Strong Data from Lagova™ Phase II Clinical Study Presented during Webcast

OPKO Health, Inc. a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company, yesterday hosted a webcast presenting outstanding interim six-month results from a Phase 2 study of its long-acting human growth hormone product Lagova to treat pediatric growth hormone deficiency disorder (GHD).

“The outstanding interim Phase II results allow for dose selection for a Phase III study which is anticipated to start in 2015.”

During the webcast, Dr. Ron Rosenfeld, Chairman of OPKO Biologic’s Scientific Advisory Board and professor emeritus of Pediatrics at both Stanford University and Oregon Health and Science University, highlighted the superior interim results from the study. About Motrin (Ibuprofen) with no prescription In particular, Dr. Rosenfeld, a pioneer in the recombinant human growth hormone field, noted that the mean height velocity achieved with each of the three different doses of Lagova administered in the study was “actually quite dramatic, ranging from 12.25 centimeters to almost 15.5 centimeters. Every child enrolled in the study experienced a significant improvement in height velocity from weekly administration of Lagova,” he noted.
“OPKO believes there is a significant market opportunity with Lagova, as compliance with daily injections is problematic. Non-compliance leads to a significant decrease in growth response in both adults and children, which is well evidenced by current clinical literature,” said OPKO’s CEO, Phillip Frost, M.D. Myambutol (Ethambutol) “The outstanding interim Phase II results allow for dose selection for a Phase III study which is anticipated to start in 2015.”
Unlike other pediatric long-acting growth hormone deficiency clinical trials, the Lagova Phase II trials also included a direct comparator arm at the same population with similar baseline values. Children were given daily administration of growth hormone at a dosage of 0.24 mg/kg per week, but administered daily in a traditional manner. Buy Effexor (Venlafaxine) with free prescription There was no statistically significant difference among any of the three dosage strengths of Lagova used in the study versus the comparator arm.
As any Phase III trial for a long-acting recombinant human growth hormone will likely require proof of non-inferiority against a comparator arm of daily administered growth hormone, this is an important distinction that gives OPKO great confidence in designing its non-inferiority pivotal Phase III study for Lagova. Acyclovir Had OPKO utilized historical database comparisons as utilized in other pediatric GHD clinical trials versus an actual comparator arm, annualized height velocity for Lagova at all three dosage strengths would have been notably superior, exceeding comparable age-matched historical controls, as published by Bakker (2008) and Ranke (2010) for the same GHD patient population by approximately 30%.
Lagova uses OPKO Biologics’ novel CTP technology which attaches a short naturally occurring peptide to the natural human growth hormone. Approximately 75% of the injected protein in Lagova is the actual native growth hormone, altogether resulting in a highly water soluble compound that can be delivered in high concentrations using a very thin 31 gauge needle to patients of a wide range of body weights and ages by a single, weekly injection. Buy Vitamins online As expected, the safety profile from the six-month data was excellent. No serious adverse events were reported. There were no episodes of either lipoatrophy or lipodystrophy and there were no injection site tolerability issues. More importantly, long term safety is supported by the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics profiles; there was no accumulation and no over-exposure of IGF-1.

About Lagova (hGH-CTP)
In June 2013, OPKO initiated a multi-center worldwide pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in adults for its proprietary long-acting version of hGH-CTP (Lagova). Medical Helper Lagova has been awarded orphan drug designation in the U.S. and Europe for both adults and children with growth hormone deficiency.
ABOUT OPKO HEALTH
OPKO is a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large, rapidly growing markets by leveraging its discovery, development and commercialization expertise and novel and proprietary technologies. 
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), which statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," and other words of similar meaning, including statements regarding expected results and benefits of Lagova, including its safety and efficacy, whether OPKO's clinical trials for adult and pediatric growth hormone deficiency will generate data to support marketing approval, whether a single injection of Lagova can replace seven consecutive daily injections of currently marketed hGH, whether Lagova will have low immunogenecity, the expected commencement date for the Phase 3 clinical trial for Lagova in pediatric patients, whether Lagova will be successfully developed or commercialized, expectations regarding the product and its market potential, as well as other non-historical statements about our expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding our business, technologies and products, financial condition, strategies or prospects. Many factors could cause our actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. These factors include those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the risks inherent in funding, developing and obtaining regulatory approvals of new, commercially-viable and competitive products and treatments, including the risks that the Phase 3 clinical trials for the Lagova product may not be successful or achieve the expected results or effectiveness, and may not generate data that would support the approval or marketing of this product for the indications being studied, that others may develop products which are superior to Lagova, and that Lagova may not have advantages or prove to be superior over presently marketed products or products introduced in the future. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new products and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions and litigation, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the PSLRA.

