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January 2, 2013

Mylan announced that its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug applications for rizatriptan benzoate orally disintegrating tablets and rizatriptan benzoate tablets, generic versions of Merck's Maxalt MLT Tablets and Maxalt Tablets.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan announced that its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug applications for rizatriptan benzoate orally disintegrating tablets, 5 mg and 10 mg, and rizatriptan benzoate tablets, 5 mg and 10 mg. These products are the generic versions of Merck's Maxalt MLT® Tablets and Maxalt® Tablets, respectively, and are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults.

December 28, 2012

Mylan on Friday announced that its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its phenytoin chewable tablets USP in the 50 mg strength.

 PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Friday announced that its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its phenytoin chewable tablets USP in the 50 mg strength.

The product is a generic version of Pfizer's Dilantin Chewable Tablets, which are indicated for the control of generalized tonic-clonic (i.e., grand mal) and complex partial (i.e., psychomotor, temporal lobe) seizures, and prevention and treatment of seizures occurring during or following neurosurgery.

December 28, 2012

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

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.

December 27, 2012

Women deficient in vitamin D early in their pregnancies are more likely to deliver babies with lower birth weights, according to research released last week by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

PITTSBURGH — Women deficient in vitamin D early in their pregnancies are more likely to deliver babies with lower birth weights, according to research released last week by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, will be reported in the January print edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

December 20, 2012

Generic drug maker Mylan has settled with Orion over a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease, Mylan said Thursday

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has settled with Orion over a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease, Mylan said Thursday.

The company said it reached a settlement with Orion to resolve patent litigation concerning a generic version of Orion's drug Comtan (entacapone) tablets in the 200-mg strength. The drug is used with levodopa-carbidopa therapy to treat Parkinson's patients who experience signs and symptoms of end-of-dose "wearing off."

December 18, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic malaria drug made by Mylan, the drug maker said Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic malaria drug made by Mylan, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Mylan announced the approval of quinine sulfate capsules in the 324-mg strength and has begun shipping it. The drug is a generic version of Mutual Pharmaceutical's Qualaquin and is used to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Various versions of the drug had sales of about $31.9 million during the 12-month period ended in September 2012, according to IMS Health.

December 7, 2012

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

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

Mylan announced the approval and launch of candesartan cilexetil and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the 16/12.5-mg, 32/12.5-mg and 32/25-mg strengths. Mylan said it was the first company to submit a complete regulatory approval application for the drug and is thus entitled to 180 days of market exclusivity in which to compete directly with the branded version.

December 5, 2012

McKesson High Volume Solutions on Tuesday unveiled an all new ExpressRx Track pharmacy automation solution featuring state-of-the-art robotics, upgraded imaging and expanded vial capabilities.

PITTSBURGH — McKesson High Volume Solutions on Tuesday unveiled an all new ExpressRx Track pharmacy automation solution featuring state-of-the-art robotics, upgraded imaging and expanded vial capabilities. The company suggested the solution was ideal for pharmacies dispensing 1,000 to 3,000 prescriptions per shift looking to drive efficiency, reduce cost-to-fill and redeploy labor into revenue-generating front-of-store programs.  

November 29, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new generic drug made by Mylan for urinary disorders, the company said Thursday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration approved a new generic drug made by Mylan for urinary disorders, the company said Thursday.

Mylan announced the approval and launch of tolterodine tartrate tablets in the 1-mg and 2-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Detrol, made by Pharmacia and Upjohn, now owned by Pfizer.

Used to treat overactive bladder, tolterodine tartrate tablets had sales of about $61.5 million during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health.

November 13, 2012

Nearly 160 students, faculty and staff from Duquesne University’s Mylan School of Pharmacy recently visited Capitol Hill to promote the role that pharmacists play in providing medication therapy management services, the university announced Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — Nearly 160 students, faculty and staff from Duquesne University’s Mylan School of Pharmacy recently visited Capitol Hill to promote the role that pharmacists play in providing medication therapy management services, the university announced Tuesday.

Student pharmacists from the School of Pharmacy’s class of 2015 met with members from 37 U.S. House and Senate offices on Oct. 22 to demonstrate how pharmacist-provided medication therapy management services can improve patient healthcare outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

November 13, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug made by Mylan for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, the drug maker said Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug made by Mylan for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Mylan announced the FDA approval of sildenafil citrate tablets in the 20-mg strength, a generic version of Pfizer's Revatio. The drug is used to treat adults with PAH to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening of the condition.

Revatio had sales of about $339 million during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health.

November 2, 2012

Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through donations totaling $150,000 from the Bayer USA Foundation.

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Friday announced that it is providing monetary support for disaster relief efforts through donations totaling $150,000 from the Bayer USA Foundation. 

The American Red Cross and Save the Children will each receive $75,000. 

“When millions of people are affected by devastation in the form of natural disasters, it is important to be able to provide assistance to families and communities in a time of great need,” stated Tracy Spagnol, chairperson of the Bayer USA Foundation.

November 2, 2012

Multiformat food and fuel retailer Giant Eagle will be introducing its first discount format Good Cents Grocery + More to the Pittsburgh market Nov. 4.

