Content about Maryland

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has revamped 178 of its stores and hired 800 new employees, the Delhaize Group-owned supermarket chain said.

The company said the stores would offer an improved shopping experience — such as faster checkout service — fresher produce through the "Fresh from the Field" initiative and cheaper private label products. The changes were made to stores in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A new treatment for late-stage prostate cancer has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA announced Wednesday the approval of Bayer's Xofigo (radian Ra 223 dichloride) for men with symptomatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to the bones but not other organs, also known as metastasis. The drug is designed for men whose cancer has spread after receiving medical or surgical therapy to lower testosterone.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration means that generic versions of an opioid painkiller made by Endo Pharmaceuticals can stay on the market, drawing criticism from the drug maker.

BETHESDA, Md. — Coca-Cola's Honest Tea brand is expanding its initial launch of Honest Fizz, a line of naturally sweetened zero calorie sodas. Honest Fizz comes in four varieties: Lemon Limey, Orange Pop, Professor Fizz, and USDA Organic Root Beer — the only organic zero-calorie root beer on the market. Honest Tea is sweetened with a blend of stevia leaf extract and erythritol, a natural sugar alcohol. Low- and no calorie sodas are a fast-growing segment of the carbonated beverage market. Honest Fizz is available in 12-oz. single cans and six-packs.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned Monday.

In addition to being used to prevent migraines, valproate drugs are used for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder and include related drugs such as divalproex sodium and valproic acid. Most are available in generic form as well as under brand names like AbbVie's Depacon and Depakote and others.

CHEVY CHASE, Md. — Researchers claim to have calculated for the first time the upper safe limit of vitamin D levels of 36 nanograms per milliliter, above which the associated risk for cardiovascular events or death raises significantly, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for a genetic disorder that affects about 500 people in the United States and 3,000 worldwide, the agency said Tuesday.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Food and Drug Administration staffer who has led implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Act has been named to a new director position at the agency, the FDA said Monday.

The FDA announced that it had appointed Mary Beth Clarke as permanent director of the Office of Executive Programs. Clarke had previously served as the OEP's executive director.

LINTHICUM, Md. — Care Pharmacies Cooperative on Thursday announced that two of its member owners have recently been recognized for their individual contributions to pharmacy retailing. 

LANDOVER, Md. — More than half of people with nasal allergies report problems sleeping, while slightly more than a third proactively treat their symptoms, according to a new survey.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Teva Respiratory released results of the survey, showing sleeping problems among 59% of sufferers, while 48% said symptoms like congestion and sneezing interrupted a partner's sleep.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., is one of several retailers promoting environmental awareness as part of Earth Day Monday, the Ahold USA-owned retailer said.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food of Landover, Md., is planning to raise $1.6 million for children's cancer research, the supermarket chain said Tuesday.

The Ahold USA-owned banner, also known as Giant-Landover, announced it would launch its ninth annual Triple Winner game on Friday to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Division at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and The Children's Cancer Foundation. The annual game has helped raise $11.5 million to support pediatric cancer research since its inception in 2005.