Pfizer Presents Detailed Results From Landmark Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial In Adults (CAPiTA) Evaluating Efficacy Of Prevenar 13

Pfizer Inc. today presented detailed results of the Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA), the landmark study of approximately 85,000 subjects, demonstrating that Prevenar 13^* (pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13-valent, adsorbed]) prevented a first episode of vaccine-type community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults 65 years of age and older, the study’s primary objective. This trial is the first in adults to clearly demonstrate a significant reduction in vaccine-type pneumococcal CAP, and importantly, non-bacteremic/non-invasive vaccine-type pneumococcal CAP. Furadantin (Nitrofurantoin) without prescription Results were presented during the late-breaker session at the 9th International Symposium on Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases (ISPPD) in Hyderabad, India, on March 12, 2014.

“This study demonstrated that vaccination with Prevenar 13 can prevent a significant portion of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia in adults aged 65 and older, which is an important global public health goal”

CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults) also met both of its secondary study objectives –significant reduction in (i) non-bacteremic/non-invasive vaccine-type pneumococcal CAP and (ii) vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).
Regarding the study’s primary objective, there were 45.56 percent fewer first episodes of vaccine-type CAP among Prevenar 13-vaccinated subjects than in subjects who received placebo (P=0.0006). Buy Geodon (Ziprasidone) without Rx Regarding the study’s secondary objectives, the Prevenar 13 group experienced 45.00 percent fewer first episodes of non-bacteremic/non-invasive vaccine-type CAP (P=0.0067) and 75.00 percent fewer first episodes of vaccine-type IPD (P=0.0005) compared with the placebo group. The safety profile of Prevenar 13 in this study was consistent with studies previously conducted in adults.
Additional data showed reductions in vaccine-type CAP, non-bacteremic/non-invasive vaccine-type CAP, and vaccine-type IPD for up to four years after vaccination among subjects who received Prevenar 13.
“With the aging of the population, hospitalizations due to pneumococcal pneumonia represent a growing burden to public health systems. Medrol Active (Methylprednisolone) with no prescription Evidence from this study is particularly important for a population in which age-related decline of the immune system makes it difficult to prevent disease,” said Dr. Emilio A. Emini, senior vice president, Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer.
“This study demonstrated that vaccination with Prevenar 13 can prevent a significant portion of pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia in adults aged 65 and older, which is an important global public health goal,” said principal investigator Prof. A-Ret without prescription Marc Bonten, professor of Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Microbiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands.
The CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults) study data will be an important part of any consideration of potential new or updated recommendations for Prevenar 13 in adults. Other key factors also are expected to be taken into consideration, including the current burden of pneumococcal disease in adults.
About CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults)
In 2011, Prevnar 13 was licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under an accelerated approval process to address an unmet medical need in older adults. Buy Vitamins online As a requirement of the accelerated approval pathway, Pfizer conducted CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults) to verify clinical benefit.
This was a parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-center trial in which subjects aged 65 years and older were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of either Prevnar 13 or placebo. A total of 84,496 subjects were enrolled. The trial was conducted by Julius Clinical, a spin-off of the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, a division of the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. Fifty-eight sentinel hospitals were used for the surveillance of CAP and IPD.
Vaccine-type CAP (VT-CAP) was defined as CAP caused by any Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype included in the vaccine. Non-bacteremic/noninvasive VT-CAP was defined as CAP in which vaccine-type S. pneumoniae caused the pneumonia, but was not detected concurrently in the bloodstream or any other normally sterile site. Doctor Online Consultation Vaccine-type IPD was defined as a case in which vaccine-type S. pneumoniae was present in the bloodstream or any other normally sterile site, with or without pneumonia.
About Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal disease refers to a group of illnesses caused by S. pneumoniae bacteria.¹ Invasive pneumococcal disease occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream, or another site that is normally sterile.² Non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia occurs when the bacteria cause infection in the lungs but are not detected in the blood concurrently.¹ In adults, pneumonia is the most common presentation of pneumococcal disease.¹ For every one case of invasive pneumococcal pneumonia in adults, it is estimated that at least three cases of non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia occur.³ While non-invasive forms of pneumococcal disease are typically more common, the invasive types of disease are generally more severe.⁴
About Prevenar 13
Prevenar 13 was first introduced for use in infants and young children in December 2009 in Europe and is now approved for such use in more than 120 countries worldwide, including the United States and Japan. It is the most widely used pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in the world, and more than 640 million doses of Prevenar 7-valent/Prevenar 13 have been distributed worldwide. In addition, Prevenar 13 is approved for use in adults 50 years of age and older in more than 90 countries, and is also approved in the United States and European Union (EU) for use in older children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years. Recently, Prevenar 13 was also approved in the EU for use in adults 18 to 49 years of age.
INDICATIONS FOR PREVNAR 13^®

