Content about Chemistry

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition added two keynote speakers to its annual meeting docket: Balz Frei, director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, and Lawrence Green, professor at the University of California at San Francisco.

The two speakers will keynote the first and last sessions, respectively, at the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s one-day scientific symposium, held Oct. 3 in Laguna Beach, Calif.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an oral painkiller made by Perrigo, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Perrigo announced the approval of morphine sulfate oral solution in the 100-mL/5% strength. The drug is a Schedule II controlled substance and is used to treat moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Sales of the drug are about $26 million per year, according to Wolters Kluwer Health. Perrigo said it would ship the drug immediately.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals is challenging the patent protection on a drug for acne and a drug for bronchospasm, the company said Monday.

SIKESTON, Mo. — Sabona of London is offering an in-store retail display as part of its marketing support program for retail partners.

Sabona's point-of-sale Christmas display holds 12 pieces of Sabona magnetic bracelets in the most popular styles. The display features a user-friendly, interchangeable graphic, allowing retail partners to use the same display year-round, yet highlight Christmas during the appropriate sales period.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Premama recently launched its patent-pending prenatal supplement in drink form. The flavorless Premama mix can be added to flavored drinks and foods.

The supplement mix contains six calories per serving. The key ingredients include biotin, B vitamins, omega-3, iron, CoQ-10, choline, ginger root and folic acid. In addition to supporting health during pregnancy, the ginger root helps with nausea relief, the company stated.

A one-month supply retails for $25 on the company's website.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced in the Federal Register that it has banned bisphenol A in baby bottles and sippy cups, following a request to revise the rule made by the American Chemistry Council in October 2011.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — TCCD International has announced the introduction of Geodeo Natural Deodorant Plus, which uses volcanic minerals and Icelandic algae to help fight impurities.

Geodeo has been specially formulated to be 97% natural, while also providing odor protection. Volcanic minerals and Icelandic algae work to help fight impurities. When applied to the underarm, these ingredients help to deeply purify pores from a multitude of environmental contaminants.

TAMPA, Fla. — Natural skin care brand Aubrey, which is sold at natural food stores, has introduced new travel-sized moisturizing lotions for those on the go.

As with its entire range of personal care products, Aubrey packs its lotions with herbals and plant extracts in their most natural form, and no synthetic additives or petrochemicals of any kind, the company said. The travel size collection includes Evening Primrose, Collagen and Almond, Sea Buckthorn, unscented, Rosa Mosqueta and Honeysuckle-CoQ10.

The lotions are priced at $6.49 each.

INDUSTRY NEWS — Manufacturers of sunscreen now will have six additional months to meet the new labeling and testing requirements as imposed by the Food and Drug Administration, according to an announcement from the Federal Register. The FDA ordered the changes last summer but gave manufacturers one year — until this June — to get the revised bottles on the shelf. The FDA now is delaying the compliance dates of the 2011 final rule by six months, to Dec. 17 for products with sales of $25,000 or more; and until Dec.

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J. — Tris Pharma on Thursday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved its generic equivalent to Reckitt Benckiser's Delsym, an extended-release oral liquid suspension containing dextromethorphan.

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Organic baby formula brand Nature's One said it is committed to minimize or eliminate environmental contaminants, such as arsenic and other heavy metals.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There is an important distinction to be made here, one that could place pharmacy operators and over-the-counter manufacturers on opposite sides of the aisle. And that's the call for a codified third class of drugs, made more or less by both the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association in their written submissions to the Food and Drug Administration on expanding the switch paradigm.