Content about Chemistry

SIOUX FALLS, Iowa — Jolly Time Pop Corn announced this week two new varieties of microwavable popcorn made with the Smart Balance unique blend of oils, according to the company.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Nordic Naturals now is offering Pro EPA Elite, a powerful EPA-only concentrate available without a prescription, the company stated.

With 1600 mg of the omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in each serving, Pro EPA Elite provides high intensity, therapeutic support for healthy triglyceride levels and heart health, while promoting key anti-inflammatory pathways.

NEW YORK — Pharmaclay Delivery Systems has announced that it will introduce Clayspray, a line of clay-based beauty products targeting the face and body, to the U.S. market this summer.  

The collection will launch at three international beauty events: Premiere Orlando on June 1 to 3 in Orlando; The International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference on June 22 to 24 in Las Vegas; and Cosmoprof North America on July 14 to 16 in Las Vegas.


SYDNEY — A Food and Drug Administration panel will consider whether to recommend approval for an experimental painkiller in July, the drug's developer said Friday.

Australia-based QRxPharma said the FDA had determined that an advisory committee would meet on July 17 to consider a resubmitted application for Moxduo, an immediate-release formulation of the opioid painkillers morphine and oxycodone.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for a type of lung cancer.

Roche subsidiary Genentech and the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Astellas Pharma announced the approval of Tarceva (erlotinib) for advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose tumors have mutations that activate the epidermal growth factor receptor. The FDA also approved a test to detect the mutation.

The drug was already approved for advanced NSCLC that did not exhibit the mutation.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration means that generic versions of an opioid painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals can stay on the market, drawing criticism from the drug maker.

The November 2011 expiration of Pfizer's patent on the cholesterol drug Lipitor and Ranbaxy Labs' release of the generic version received significant play in the media, particularly due to the theretofore status of Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) as the drug with the highest sales in the country, $7.7 billion in the United States, according to healthcare analytics firm IMS Health.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

The drug maker announced that it had launched Viagra (sildenafil citrate) home delivery, a prescription-fulfillment website for the drug, which is powered by CVS/pharmacy and accessible through Viagra.com.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

Merck announced the approval of Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin). The drug combines two preexisting cholesterol drugs: ezetimibe, which Merck markets under the brand name Zetia, and atorvastatin, which Pfizer markets under the name Lipitor. Both drugs are available as generics, but because Liptruzet is a novel combination of them, it required FDA approval as a new drug.

Kinney Drugs, with its almost-100 locations located primarily in upstate New York, is the latest pharmacy to capitalize on the robust offerings available through in-store health kiosks. Because it isn't only about taking that random blood pressure check anymore. 

WASHINGTON — A recently released report that analyzed and measured the level of metals in 32 lip products does not provide any “new meaningful information” and the traces of metals found were not “unexpected given their natural presence in air, soil and water,” according to a statement issued Thursday by the Personal Care Products Council.

HYDERABAD — The Food and Drug Administration has approved two generic drugs made by Aurobindo Pharma, the drug maker said.

The company announced Tuesday the approval of quinapril tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 40-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Pfizer's Accupril and is used to treat high blood pressure. Various versions of the drug had sales of about $49 million during the 12-month period ending in September, according to IMS Health.