SubHealth to review bill on dispensing of injectable opioids

The health subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Feb. 28 to examine a series of bills pertaining to the Controlled Substance Act, including a bill that would allow pharmacies to deliver certain controlled substances directly to physicians if they are to administered by injection, implantation or intrathecal pump. The proposed legislation -- titled The Ensuring Patient Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatments Act of 2018 -- aims to improve dispensing to make abuse, misuse and diversion more difficult.

Increased patient access under the bill could have a positive effect on sales of injectable opioid dependence drug Vivitrol naltrexone from Alkermes plc (NASDAQ:ALKS). The company did not respond to inquiries. Vivitrol sales were $269.3 million in 2017...