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The article reports that some doctors are no longer offering injected drugs to their patients because the medications are too expensive. The move is a response to a change in Medicare reimbursement rules that calculate drug prices according to the discounts large customers receive, making the reimbursements received by small offices too little to cover their costs. Medicare recipients now have to go to hospitals to receive their injections.

The article focuses on medical treatments for Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that impacts approximately 1.5 million Americans. According to the author, a number of drugs are under development by drug manufacturers to treat the disease. The article provides charts of drug treatments that are currently available and those that are under development.

The article reports that Steve Case, former CEO of America Online, will launch a Web site called RevolutionHealth.com. The Web site is designed to allow users to customize the site based on their health needs and to store their health records for access by themselves and by their doctors. The challenges that the company faces from competitors, such as WebMD, are discussed.

The article focuses on the impact a December 2006 decision by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning the safety of arterial stents will have on law suits which have been filed against stent manufacturers in the United States. A discussion of the difficulties involved with processing a law suit against medical devices which have been approved by the FDA, which are generally protected from personal injury lawsuits, is presented.

The article reports on pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. Inc.'s next court trial related to its problematic painkiller Vioxx, which will take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The pre-trial preparation of attorney Mark Lanier is reviewed. Lanier won a $253 million verdict against Merck in August of 2005. Lanier's career in law is reviewed. Comments from Lanier regarding the forthcoming case are included.

The article reports that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will announce that federally approved medication labels will pre-empt state law. This declaration could help pharmaceutical companies' defenses against liability suits. Companies will be able to argue that they are not required to include warnings about potential risks when the FDA determines that the safety issue did not need to be included on the label.

The article reports that a state-court jury in Atlantic City, New Jersey found that Merck & Co. Inc. was not liable for injuries to an Idaho man taking Vioxx who had a heart attack. The author suggests that Merck's victory shows that the company's aggressive legal defense can win over jurors and that the victory improves its odds of overcoming a wave of litigation involving the pain killer. The article includes comments from litigators on both sides of the case.

Focuses on the court case involving Merck & Co., maker of the drug Vioxx, and the outburst between Merck's defense lawyer, Diane Sullivan, and New Jersey Superior Court Judge Carol Higbee. Ruling of Higbee regarding the testimony of Merck's first defense witness, company physician Briggs Morrison, that enraged Sullivan; Assessment of the relationship between Higbee and Sullivan since the trial began; Number of Vioxx liability lawsuits that will be heard in Higbee's courtroom; Speculation about Merck's strategy in the case; Comments from Samuel L. Davis, of Davis, Saperstein and Salomon PC, who represents plaintiffs in Vioxx cases, suggesting Sullivan's outburst was premeditated to create a basis for appeal later on.

Examines the reasons behind pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc.'s opposition to legislation that would restrict sales of over-the-counter cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine (PSE), which can be used to manufacture the illegal stimulant methamphetamine. Introduction of Pfizer's Sudafed PE, a reformulated product of its popular Sudafed cold medicine, that does not contain PSE; Plans of Pfizer to reformulate its entire Sudafed line to contain phenylephrine (PE) in an effort to circumvent legislative bills aimed at restricting the sale of drugs with PSE; Efforts of lawmakers to eliminate illegal laboratories in private homes that are producing methamphetamine for personal use; States in the U.S. with the toughest laws, classifying PSE as a controlled substance; Potential implication of the legislative bills on sales of products containing PSE.

Reports that pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. has scaled back its earnings estimates and announced a sweeping restructure. Reasons why Pfizer is seeking cost cuts of $4 million; Statistics indicating a reduction in net income, suggesting slumping sales of some popular medicine; Scope of the cost cutting; Estimated cost of organizational restructuring; Comments from Pfizer chairman and chief executive Henry McKinnell regarding the challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry; Discussion of pricing power in the industry in light of a wave of patent expirations; Impact of Medicare reform on drug prices; Plans to revamp the company's sales force; Other areas in which Pfizer is looking to cut costs.

Focuses on gift baskets, which are popular gifts in the holiday season. Increase in the number of offerings from Harry and David; Amount the average American adult spends yearly on food gifts, according to the Direct Marketing Association; Evaluation of several gift baskets with a focuses on which items in the basket are eaten and which are left alone; Impact of the Internet boom on the increased competition in the market.

