Content about Disaster

January 16, 2013

Vestcom on Tuesday launched VitaAisles, a shopper-friendly, comprehensive in-store education program designed to support consumer demand for health information regarding vitamins, minerals and supplements.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Vestcom on Tuesday launched VitaAisles, a shopper-friendly, comprehensive in-store education program designed to support consumer demand for health information regarding vitamins, minerals and supplements. 

January 14, 2013

Egg allergies may no longer be a valid reason to not get a flu shot, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology announced Friday.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Egg allergies may no longer be a valid reason to not get a flu shot, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology announced Friday. 

January 10, 2013

A new report gives low marks to the United States in the health of its citizens, finding that Americans have higher rates of injury and disease and die sooner than their counterparts in other developed countries.

WASHINGTON — A new report gives low marks to the United States in the health of its citizens, finding that Americans have higher rates of injury and disease and die sooner than their counterparts in other developed countries.

January 8, 2013

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised consumers not to purchase or use “MAXILOSS Weight Advanced” — a product promoted and sold for weight loss on various web sites, including DreamLifeWeightLoss.com, and in some retail stores.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday advised consumers not to purchase or use “MAXILOSS Weight Advanced” — a product promoted and sold for weight loss on various web sites, including DreamLifeWeightLoss.com, and in some retail stores.

January 7, 2013

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has introduced legislation that would give the state government broader power over compounding pharmacies, the governor's office announced.

BOSTON — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has introduced legislation that would give the state government broader power over compounding pharmacies, the governor's office announced.

December 27, 2012

ProPhase Labs recently announced that its Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy will be sponsoring a New Jersey television personality to help raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, Maine for kids with life threatening illnesses and their families.

CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. — ProPhase Labs recently announced that its Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy will sponsor a New Jersey television personality to help raise money for Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, Maine for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families. 

On Jan. 1, "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino will take the plunge as part of the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge New Year’s Day event. 

This is Vinny’s second year doing the Polar Bear Plunge, ProPhase noted.

December 17, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new biotech drug from GlaxoSmithKline for anthrax, the drug maker said.

LONDON — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new biotech drug from GlaxoSmithKline for anthrax, the drug maker said.

GSK announced the approval of raxibacumab for adults and children who have inhaled Bacillus anthracis. The drug is designed for combination with antibiotics and for preventing inhalational anthrax when alternative therapies aren't available. The drug is the result of a project that Human Genome Sciences, now owned by GSK, began working on in 2001 in response to terrorist anthrax attacks in the United States.

December 12, 2012

A national group representing state boards of pharmacy has announced its support for efforts to strengthen regulations on compounding pharmacies.

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — A national group representing state boards of pharmacy has announced its support for efforts to strengthen regulations on compounding pharmacies.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said Wednesday that it would implement a four-part action plan centered around inspection of compounding pharmacies and sharing data from the inspections among boards of pharmacies around the country.

December 12, 2012

Drug maker ViroPharma has launched an education campaign focused on a rare, debilitating and life-threatening genetic disorder.

EXTON, Pa. — Drug maker ViroPharma has launched an education campaign focused on a rare, debilitating and life-threatening genetic disorder.

The company announced Wednesday the launch of the unbranded campaign focused on hereditary angioedema, particularly the emotional and psychological burden faced by patients with the disease, which results from deficiency of the human plasma protein C1 inhibitor and causes attacks of swelling and pain.

December 10, 2012

A Congressional committee is looking into allegations that a compounding pharmacy industry association may have taught pharmacists how to sidestep requests for samples from the Food and Drug Administration, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A Congressional committee is looking into allegations that a compounding pharmacy industry association may have taught pharmacists how to sidestep requests for samples from the Food and Drug Administration, according to published reports.

Reuters reported that the House Energy and Commerce Committee had requested internal documents from the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, citing a news report about the organization.

December 7, 2012

The state health department in Massachusetts has made changes to the state's pharmacy board and leveled sanctions against three pharmacies in the wake of a nationwide meningitis outbreak traced to a compounding pharmacy in the state, the department said.

BOSTON — The state health department in Massachusetts has made changes to the state's pharmacy board and leveled sanctions against three pharmacies in the wake of a nationwide meningitis outbreak traced to a compounding pharmacy in the state, the department said.

December 4, 2012

Among children who took part in a recent study on the use of hand sanitizer in an environment with limited access to clean water, diarrhea cases were reduced by 30% and respiratory illnesses by more than 11%, GOJO Industries noted in a release issued Tuesday.

AKRON, Ohio — Among children who took part in a recent study on the use of hand sanitizer in an environment with limited access to clean water, diarrhea cases were reduced by 30% and respiratory illnesses by more than 11%, GOJO Industries noted in a release issued Tuesday. 

The University of Columbia study was reported in the June 2012 issue of Pan American Journal of Public Health. As part of the study, researchers monitored children's use of alcohol hand sanitizer in conjunction with education to help to reduce life-threatening infections.

