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April 24, 2013
Fifty-nine percent of nasal allergy sufferers report sleeping problems, while 35% treat symptoms, survey finds

More than half of people with nasal allergies report problems sleeping, while slightly more than a third proactively treat their symptoms, according to a new survey.

LANDOVER, Md. — More than half of people with nasal allergies report problems sleeping, while slightly more than a third proactively treat their symptoms, according to a new survey.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Teva Respiratory released results of the survey, showing sleeping problems among 59% of sufferers, while 48% said symptoms like congestion and sneezing interrupted a partner's sleep.

April 24, 2013
J&J launches diabetes education site for European healthcare professionals

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen has launched an interactive educational website about diabetes for European healthcare professionals.

BEERSE, Belgium — Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen has launched an interactive educational website about diabetes for European healthcare professionals.

Dubbed the Janssen Diabetes Forum, the website is designed to educate users about the latest developments in the management of Type 2 diabetes. The website was launched Tuesday in Beerse, Belgium.

April 24, 2013
Parents often complicit in teens' prescription drug abuse, study finds

A dramatic jump in the rates of misuse of prescription stimulants over the past four years is linked to lax attitudes on the part of parents, according to a new study, though misuse and abuse of prescription opioids has remained flat.

NEW YORK — A dramatic jump in the rates of misuse of prescription stimulants over the past four years is linked to lax attitudes on the part of parents, according to a new study, though misuse and abuse of prescription opioids has remained flat.

April 23, 2013
Warner Chilcott receives FDA approval for Minastrin 24 FE

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive drug made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

DUBLIN — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive drug made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

Warner Chilcott announced the approval of Minastrin 24 FE (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol capsules and ferrous fumarate capsules) for prevention of pregnancy.

The drug maker said an unnamed third-party company would manufacture the drug, but it did not expect to launch it this year.

 

April 22, 2013
FDA approves Alcon's Simbrinza

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Alcon, the drug maker said.

BASEL, Switzerland — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Alcon, the drug maker said.

April 18, 2013
Actavis relaunches generic contraceptive

A federal court ruling has allowed Actavis to relaunch a generic contraceptive drug, the company said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A federal court ruling has allowed Actavis to relaunch a generic contraceptive drug, the company said.

April 18, 2013
Nearly one-third of women don't fill new osteoporosis prescriptions, study finds

A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

PASADENA, Calif. — A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

April 17, 2013
Changes to REMS to allow dispensing of Vivus obesity drug in retail

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a modification to a program added to the labeling of an obesity drug to ensure patient safety.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a modification to a program added to the labeling of an obesity drug to ensure patient safety.

Vivus announced that the FDA had approved changes to the risk evaluation and mitigatin strategy for Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) extended-release capsules. The amendment to the REMS allows the drug to be dispensed through certified retail pharmacies in addition to the existing network of mail-order pharmacies.

April 17, 2013
FDA panel gives favorable vote to GSK, Theravance COPD drug

A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that the agency approve an experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies said.

LONDON — A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that the agency approve an experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies said.

The FDA Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-4 to recommend Breo Ellipta as a long-term maintenance treatment for airflow obstruction in patients with COPD and for reduction of COPD exacerbations in patients with a history of them. The drug is a once-daily inhaler that combines fluticasone furoate and vilanterol.

April 16, 2013
Authorities worry about abuse potential as OxyContin patent expires

Purdue Pharma's patent for OxyContin expired Tuesday, opening up the opioid painkiller to generic competition, but authorities have raised concerns about what they call the potential for generic versions to be abused.

NEW YORK — Purdue Pharma's patent for OxyContin expired Tuesday, opening up the opioid painkiller to generic competition, but authorities have raised concerns about what they call the potential for generic versions to be abused.

April 16, 2013
FDA approves 200-mg strength of Warner Chilcott antibiotic

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new strength of an antibiotic made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

DUBLIN — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new strength of an antibiotic made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

Warner Chilcott announced the approval of the 200-mg strength of Doryx (doxycycline hyalite) delayed-release tablets, which the company plans to release in July 2013.

Doryx delayed-release tablets are already available in the 75-mg, 100-mg and 150-mg strengths.

 

April 16, 2013
FDA approves new labeling for OxyContin

The Food and Drug Administration will not approve generic versions of Purdue Pharma's painkiller OxyContin based on earlier versions of the drug that did not include features to thwart abuse, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration will not approve generic versions of Purdue Pharma's painkiller OxyContin based on earlier versions of the drug that did not include features to thwart abuse, the agency said Tuesday.

The FDA announced that it approved updated labeling for reformulated OxyContin (oxycodone) extended-release tablets indicating that it has physical and chemical properties designed to deter drug abusers from crushing or dissolving the pills in order to inject or snort them.

April 16, 2013
J&J sales rise in first quarter 2013

Johnson & Johnson's sales increased by 8.5% to $17.5 billion in first quarter 2013, the healthcare products company said Tuesday.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson's sales increased by 8.5% to $17.5 billion in first quarter 2013, the healthcare products company said Tuesday.

The increase included a domestic sales increase of 11.2%. Profits for the quarter were $3.5 billion.

April 15, 2013
Mission Pharmacal renews support for March of Dimes event

Drug maker Mission Pharmacal has raised nearly $850,000 for the March of Dimes since it began supporting the group, the company said, marking its fourth year of support for the organization.

