Content about Cytokines

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new means of administration for a multiple sclerosis drug, the manufacturers said.

Pfizer and EMD Serono announced the approval of Rebif Rebidose (interferon beta-1a), a single-use auto-injector for self-administering Rebif, used to treat relapsing forms of MS. EMD Serono is the U.S. division of German drug maker Merck KGaA, so-named to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co.

BARCELONA, Spain — Merck is testing two means of treating patients with chronic hepatitis C for anemia, a common side effect of certain treatments for the viral infection, the drug maker said.

Merck announced results of a phase-3 study comparing two strategies for managing anemia and how they affect the curing of hepatitis C in patients taking Victrelis (boceprevir) with Pegintron (peginterferon alfa-2b) and ribavirin.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A recent study gauging the impact of consuming more fish oil showed a marked reduction both in inflammation and in anxiety among a cohort of healthy young people, the Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science announced Wednesday.

LAKE MARY, Fla. — Specialty pharmacy provider Axium Healthcare Pharmacy has introduced two recently approved hepatitis C drugs to its HepVisions therapy management program, the company said Thursday.

Axium announced the addition of Merck ’s Victrelis (boceprevir) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Incivek (telaprevir) to the program, through which it provides comprehensive compliance support, patient education, side effect management, clinical interventions and communication with the patient and physician.

WAYNE, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals sought to reassure healthcare professionals and their patients that a recall of alcohol prep pads distributed with its multiple sclerosis drug did not affect the drug itself.

The drug maker’s MS treatment Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) is distributed with prep pads made by Triad Group, which recently staged a recall of prep products due to potential contamination with Bacillus cereus bacteria, which would lead to life-threatening infections.

SEATTLE Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire Seattle-based biotech ZymoGenetics, Bristol said Wednesday.

The New York-based drug maker will acquire ZymoGenetics for $885 million, or $9.75 per share. The boards of both companies approved the deal unanimously.

The buyout gives Bristol ownership of Recothrom, used to control bleeding during surgical procedures, pegylated-interferon lambda, an investigational treatment for hepatitis C in mid-stage clinical trials, and IL-21, a treatment for melanoma also in mid-stage trials.