Content about Environment

NEW YORK — The Center for Reproductive Rights on Wednesday asked a federal court to reopen its 2005 lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration for imposing age restrictions on emergency contraceptive drugs. Presently, emergency contraceptives, like Plan B One Step, are available behind a pharmacy counter for women 17 years and older but require a prescription for women under the age of 17 years.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A drug under development by Merck "significantly" reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in patients, according to clinical trial results announced Tuesday.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Merck for Type 2 diabetes, the drug maker said Thursday.

Merck announced the approval of Janumet XR (sitagliptin and metformin hydrochloride) extended-release tablets as a once-daily treatment for the disease.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday announced it has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that will help the grocer assess the environmental impact and energy efficiency of the trucks supplying its 161 stores.

EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all assets of Procter & Gamble's water purification brand.

The acquisition of P&G's Pur Water Purification Products company includes the worldwide Pur trademark, its current and future product line, assets related to the operations of the Pur business, manufacturing equipment and more than 200 patents. Pur's products, which include faucet mount systems and filters, pitcher systems and filters, as well as refrigerator filters, are sold throughout the United States.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The National Committee for Quality Assurance on Monday named Jeffrey Kang, Walgreens SVP pharmacy, health and wellness services and solutions, to its board.

NCQA is a private nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations. The group also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care, the committee stated.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday to address the growing problem of drug shortages.

WASHINGTON — The Drug Store News Group editor Rob Eder moderated a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Sept. 27 for U.S. House of Representatives staffers.


Eder, who presented on current retail trends in homeopathic remedy sales, Americans’ growing interest in self-care and implications for U.S. health care, also moderated a panel discussion of experts, including AAHP president Mark Land and legal counsel Al Lorman, as well as Wayne Jonas, president and CEO of 
Samueli Institute.


ALEXANDRIA, Va. — An amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would prohibit the FDA from preventing an individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from importing prescription drugs from Canada, has sparked concern with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Wrapping up its 113th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition, the National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday outlined the association's key initiatives and programs heading into 2012. Chief among the association's concerns are threats to already-diminutive reimbursement rates for prescriptions filled, including the release of federal upper limits by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The debate on the prescription status of pseudoephedrine in the state of Kentucky heated up last week as the deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Benjamin Tucker on Wednesday told Kentucky lawmakers that they should mandate PSE to Rx-only status, according to reports.

Tucker last week was the keynote speaker at the Kentucky Drug Summit, part of the Kentucky League of Cities annual convention, and headlined a panel of federal, state and local experts to examine pill mills, meth labs and prescription drug abuse.