Content about Chemistry

PHOENIX — Avella Specialty Pharmacy will be included in the limited-distribution network for a cancer drug made by Genentech, Avella said Tuesday.

The specially pharmacy company said it would be included in the network to sell Tarceva (erlotinib), an orally administered drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. Genentech will shift distribution of Tarceva to a select group of pharmacies starting July 1 to align its distribution with that of similar cancer drugs.

WASHINGTON — Consumers avoid total sugars more than they avoid any specific sweetener, according to a new brand-level consumer attitudes and behavior study about food and beverages from Mintel Research Consultancy on behalf of the Corn Refiners Association.

Approximately a quarter of soda, yogurt and bread brand purchasers (between 17 and 26%) say they are looking to reduce total sugars in their diet. In contrast, a nominal 1-5% of consumers purchasing these items cite avoiding a specific sweetener, such as high fructose corn syrup.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will open two new stores in northern Indiana, the mass merchandise retailer said Wednesday.

Meijer said the stores, in Portage and Warsaw, Ind., would open on Thursday. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based chain currently operates 32 stores around the state and more than 200 throughout the Midwest. The company said the stores would feature the chain's free prescription program, whereby it gives select drugs for free to customers with valid prescriptions, including generic versions of the cholesterol drug Lipitor (atorvastatin).

RICHMOND, Va. — Misperceptions and stereotypes about opioid dependence that may affect how it's treated have persisted among the general public and physicians, despite increased attention devoted to the issue, according to a new survey.

A 26-member joint panel comprising the Food and Drug Administration's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs and Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committees voted to support modifying or removing the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy protocol for GlaxoSmithKline's Type 2 diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone).

NEW YORK — Kiss My Face is gearing up for summer with the recent launch of its newest sun care products that utilize natural mineral sun blocking agents, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide to provide full UVA and UVB protection while natural botanicals add to the skin saving benefits, the company stated.

The latest sun care products include:

SPRAYS

The May/June 2013 Skin/itch Relief Ingredient Guide breaks down the indication, ingredients, purpose and dosage of AmLactin Moisturizing Body Lotion, CeraVe Renewing SA Cream, Olay Advanced Healing, Curel Itch Defense, Vaseline Intensive Rescue, Tecnu Extreme, Benadryl ExtraStrength Spray and Allegra Anti-itch Cream.

MADISON, N.J. — Most Americans have little understanding of the importance of managing fats known as triglycerides to maintain cardiovascular health, according to a new survey.

To conduct the survey, researchers from Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind polled 600 adults aged 40 and older, finding that 54% of respondents didn't know if it was better to have high or low levels of triglycerides, and 45% of those diagnosed as having high cholesterol didn't know.

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson division McNeil Consumer Healthcare has launched a new marketing campaign around the allergy medication Zyrtec, according to published reports.

Marketing Daily reported that a new app on Zyrtec's Facebook page allowed users to superimpose their pets over an animated depiction of a park and thus take the pets for virtual walks.

EWING, N.J. — Arm & Hammer announced today a new ultra-concentrated Ultra Power 4X laundry detergent, which the company states has powerful stain-fighters and two scoops of baking soda to make clothes cleaner and fresher.

Ultra Power 4X comes packaged in a convenient, smaller and less bulky bottle that is easy to measure and store.

NORTH LIMA, Ohio — Perfecta Products on Tuesday announced the reformulation of Zim's Max-Freeze, which no longer contains such ingredients as parabens, sulfates or coloring. Ingredients now include certified organic ilex, arnica and aloe with a greaseless, stain-free formula.  

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic heart-disease drug made by Sandoz, the company said Wednesday.

Sandoz, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval of candesartan cilexetil tablets, a generic version of AstraZeneca's Atacand.

The drug is used to treat some types of heart failure in adults with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, as well as high blood pressure in adults and children as young as 1.

Atacand had sales of $120.3 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.