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May 21, 2013
Court upholds Mylan's patents on COPD drug

A federal appellate court has ruled in favor of Mylan in a case involving a drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the drug maker said.

PITTSBURGH — A federal appellate court has ruled in favor of Mylan in a case involving a drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Mylan said that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had reversed a lower court's decision invalidating five patents held by subsidiary Mylan Specialty for Perforomist (formoterol fumarate) in a case filed in 2007 against Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma subsidiary Sunovion Pharmaceuticals over the drug Brovana (arformoterol tartrate).

May 17, 2013
Mylan launches cholesterol drug

Mylan has launched a generic drug for treating cholesterol, the company said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic drug for treating cholesterol, the company said Friday.

Mylan announced the launch of fenofibrate tablets in the 48 mg and 145 mg strengths. The drug is used to reduce so-called "bad" low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B while increasing "good" high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with primary hyperocholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia.

May 15, 2013
FDA approves Mylan migraine drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic migraine drug made by Mylan, the company said Wednesday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic migraine drug made by Mylan, the company said Wednesday.

Mylan announced the approval of zolmitriptan tablets in the 2.5 mg and 5 mg strengths. The drug maker plans to launch the product immediately.

The drug is a generic version of IPR Pharmaceuticals' Zomig and is used for the acute treatment of migraine in adults. Various versions of the drug had sales of $152.8 million during the 12-month period that ended in March, according to IMS Health.

 

April 26, 2013
GNC expands Member Price Program nationwide

GNC expanded nationwide its new Member Price Program, which will incorporate GNC’s current loyalty program boasting close to 7 million active members.

PITTSBURGH— GNC on Wednesday expanded nationwide its new Member Price Program, which will incorporate GNC’s current loyalty program boasting close to 7 million active members.

In new markets in which the Member Price Program is launching, GNC will offer free memberships for a limited time.

April 8, 2013
GNC directly engages pro-active consumer base through branding campaign contest

GNC last week launched a nationwide campaign for customers to enter their own personal health-and-wellness success stories in the "Me on GNC" photo and video contest.

PITTSBURGH — GNC last week launched a nationwide campaign for customers to enter their own personal health-and-wellness success stories in the "Me on GNC" photo and video contest. The competition offers $100,000 in prizes for the best photo and video submissions, with the help of the GNC online community.

April 3, 2013
FDA approves Mylan genital herpes ointment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for genital herpes made by Mylan, the drug maker said.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for genital herpes made by Mylan, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Mylan announced the approval of acyclovir ointment in the 5% strength. The drug is a generic version of Valeant International's Zovirax, used to manage initial genital herpes and in limited, non-life-threatening mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infections in patients with compromised immune systems.

April 2, 2013
Rite Aid greets allergy season with free screenings, offers for Wellness+ members

Rite Aid is offering free allergy screenings, information and a range of products as the allergy season approaches, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering free allergy screenings, information and a range of products as the allergy season approaches, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

March 26, 2013
GNC extends Preventive Nutrition brand with 11 new supplements

GNC extended its Preventive Nutrition brand to help supplement a number of conditions, including eye health, liver health and digestive health.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Tuesday extended its Preventive Nutrition brand to help supplement a number of conditions, including eye health, liver health and digestive health.  

March 18, 2013
FDA approves Mylan bronchospasm drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment for bronchospasm made by Mylan, the drug maker said Monday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment for bronchospasm made by Mylan, the drug maker said Monday.

Mylan announced the approval of levalbuterol inhalation solution in the 0.31 mg/3 mL, 0.63 mg/3 mL and 1.25 mg/3 mL strengths. The company has begun shipping the product.

The drug is a generic version of Sunovion's Xopenex inhalation solution, which is used to treat bronchospasm in patients ages 6 years and older with reversible obstructive airway disease.

March 14, 2013
Mylan can launch generic diabetes drug in August

Mylan has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit filed by Shionogi over its generic version of a drug for diabetes, Mylan said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit filed by Shionogi over its generic version of a drug for diabetes, Mylan said.

The generic drug maker said that under the agreement, it can launch a generic version of Shionogi's Fortamet (metformin hydrochloride) extended-release tablets in the 500-mg and 1,000-mg strengths on Aug. 1.

Metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets in those two strengths had sales of about $125 million during the 12-month period that ended in September, according to IMS Health.

 

March 6, 2013
GNC launches Total Lean Challenge and Sweepstakes

Health and wellness products retailer GNC is sponsoring a 12-week effort to encourage consumers to transform eating and exercise habits for long-term weight management, the company said.

PITTSBURGH — Health and wellness products retailer GNC is sponsoring a 12-week effort to encourage consumers to transform eating and exercise habits for long-term weight management, the company said.

GNC Holdings, the retailer's parent company, announced the Total Lean Challenge and Sweepstakes, which offers a chance for consumers to win $25,000 in cash prizes, as well as serving as an introduction to the company's Lifestyle Diet approach to weight loss and a way to promote products like the Lean Shake and Total Lean Watertex.

March 6, 2013
GNC names new board member

GNC named Scott O'Hara to its board of directors.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Monday named Scott O'Hara to its board of directors. 

"[O'Hara's] wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly his international business expertise, should be a valuable resource to GNC as we move forward," stated Joe Fortunato, GNC chairman and CEO. 