November 19, 2012

CVS/pharmacy on Monday announced its annual in-store fundraiser for the ninth year to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign, a holiday program that raises awareness and funds for the research and care provided at St. Jude.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy on Monday announced its annual in-store fundraiser for the ninth year to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign, a holiday program that raises awareness and funds for the research and care provided at St. Jude.
Since the campaign's inception, CVS/pharmacy and its customers have raised more than $31 million to support St. Jude.

November 19, 2012

Drug maker Shire has started a research program focused on rare diseases and their effects on patients and healthcare professionals, the company said Monday.

LEXINGTON, Mass. — Drug maker Shire has started a research program focused on rare diseases and their effects on patients and healthcare professionals, the company said Monday.

Shire announced the launch of the Shire Rare Disease Impact Report, which includes surveys of patients, caregivers, physicians, payers and others in the United States and United Kingdom, with results expected in the first half of 2013.

November 19, 2012

A new University of Cincinnati study released last week examined how anxiety sensitivity can thwart the efforts of smokers with asthma to quit smoking.

CINCINNATI — A new University of Cincinnati study released last week examined how anxiety sensitivity can thwart the efforts of smokers with asthma to quit smoking. This new direction of research from Alison McLeish, a UC assistant professor of psychology, was presented Nov.17 at the 46th annual convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in National Harbor, Md.

November 15, 2012

Perhaps the iconic scene at the end of Ridley Scott’s 1991 movie “Thelma & Louise” — with Gina Davis’ and Susan Sarandon’s characters hurdling into the Grand Canyon in a green convertible — is a good metaphor for what’s happening in the generic drug industry these days.


Perhaps the iconic scene at the end of Ridley Scott’s 1991 movie “Thelma & Louise” — with Gina Davis’ and Susan Sarandon’s characters hurdling into the Grand Canyon in a green convertible — is a good metaphor for what’s happening in the generic drug industry these days.


November 15, 2012

At some point in their lives, most people learn the old lesson about things that look too good to be true, sometimes by hearing it from others, and other times from 
bad experiences.


At some point in their lives, most people learn the old lesson about things that look too good to be true, sometimes by hearing it from others, and other times from 
bad experiences.


November 14, 2012

Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg is asking Congress to give the agency more power to regulate compounding pharmacies amid a national meningitis outbreak linked to a Massachusetts-based compounding pharmacy that has claimed dozens of lives nationwide.

NEW YORK — Food and Drug Administration commissioner Margaret Hamburg is asking Congress to give the agency more power to regulate compounding pharmacies amid a nationwide meningitis outbreak linked to a Massachusetts-based compounding pharmacy that has claimed dozens of lives nationwide.

November 8, 2012

Recent research from the Rothman Institute at Jefferson has shown aspirin to be just as effective in preventing clots — specifically pulmonary emboli, life-threatening blood clots that can develop in the arteries of the lungs following joint replacement surgery — Thomas Jefferson University announced Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA – Recent research from the Rothman Institute at Jefferson has shown aspirin to be just as effective in preventing clots — specifically pulmonary emboli, life-threatening blood clots that can develop in the arteries of the lungs following joint replacement surgery — Thomas Jefferson University announced Wednesday. 

November 2, 2012

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., on Thursday announced plans to introduce legislation that would strengthen federal regulations of compounding pharmacies.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., on Thursday announced plans to introduce legislation that would strengthen federal regulations of compounding pharmacies. The legislation is borne out of the recent meningitis outbreak linked to the New England Compounding Center, which is located in Markey's district, that has drawn much criticism on how regulators oversee compounding pharmacies.

November 1, 2012

Rite Aid got a boost in its monthly same-store sales from Hurricane Sandy, the company said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. – Rite Aid got a boost in its monthly same-store sales from Hurricane Sandy, the company said Thursday.

Announcing its October sales results, the retail pharmacy chain said same-store sales decreased by 1.1%. Front-end comps increased by 1.5%, while pharmacy comps decreased by 2.3%, including a negative effect of 971 basis points from new generic introductions; same-store prescription count increased by 4.7%.

October 31, 2012

Hurricane Sandy may have shut down lower Manhattan for a few days, but research analyst Ed Kelly of Credit Suisse was bullish on how the storm system may have whipped up front-end sales for pharmacy operators.

NEW YORK — Hurricane Sandy may have shut down lower Manhattan for a few days, but research analyst Ed Kelly of Credit Suisse was bullish on how the storm system may have whipped up front-end sales for pharmacy operators. 

October 26, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration said it found a number of problems with cleanliness at a compounding pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak that has so far sickened hundreds of people and killed two dozen in a report released Friday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration said it found a number of problems with cleanliness at a compounding pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak that has so far sickened hundreds of people and killed two dozen in a report released Friday.

October 19, 2012

A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

Pharmacy OneSource announced the release of a new version of Simplifi 797, used for ensuring compliance with USP chapter 797 regulations, which call for proper training of staff who prepare sterile compounded products.

October 10, 2012

Members of Congress are calling for an inquiry into compounding pharmacies amid a meningitis outbreak that has infected 119 people and killed 11, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Members of Congress are calling for an inquiry into compounding pharmacies amid a meningitis outbreak that has infected 119 people and killed 11, according to published reports.