February 19

Professor Michael Kane recently received a $44,875 grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb to study the effectiveness of the drug Bydureon for treating diabetes patients. Bydureon was approved in January 2012 and is notable for having to be injected just once per week. Prior to Bydureon's approval, the comparable drugs on the market were Byetta and Victoza, which had to be administered twice daily and once daily, respectively. Dr. Kane and his resident, Sara Micale, will compare the utility of Bydureon vs. the other two drugs in at least 100 patients, exploring outcomes related to tolerability, efficacy, and weight loss.

The annual APhA-ASP Action Auction took place last week and raised a whopping $5,271.50. When combined with other fundraising activities during the year, the organization raised nearly $6,000! More than half of the money ($3,208.25) will be donated to the Addictions Care Center of Albany. APhA-ASP will use the remainder of the monies to help fund various patient care projects. The Vermont Chapter of APhA-ASP will hold their auction fundraiser this Friday.

Assistant Dean and Associate Professor Sarah Scarpace traveled to Washington, DC last week on behalf of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association. As Chair of the organization's Health Policy Committee, Dr. Scarpace met with New York State Rep. Paul Tonko (pictured at left) and members of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's staff to discuss the roles of hematology/oncology pharmacists and clinical pharmacists in patient care. They also discussed issues related to drug shortages, oral chemotherapy parity, and biosimilars.

A vacation to Uniontown, PA at the end of February may not be everyone's first choice for a winter getaway, but for the men's and women's basketball teams, it sounds like paradise. That's because both teams have been invited to participate in the USCAA national championship tournament taking place Feb. 26 - Mar. 2 on the Uniontown campus of Penn State-Fayette. The men's team finished the season with a 13-6 record; the women's team wrapped up at 16-5. This will be both teams' first trip to the tournament.

Associate Dean Bob Hamilton and Director of Continuing Education David Kile were both in the news recently. Dean Hamilton shared a pharmacist's perspective on Vermont's proposed "Death with Dignity" bill with local FOX affiliate WFFF-TV. Mr. Kile spoke with WNYT-TV's Benita Zahn about the recommendation of an FDA advisory panel to reclassify hydrocodone as a Schedule II drug. The move is being advocated to institute tighter controls on the drug and ultimately deter potential abuse.