March 1, 2013
Rite Aid expands NowClinic telehealth service to additional markets

Rite Aid has expanded its telemedicine service to 58 more stores, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has expanded its telemedicine service to 58 more stores, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

Rite Aid said the NowClinic Online Care service were available at stores in Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The service gives customers access to care, via a secure online video connection, from OptumHealth doctors and nurses. The company originally unveiled the program at nine stores in Detroit in 2011.

February 28, 2013
GNC launches new Pro Performance AMP Concentrated Intelligent Release Series products, features

GNC on Thursday announced new the launch of new delivery systems and certification advancements across GNC's Pro Performance AMP Concentrated Intelligent Release Series and the Pro Performance X.R. Series, along with three new AMP formulas.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Thursday announced new the launch of new delivery systems and certification advancements across GNC's Pro Performance AMP Concentrated Intelligent Release Series and the Pro Performance X.R. Series, along with three new AMP formulas. 

February 28, 2013
Mylan acquires Indian injectables maker

Mylan has bought a manufacturer of generic injectables for $1.6 billion, the company said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has bought a manufacturer of generic injectables for $1.6 billion, the company said.

Mylan announced the acquisition of Bangalore, India-based Agila from Strides Arcolab, which Mylan said would allow it to strengthen its injectables business and enter new markets around the world.

February 28, 2013
Mylan posts double-digit growth in 2012

Mylan had sales of $1.72 billion in fourth-quarter 2012 and $6.8 billion for fiscal year 2012, the generic drug maker said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan had sales of $1.72 billion in fourth-quarter 2012 and $6.8 billion for fiscal year 2012, the generic drug maker said.

Those figures compared with $1.53 billion in fourth-quarter 2011 and $6.13 billion for fiscal year 2011.

The latest sales figures include $1.58 billion in generics sales and $155.1 million in branded drug sales.

"2012 was an outstanding year for Mylan, with top-line growth of 11% and bottom-line growth of 27% versus last year," Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said.

February 26, 2013
Merlo touts advances in pharmacy care at Pittsburgh luncheon

CVS Caremark president and CEO Larry Merlo presented a $50,000 check Tuesday to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center before attending a luncheon sponsored by the Economic Club of Pittsburgh.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark president and CEO Larry Merlo presented a $50,000 check Tuesday to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center before attending a luncheon sponsored by the Economic Club of Pittsburgh.

February 25, 2013
Mylan ships cholesterol drug

Mylan has begun shipping a generic drug for cholesterol, the company said Monday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has begun shipping a generic drug for cholesterol, the company said Monday.

Mylan said a subsidiary had started shipping fenofibrate capsules in the 43-mg and 130-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Lupin Atlantis Holdings Antara, used in combination with diet to reduce elevated bad cholesterol and other blood lipids and increase beneficial HDL cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia.

February 20, 2013
GNC marks mass retail for nationwide distribution of its 'Marked' portfolio

GNC is ramping up its reach beyond its 6,100 retail outlets, Joe Fortunato, the company's chairman, president and CEO, told analysts last week.

PITTSBURGH — GNC is ramping up its reach beyond its 6,100 retail outlets, Joe Fortunato, the company's chairman, president and CEO, told analysts last week. The company's relationship with Sam's Club, which incorporated a branded shelf in July, is expanding; new products are being introduced to PetSmart, suggesting potential growth in pet supplements; and GNC's Marked line, co-developed with action movie star Mark Wahlberg, has been launched through Rite Aid and Walgreens. 

February 19, 2013
Mylan, Biocon enter deal on generic analog insulins

Mylan and Biocon have a deal to develop and sell generic insulin-analog products for diabetes, Mylan said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan and Biocon have a deal to develop and sell generic insulin-analog products for diabetes, Mylan said.

Under the deal, Mylan will have the rights to develop and market Biocon's Glargine, Lispro and Aspart, respectively generic versions of Sanofi's Lantus, Eli Lilly's Humalog and Novo Nordisk's NovoLog.

February 15, 2013
GNC raises $3.1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

GNC announced that its employees and customers donated a total of $3.1 million over the past few months to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Friday announced that its employees and customers donated a total of $3.1 million over the past few months to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign. The campaign, now in its ninth year, builds awareness of and raises funds for the research and treatment done at St. Jude to help children fighting cancer. 

February 11, 2013
Mylan appoints two new board members

Mylan has appointed its president and a former partner at Goldman Sachs to its board of directors, the generic drug maker said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has appointed its president and a former Goldman Sachs & Co. partner to its board, the generic drug maker said Monday.

Mylan announced the appointment of president Rajiv Malik and former Goldman Sachs partner Melina Higgins to its board.

February 8, 2013
GSK Consumer names new director of corporate development

GlaxoSmithKline has promoted Pam Prisk to director of corporate development for GSK Consumer Healthcare North America, effective immediately.

PITTSBURGH — GlaxoSmithKline has promoted Pam Prisk to director of corporate development for GSK Consumer Healthcare North America, effective immediately.  

January 31, 2013
GNC launches new brand campaign

GNC announced the launch of its new brand campaign, "Respect Yourself," celebrating individuals who enjoy great self-respect by living a healthy lifestyle.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Tuesday announced the launch of its new brand campaign, "Respect Yourself," celebrating individuals who enjoy great self-respect by living a healthy lifestyle. This campaign builds on GNC's brand mission, since 1935, to provide consumers with health and wellness solutions in order to help them live a better life.

January 10, 2013
Giant Eagle locks in prices for the winter on hundreds of items

Giant Eagle announced a new Winter Low Price Lock on hundreds of popular products.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle on Thursday announced a new Winter Low Price Lock on hundreds of popular products.