SAN ANTONIO — Drug maker Mission Pharmacal has raised nearly $850,000 for the March of Dimes since it began supporting the group, the company said, marking its fourth year of support for the organization.

April 12, 2013
Acadia Pharmaceuticals can apply for approval of Parkinson's disease psychosis drug early

The Food and Drug Administration is granting an expedited application process to a company that has developed a treatment for a condition related to Parkinson's disease, meaning that it can cancel a planned late-stage clinical trial, the company said.

SAN DIEGO — The Food and Drug Administration is granting an expedited application process to a company that has developed a treatment for a condition related to Parkinson's disease, meaning that it can cancel a planned late-stage clinical trial, the company said.

April 12, 2013
Celgene head elected as PhRMA chairman

Celgene Corp. chairman and CEO Robert Hugin has been elected as chairman of a pharmaceutical industry trade group.

SAN DIEGO — Celgene Corp. chairman and CEO Robert Hugin has been elected as chairman of a pharmaceutical industry trade group.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America announced the election of Hugin, as well as Pfizer president and CEO Ian Read as chairman-elect of the PhRMA board of directors and Merck chairman, president and CEO as board treasurer.

Hugin succeeds Eli Lilly president, chairman and CEO John Lechleiter as chairman, PhRMA said.

 

April 12, 2013
Drug portfolio management teams devote more time, money to niche brands, study finds

Drug companies' pharmaceutical portfolio management teams spend most of their time and budgets supporting niche products, according to a new study.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Drug companies' pharmaceutical portfolio management teams spend most of their time and budgets supporting niche products, according to a new study.

April 11, 2013
Study finds wide disparities in antibiotic prescribing rates between South, Midwest

Research has indicated that about half of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary, raising concerns about the growth of bacteria resistant to them, but a new study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also finds that prescriptions are highest in several states in the South and Midwest.

NEW YORK — Research has indicated that about half of antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary, raising concerns about the growth of bacteria resistant to them, but a new study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also finds that prescriptions are highest in several states in the South and Midwest.

The study, published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, was based on a database maintained by IMS Health that includes a sample of more than 70% of U.S. prescriptions.

April 10, 2013
Report: Don't entrust healthcare savings to patients older than 40

Those older than 40 years may be making a negative impact on the future of the U.S. economy with the way they eat, live and keep track of their health, according to a white paper released Wednesday by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and co-authored by the Center for Healthy Aging.

NEW YORK — Those older than 40 years may be making a negative impact on the future of the U.S. economy with the way they eat, live and keep track of their health, according to a white paper released Wednesday by the MetLife Mature Market Institute and co-authored by the Center for Healthy Aging. 

April 9, 2013
Americans consider addiction a greater problem than chronic pain, poll shows

A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A majority of Americans say chronic pain ranks far below drug addiction as a major health problem, according to a new poll.

April 9, 2013
FDA approves first new morning sickness pill in 30 years

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

ROSEMONT, Pa. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Drug maker Duchesnay USA said the FDA approved Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets in the 10 mg/10 mg strength for NVP, more commonly known as morning sickness, in women who don't respond to conservative treatment. NVP is estimated to affect 70-85% of pregnant women, and symptoms range from nausea to severe vomiting and retching that can last throughout the day.

April 9, 2013
Uninsured, young adults less likely to take medications as prescribed, CDC study finds

A desire to save money is driving younger and older adults to request cheaper drugs from their doctors, but it's also driving younger adults not to take their drugs as prescribed, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — A desire to save money is driving younger and older adults to request cheaper drugs from their doctors, but it's also driving younger adults not to take their drugs as prescribed, according to a new study.

April 8, 2013
Patients taking AstraZeneca RA drug show partial improvement

An experimental drug developed by AstraZeneca for rheumatoid arthritis produced mixed results in measurements of patients' conditions, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

NEW YORK — An experimental drug developed by AstraZeneca for rheumatoid arthritis produced mixed results in measurements of patients' conditions, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial.

AstraZeneca announced initial results of the phase-3 "OSKIRA-1" trial of fostamatinib, which it calls the first oral spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor in development for RA.

April 5, 2013
Actavis to market, distribute authorized generic version of Valeant drug; Valeant to co-promote Actavis drug

Actavis will market and distribute an authorized generic version of a genital herpes ointment made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, the companies said Friday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis will market and distribute an authorized generic version of a genital herpes ointment made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, the companies said Friday.

The agreement centers around Zovirax, known generically as acyclovir, in the 5% strength. The Food and Drug Administration approved the generic version, made by Mylan, on Wednesday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

April 5, 2013
Boehringer-Ingelheim helps sponsor Walgreens team for St. Louis colon cancer run

Boehringer-Ingelheim helped sponsor Team Walgreens/Team Tori to a tune greater than $1,000 for colon cancer research at the 2013 St. Louis Undy 5000, a family-friendly 5K run/walk created by the Colon Cancer Alliance. BI is a regular sponsor of Undy 5000 events under its Dulcolax brand.

ST. LOUIS — More than 90 runners signed on to join Team Walgreens/Team Tori last month at the 2013 St. Louis Undy 5000 in support of 24-year old Tori Riley. The team raised more than $1,000 in support, half contributed to the Colon Cancer Alliance and the other half to Team Tori, through T-shirt sales, raffles for Walgreens beauty bags and silent auctions that included St. Louis Cardinals tickets, among other items.