• Prevnar 13^® is a vaccine approved for adults 50 years of age and older for the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia and invasive disease caused by 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, and 23F). This indication is based upon immune responses to the vaccine
• For children 6 weeks through 17 years of age, Prevnar 13^® is approved for the prevention of invasive disease caused by the 13 vaccine strains, and for children 6 weeks through 5 years for the prevention of otitis media caused by 7 of the 13 strains
• Prevnar 13^® is not 100% effective and will only help protect against the 13 strains included in the vaccine
• Effectiveness when given less than 5 years after a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is not known

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

• Prevnar 13^® should not be given to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of Prevnar 13^® or any diphtheria toxoid–containing vaccine
• Children and adults with weakened immune systems (eg, HIV infection, leukemia) may have a reduced immune response
• In adults, immune responses to Prevnar 13^® were reduced when given with injected seasonal flu vaccine
• In adults, the common side effects were pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, limitation of arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, decreased appetite, chills, or rash
• A temporary pause of breathing following vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely
• The most commonly reported serious adverse events in infants and toddlers were bronchiolitis (an infection of the lungs) (0.9%), gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and small intestine) (0.9%), and pneumonia (0.9%)
• In children 6 weeks through 17 years, the most common side effects were tenderness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, irritability, decreased appetite, decreased or increased sleep, and fever
• Ask your health care provider about the risks and benefits of Prevnar 13^®. Only a health care provider can decide if Prevnar 13^® is right for you

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world®
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. To learn more, please visit us at www.allwebrx.com.
DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of March 12, 2014. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments.
This release contains forward-looking information that involves substantial risks and uncertainties regarding Prevnar 13/Prevenar 13, including its potential benefits, and about the CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults) trial. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainty concerning the commercial impact of the results of the trial; uncertainty concerning whether and when regulatory authorities in various jurisdictions will update the label and vaccine technical committees in various jurisdictions will update their recommendations with respect to the use of Prevnar 13/Prevenar 13 in adults based on the results of the CAPiTA (Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults) trial and other factors; whether and when regulatory submissions may be made in jurisdictions other than the U.S. for Prevenar 13 for the prevention of pneumococcal pneumonia in adults caused by the 13 serotypes in Prevenar 13, and whether and when regulatory authorities in such jurisdictions will approve any such submissions, as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability and commercial potential of that additional indication for Prevenar 13 in those jurisdictions; and competitive developments.
A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
 Trademark. Prevnar 13^® is the trade name in the United States, Canada, and Taiwan.

Sci-tech information: Coffee, cola and energy drinks could slow brain development

Swiss Scientists say teens drinking three cans of energy drink or a large bottle of cola every day could be reducing the amount of deep sleep they get and therefore affect the development of the brain.