Focuses on drug distributors who are coming under increasing scrutiny because of the prevalence of bogus medicines in the U.S. Number of bottles of counterfeit Lipitor being recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that were found to have passed through distributors; Medications involved in lawsuits filed by plaintiff's lawyers against the drug wholesalers; Comments from Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, regarding the lack of regulation in the system that delivers drugs from manufacturer to pharmacies; How the system of distribution offers the opportunity for counterfeiting.

Reports that AmerisourceBergen Corp., the U.S.'s largest drug wholesaler, is the subject of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly diverting drugs into secondary markets to boost profit. Details of the scheme used by AmerisourceBergen to garner rebates from drug manufacturers more than once on the same sale; Comments from an FBI official regarding the investigation, which is looking into allegations of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.

Focuses on the trend of brides wearing preowned gowns. Sales volume of the wedding gown industry; Percentage increase in business at secondhand retailers for wedding gowns, indicating brides will skimp on the dress to afford better items like food or champagne; Cost of typical top of the line gowns; Price of a Vera Wang dress that Abbie Schiller of New York plans to sell on eBay immediately following her wedding; Changing demographics of wedding participants and that impact on the wedding gown business.

The article reports that a Texas state appellate court on May 14, 2008 overturned the verdict against Merck & Co., ruling that not enough evidence was presented, linking the pain-killer Vioxx to a heart attack that happened to the plaintiff's spouse. The victim was a smoker with a high blood pressure and high cholesterol who had earlier been diagnosed with heart problems. On the same day the overturned verdict was handed, Merck shares at New York Stock Exchange composite trading rose to $39.83.

The article reports on the $10.5 million in compensatory damages awarded by a New Jersey state-court jury to plaintiff Kamie Kendall in relation to a lawsuit filed against the acne medication Accutane from Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc. It mentions that Kendall is one of the 425 people who filed suit regarding the drug's side effect of inflammatory bowel disease. The jury ruled in favor of Kendall to award the compensatory damages as well as $78,500 for medical expenses.

The article reports that CVS Caremark Corp. will pay $36.7 million to settle allegations that it improperly switched Medicaid patients taking the generic form of the stomach medication Zantac to capsules from tablets. The lawsuit was brought by Bernard Lisitza, who worked as a pharmacist processing CVS prescriptions. The suit alleges that the switch cost taxpayers as much as 400% more than what would have been paid for tablets. CVS denied it dispensed capsules to increase Medicaid reimbursements.

The article reports on the $666 million settlement pay given by the U.S. government to 667 hospitals. The hospitals have sued the government for back payments resulting from changes in Medicare reimbursement policies since the 1980s. The settlement pay stands as one of the largest government settlements paid to health-care providers. It recalls that reimbursement policies were change during the term of then President Ronald Reagan to exempt low-income patients from the compensation calculation for hospitals.

The article presents an outlook for drug-wholesale and medical-supply company Cardinal Health Inc. in 2008. Company stock was up 58 cents at $60.44 in composite trading on the New York Stock Exchange as of February 8, 2008 following the appointment of George Barrett as vice chairman and chief executive of its drug and medical-supply distribution division. Analysts expect an improvement in Cardinal's medical supplies and services business. It notes the growth potential of the generic-drug distribution business of Cardinal.

The article reports that Merck & Co. Inc. is under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts for off-label marketing of its Vioxx painkiller. The drug was pulled from the market in 2004 after a study linked it to increased heart attacks and strokes. Details of the lawsuit filed against Merck are also reported.

The article reports that Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. are under investigation by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in connection with the marketing of cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia. Blumenthal revealed that the investigation seeks to determine if Medicaid program funds were spent on false assurances about the safety and effectiveness of the drugs. Spokespersons Chris Garland and Rosemarie Yancosek stated that their companies have not been notified of an investigation by Connecticut but they will cooperate.

The article reports on the choices given by New Orleans federal judge Eldon E. Fallon to Gerald Barnett, plaintiff in a lawsuit against Merck & Co. Barnett was given the choice of accepting a reduced compensatory damage award or a new trial. A federal jury found in August 2006 that Merck's painkiller Vioxx was responsible for Barnett's heart attack.

