Content about Endocrine system

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is reminding patients with diabetes that one of the most important ways they can manage their disease is to perform regular testing of their blood-sugar levels.

While the number of providers that will accept Medicare coverage for diabetes testing supplies is expected to decline after July 1, 2013 because of Medicare changes, CVS/pharmacy is informing those treating diabetes it will continue to accept Medicare Part B coverage for test strips and other diabetes testing supplies.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Abbott Diabetes Care earlier this week initiated a voluntary recall of its FreeStyle lnsulinx Blood Glucose Meters in the United States.

"Our first priority is to safeguard the health and safety of patients," stated Heather Mason, SVP Diabetes Care, Abbott. "We are committed to ensuring that our customers are able to continue to test their blood glucose with confidence, and we initiated this voluntary recall to ensure our products continue to meet the highest standards of quality and safety."

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Novo Nordisk has launched a diabetes awareness sweepstakes in which the winners get a free trip to the 2013 IndyCar finale, the Danish drug maker said Friday.

The company announced that it had hired IZOD IndyCar Series Charlie Kimball as spokesman for its Race with Insulin contest. Kimball, the first licensed driver with diabetes to race at the highest level of the series, was diagnosed with the disease during a routine doctor visit in 2007 while racing in Europe and is a user of Novo Nordisk's NovoLog (insulin aspart [rDNA origin]).

JERUSALEM — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive therapy made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Teva said Monday.

The drug maker announced the approval of Quartette (levonorgestrel, ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol) tablets. Teva said the drug represented the "next generation" of extended-regimen oral contraceptives and was designed to minimize breakthrough bleeding between scheduled periods.

MILPITAS, Calif. — LifeScan on Monday initiated a voluntary recall and replacement for all of its OneTouch VerioIQ blood-glucose meters in the United States, effective immediately.

CHICAGO — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pocket-sized packet option for a testosterone-replacement therapy made by AbbVie, the drug maker said Friday.

AbbVie announced the approval of the new version of AndroGel (testosterone) 1.62%, available in a packet containing 40.5 mg of testosterone in 2.5 g of gel and a packet with 20.25 mg of testosterone in 1.25 g of gel. The drug is used to raise testosterone levels in men with low or no testosterone, known as hypogonadism, estimated to affect nearly 14 million men in the United States.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Drug maker Actavis is challenging the patent for a drug used to treat testosterone deficiency or absence in men, the company said.

Actavis, formerly known as Watson Pharmaceuticals, said it had filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for a generic version of Endo Pharmaceuticals' Fortesta (testosterone) gel in the 10 mg-per-0.5 g strength.

NEW YORK — Control of A1C, blood pressure and cholesterol among patients with diabetes has improved markedly, but more room for improvement remains, according to a new study.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a testosterone gel product made by Perrigo, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Perrigo announced the approval of the testosterone gel in the 1% strength for the treatment of men with low or no testosterone.

The drug is bioequivalent to AbbVie's AndroGel, which has annual sales of about $705 million, according to Symphony Health.

NEW YORK — A nutritional supplement may help ward off gestational diabetes in pregnant women, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by researchers at Italy's University of Messina and published in the journal Diabetes Care, found that pregnant women with family histories of Type 2 diabetes who received myo-inositol saw a significant reduction in the incidence of gestational diabetes, a condition that causes high blood sugar in some pregnant women.

NEW YORK — During its annual business review Tuesday, Johnson & Johnson announced that the recent introduction of the OneTouch Verio Glucose testing platform represented one of the first diabetes care devices to alert and display high/low patterns that deliver more meaningful and actionable insights to help patients better understand and manage their diabetes.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Friday announced that its partner Famy Care has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug application for levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets USP in the 0.15mg/0.03mg strength.

The product is a generic version of Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products' Nordette 28 Tablets, a form of oral contraception. The new product will be distributed in the United States by Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and the company is shipping the product immediately.