Caffeine-laden fizzy drinks could be stopping children’s brains from developing properly, scientists have warned. They believe that by preventing deep sleep, caffeine interferes with the development of the brain during adolescence. Buy Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide) pills online without prescription This is a critical time for the brain, when problems in development can lead to schizophrenia, anxiety, drug use and personality disorders. Buy Cellcept (Mycophenolate Mofetil) tabs online without prescription Researchers experimented on rats, but say the findings raise concerns for children and teenagers, some of whom consume large amounts of caffeine from colas and energy drinks. Between 300 and 400mg of caffeine – four cans of energy drink a day or three or four mugs of coffee – could make a difference, the study suggests. Buy Valtrex (Valacyclovir) without prescription A can of the popular energy drink Red Bull, for example, contains 80mg. The Swiss research focused on the development of the brain during the teenage years. As it prepares for the demands of adulthood, synapses, or connections between cells, that are not needed are eliminated. Buy Vitamins online It is thought that sleep is crucial to this process. Professor Reto Huber, of the University Children’s Hospital in Zurich, said: ‘This optimisation presumably occurs during deep sleep. ‘Key synapses extend, others are reduced; this makes the network more efficient and more powerful.’ OnlineRx's Blog Prof Huber said that when young rats were given caffeinated drinking water, they got less deep sleep than those who drank plain water. He said: ‘Children’s and young adults’ average caffeine consumption has increased by more than 70 per cent over the past 30 years and an end to this is not in sight. ‘The drinks industry is posting its fastest-growing sales in the segment of caffeine-laden energy drinks. ‘The brain goes through a delicate maturing phase in puberty, during which many mental diseases can break out.

Ceiba Solutions Introduces Community Edition of its Helium Data Workbench

Understanding that real-time access to open data drives innovation, Ceiba has introduced the Community Edition of its Helium Data Workbench. This free, downloadable version of Helium provides more than 50 analytical functions to bring public life science data directly into Microsoft Excel, TIBCO Spotfire and the Helium Windows 8 app. The open source nature of the software allows the easy addition of new plug-ins to data services and applications. Buy Zebeta (Bisoprolol Fumarate) pills online without prescription Users can share recommendations for new connections with others in the Helium community.

“Our integration with Excel, our Windows 8 app, and Helium's use of Azure are proof of our continued work with Microsoft to bring mobility to the lab and help life sciences move to Windows 8 as XP fades out.”

Ceiba's newest collaborative partner for the Community Edition is the Open PHACTS consortium, which integrates pharmacological data from a variety of information resources.
“Open PHACTS is committed to building an open, sustainable data infrastructure to support drug discovery research,” said Gerhard Ecker, academic coordinator of Open PHACTS. Buy Zantac (Ranitidine) tabs online without prescription “The Open PHACTS application programming interface provides a development platform for a responsive analytical, visual and predictive tool such as Helium.”
In addition to Open PHACTS, the Community Edition includes connections to other chemistry and pharmacology data services, including ChEBI, KEGG, PubChem, and ChEMBL. The Community Edition also leverages Ceiba's strong partnership with Microsoft, with the Helium server component hosted on Windows Azure.
“Extending the reach of our Helium Data Workbench by way of the Community Edition reinforces our dedication to the life science industry – making data accessible and helping drive innovation across the industry,” said Warren Casey, CEO of Ceiba. Buy Vitamins online “Our integration with Excel, our Windows 8 app, and Helium's use of Azure are proof of our continued work with Microsoft to bring mobility to the lab and help life sciences move to Windows 8 as XP fades out.”
Helium’s open architecture enables users to tap into a wide range of data services and applications beyond the pre-existing scientific connections, and utilize them directly in their favorite software. Buy Rebetol (Ribavirin) without prescription Helium was recently awarded the Microsoft Life Science Innovation Award for a major pharmaceutical company’s use of Helium for sales and marketing analytics. Helium was honored particularly for its unique data-typing mechanism that identifies selected data and recommends meaningful use of related data across disparate sources, driving innovative thinking around previously unrealized connections.
For example, Helium's interoperability with Veeva, a life sciences customer relationship management system, together with multi-channel marketing data from sources like Lyris and medical professional prescription information, can enable users to more easily identify how to maximize resources to drive sales. All Best Rx : Buy drugs online With data more easily exposed and no longer constrained within siloed sources, users can focus their time reviewing and analyzing information to make more insightful and faster decisions.
The research-focused Helium Community Edition for Excel and Spotfire, along with the Helium Windows 8 app, are available for immediate download. Drugs Rx Guide : Buy drugs online A version of the Community Edition for sales and customer relationship management is forthcoming.
About Ceiba
Ceiba Solutions provides managed services, products and information analytics dedicated to helping the Life Sciences maximize the value of information. FDA Approved Rx : Online Pharmacy As the only company focused on providing high quality, onsite IT support inside the modern laboratory, its managed services offerings are uniquely positioned to help researchers maintain focus on the business of science and decision making. Ceiba’s powerful analytics and services platforms provide easy to use self-service analytics and social monitoring services designed to help customers tap the potential of the Big Data age. Ceiba's customers include major pharmaceutical companies and world-renowned research institutions.