This article reports on the victory of Merck & Co. in the case filed by Frank Schwaller in a circuit court in Illinois over the death of his wife Patricia after taking the firm's Vioxx painkiller.

The article focuses on the efforts of Dr. Michael Kaplan to market and sell his Center for Medical Weight Loss approach to other primary-care doctors in New York.

This article reports on the split verdict received by Merck & Co. from a New Jersey jury in the trial related to the Vioxx drug of the company.

The article offers a look at the financial performance of generic drug-maker Mylan Laboratories Inc.

The article provides information on an outside investigation ordered by the board of Merck & Co. which exonerated the drug maker's management of any liability in developing and marketing the painkiller Vioxx.

The article reports on the expansion of the duties of David Shedlarz, vice chairman of Pfizer Inc., by CEO Jeffrey B. Kindler.

This article reports on the decision of a 12-person jury to a case against Merck & Co. which was allegedly liable for the heart attack of Stewart Grossberg who took the painkiller Vioxx for two years.

Reports on the deal made by Merck & Co. with UnitedHealth Group on the pricing of its cholesterol-fighting drug Zocor, which is about to face generic competition.

Reports on the settlement of a civil case brought to Purdue Pharma L. P. by its insurer, Steadfast Insurance Co. over spiraling legal costs incurred by the drug company in defending nearly 1,400 lawsuits over OxyContin, its prescription painkiller.

Reports that a Texas state jury found Merck & Co. liable for the fatal heart attack of Leonel Garza, who took its Vioxx painkiller a month before dying, and awarded compensatory and punitive damages to the family of victim as of April 2006.

Reports on the amount of money in punitive damages awarded by a jury to John McDarby who had a heart attack while taking Merck's drug Vioxx.

The article focuses on the testimonial of Evelyn Irvin Plunkett about the death of her husband after taking the Vioxx drug manufactured by Merck & Co.

Reports on the commencement of deliberations by New Jersey jurors over the drug Vioxx from Merck & Co. on November 1, 2005.

Reports on the arguments presented by Merck & Co. defense attorney Diane P. Sullivan in a lawsuit filed by Frederick Humeston, who alleged that the company's drug, Vioxx, caused his heart attack in 2001.

Reports on the testimonial of a cardiologist regarding the short-term effect of the painkiller Vioxx from Merck & Co.

Reports on the protection of Merck & Co. from punitive damages claims under New Jersey's Product Liability Act.

Reports on the decision of U.S. Judge Carol Higbee on a trial faced by Merck & Co. Inc. in October 2005 involving its Vioxx painkiller.

Focuses on the testimony of Frederick Humeston, a postal worker from Boise, Idaho, in the second trial on Vioxx drug, wherein he told the jurors that he has been weak and incapacitated following a 2001 heart attack he blames on the drug.

Reports on the defense issued by a senior Merck & Co. executive for his company's efforts to market Vioxx to doctors, in a trial involving the drug as of September 2005.

Reports on the presentation of arguments to the jury by the defense lawyers of Merck & Co. in the first trial over the company's painkilling drug Vioxx on August 17, 2005.

Reports on an increase in prices of prescription drugs in the U.S. in the first half of 2005.

Reports on the financial performance of Johnson & Johnson in the second quarter of 2005.

Reports on the increase in spending on hospital care, physician services and prescription drugs in the U.S. in 2004.

Reports that the pharmacies of CVS Corp. will stop purchasing drugs from wholesalers that trade in the secondary market in the U.S.

Reports on the subpoenas received by McKesson Corp. and Cardinal Health Inc. from New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in April 2005 related to the drug wholesalers' purchase of drugs on the secondary market.

Reports the statement of Wyeth that its first-quarter financial results will exceed its earnings forecast brought by strong vaccine and drug sales.

Reports on the increased cost of drugs and examines the reasons why pharmaceutical companies are raising prices. Percentage by which Pfizer Inc. increased prices on U.S. medicines; Increases at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim and Abbott Laboratories; Reasons why companies are increasing prices, including sales loss from generic competition and the upcoming Medicare drug benefits program. INSET: Rising Prices.

Discusses the findings of a study on the limitations of single fecal occult blood test performed by doctors to screen for colorectal cancer.