, most Canadians are exposed to this type of advertising through media spillage from... View post
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Many Canadians can’t afford to take drugs as directed -Globe and Mail (January 17, 2012) - One in four Canadians who do not have drug insurance are unable to afford to take their prescription drugs as directed, a... View post
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Look ahead with predictive modelling -Benefits Canada (January 2012) - The most recent 24 months of data is one of the most important pieces of information that plan sponsors and advisors have... Download PDF
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Drug Plans Erode Over Last 20 Years -Benefits and Pensions monitor (December 2011) - All of us involved in the provision and management of drug plan benefits should be embarassed by the lack of progress over... Download PDF
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Are we in 2002 or 2012? A word of caution about mail-order pharmacies -Benefits Canada (November 2011) - If a plan design does not support mail order (or any other preferred pharmacy arrangement) in a meaningful way, it will be... Download PDF
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