Acorda Therapeutics to Present at the 31st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Acorda Therapeutics Inc. today announced that Ron Cohen, M.D., President & CEO, will present at the upcoming 31^st Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, CA.

About Acorda Therapeutics
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies that restore function and improve the lives of people with MS, spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.
Acorda markets AMPYRA^® (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg, in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Buy Glucovance (Glyburide(Glibenclamide)-Metformin) pills online without prescription This was demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed. AMPYRA is marketed outside the United States as FAMPYRA^® (prolonged-release fampridine tablets) by Biogen Idec under a licensing agreement from Acorda. AMPYRA and FAMPYRA are manufactured under license from Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited.
The Company also markets ZANAFLEX CAPSULES^® (tizanidine hydrochloride) and Zanaflex tablets, a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. Acorda also receives sales royalties on tizanidine hydrochloride capsules, an authorized generic version of ZANAFLEX CAPSULES distributed by Watson Pharmaceutics, Inc. under its agreement with Acorda.
Acorda has an industry-leading pipeline of novel neurological therapies. The Company is developing Diazepam Nasal Spray for treatment of certain epileptic seizures. It is also studying AMPYRA to improve a range of functional impairments caused by MS, as well as its use in other neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy and post-stroke deficits. In addition, Acorda is developing clinical stage compounds AC105 for acute treatment of spinal cord injury and GGF2 for treatment of heart failure. GGF2 is also being investigated in preclinical studies as a treatment for neurological conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injury. Additional development programs include rHIgM22, a remyelinating monoclonal antibody for the treatment of MS, and chondroitinase, an enzyme that encourages nerve plasticity in spinal cord injury.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including our ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the U.S.; third party payers (including governmental agencies) may not reimburse for the use of Ampyra or our other products at acceptable rates or at all and may impose restrictive prior authorization requirements that limit or block prescriptions; the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra or from our other research and development programs, including Diazepam Nasal Spray (“DZNS”) or any other acquired or in-licensed programs; we may not be able to complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully market DZNS or other products under development; the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of or to successfully market Fampyra outside of the U.S. and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection therewith; competition, including the impact of generic competition on Zanaflex Capsules revenues; failure to protect our intellectual property, to defend against the intellectual property claims of others or to obtain third party intellectual property licenses needed for the commercialization of our products; failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in adverse action by regulatory agencies; and the ability to obtain additional financing to support our operations. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

HHS partners with pharmacies to educate Medicare beneficiaries about new health benefits

Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced partnerships with several pharmacies to help customers learn about new Medicare benefits available to them under the Affordable Care Act – the health care law. These partnerships – with CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Thrifty White, Walmart, and Sam’s Club – will provide Medicare beneficiaries a range of educational materials on newly available preventive services, as well as savings on prescription drug spending in the “donut hole” coverage gap. At a CVS in Jacksonville, Secretary Sebelius discussed the new preventive services and received a free blood pressure reading at the CVS MinuteClinic. Buy Alesse (Levonorgestrel Bp + Ethinylestradiol Bp) pills online without prescription

“Our pharmacy partners are helping their customers make informed health care decisions”

“Our pharmacy partners are helping their customers make informed health care decisions,” said Secretary Sebelius. “These partnerships will help people with Medicare learn more about new preventive services such as mammograms, and the new Annual Wellness visit that are available at no charge for everyone with Medicare.”
Some examples of how pharmacy partners are working to increase awareness of preventive services available under Medicare include the following:

• CVS Caremark is distributing material about new preventive services covered at no cost to beneficiaries at its more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy stores and 600 MinuteClinic locations, through brochures, register receipt messages and online.
• Thrifty White Pharmacy is providing information on preventive services through its 85 locations throughout the Midwest.
• Walgreens is distributing information in nearly 8,000 pharmacies and over 350 Take Care Clinic locations, as well as using in-store announcements and providing this information as part of its Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP.
• HHS is working with Walmart and Sam’s Club to provide healthcare information to their shoppers online.