PITTSBURGH — Multiformat food and fuel retailer Giant Eagle will be introducing its first discount format Good Cents Grocery + More to the Pittsburgh market Nov. 4. The 46,000-sq.-ft. location will feature a 3,800-sq.-ft. produce section offering more than 230 conventional and organic produce items and a cheese department with more than 60 specialty items.

October 24, 2012

Mylan is challenging a federal court decision ordering the Food and Drug Administration to allow Watson Pharmaceuticals to launch a generic diabetes drug, Mylan said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan is challenging a federal court decision ordering the Food and Drug Administration to allow Watson Pharmaceuticals to launch a generic diabetes drug, Mylan said.

The generic drug maker said it filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Tuesday to stay the court's order, which called on the FDA to let Watson launch a generic version of Takeda's Type 2 diabetes drug Actos (pioglitazone).

October 17, 2012

Generic drug maker Mylan and World TeamTennis announced a three-year agreement under which WTT will be renamed Mylan World TeamTennis.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan and World TeamTennis announced a three-year agreement under which WTT will be renamed Mylan World TeamTennis.

October 11, 2012

Giant Eagle on Thursday announced it will help families better manage their grocery budgets by locking low prices through the holidays on hundreds of the items customers purchase most.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle on Thursday announced it will help families better manage their grocery budgets by locking low prices through the holidays on hundreds of the items customers purchase most. 

October 10, 2012

Mylan has settled a patent infringement suit over a drug used to treat respiratory diseases, Mylan said.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has settled a patent infringement suit over a drug used to treat respiratory diseases, Mylan said.

The generic drug maker said it resolved a patent litigation suit filed by Shionogi and Cima Labs over prednisolone sodium phosphate orally disintegrating tablets, a generic version of Orapred ODT. Mylan is hoping to market its generic version of the drug in the 10-mg, 15-mg and 30-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat asthma and certain allergic conditions.

September 28, 2012

Generic drug maker Mylan has received regulatory approval for a drug used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, the company said Friday.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has received regulatory approval for a drug used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, the company said Friday, saying that it would launch both drugs immediately.

Mylan said the Food and Drug Administration approved its irbesartan tablets in the 75 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg strengths and irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the 150 mg/12.5 mg and 300 mg/12.5 mg strengths. The drugs are respectively generic versions of Sanofi's Avapro and Avalide.

September 21, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a blood pressure medication made by Mylan.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a blood pressure medication made by Mylan.

The drug maker announced Friday the approval of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the 80-mg/12.5-mg, 160-mg/12.5-mg, 160-mg/25-mg, 320-mg/12.5-mg and 320-mg/25-mg strengths.

The drug, a generic version of Novartis' Diovan HCT, is used to treat high blood pressure, or hypertension, in patients who can't control their blood pressure with one drug or who are starting therapy and need multiple drugs.

September 21, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for motion sickness made by Mylan.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for motion sickness made by Mylan.

The drug maker announced Friday that the FDA had approved meclizine hydrochloride tablets in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg and 50-mg strengths. Mylan said it would launch the drug immediately.

The drug is a generic version of Pfizer's Antivert, which is used to treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness associated with motion sickness. Antivert had sales of about $53.5 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

September 12, 2012

Rite Aid is launching a six-month, nationwide health-and-wellness campaign to mark its 50 years of operation, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is launching a six-month, nationwide health-and-wellness campaign to mark its 50 years of operation, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

September 11, 2012

The National Community Pharmacists Association and a number of independent pharmacy entities on Monday refiled its complaint against Express Scripts concerning its acquisition of Medco, demanding either Express Scripts be compelled to "unwind their merger" or alternatively be required to divest assets acquired from Medco.

 PITTSBURGH — The National Community Pharmacists Association and a number of independent pharmacy entities on Monday refiled its complaint against Express Scripts concerning its acquisition of Medco, demanding either Express Scripts be compelled to "unwind their merger" or alternatively be required to divest assets acquired from Medco. The independent pharmacy plaintiffs are also suing for the cost of the suit as well as "such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper."

September 7, 2012

Generic drug maker Mylan has settled a patent litigation suit with Pfizer concerning a drug for treating bladder disorders, Mylan said Friday.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has settled a patent litigation suit with Pfizer concerning a drug for treating bladder disorders, Mylan said Friday.

The Pittsburgh-based company said it settled with Pfizer over its generic version of Detrol LA (tolterodine tartrate) extended-release capsules in the 2-mg and 4-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency.

September 6, 2012

Mylan has launched an application version of the reference guide to its drugs, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched an application version of the reference guide to its drugs, the generic drug maker said Thursday.

The company announced what it called the first ever app of its Generic Brand Reference Guide, a free reference for healthcare professionals, patients and pharmacy students that enables the fast identification of brand and generic drugs. The 2012 print edition of the GBR was made available in a pocket-sized format earlier this year.

August 28, 2012

U.S. District Court judge Cathy Bissoon on Monday dismissed many of the claims levied against Express Scripts by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacist Association and nine independent pharmacies, regarding the allegedly anti-competitive nature of Express Scripts' merger with Medco.

PITTSBURGH — U.S. District Court judge Cathy Bissoon on Monday dismissed many of the claims levied against Express Scripts by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacist Association and nine independent pharmacies, regarding the allegedly anti-competitive nature of Express Scripts' merger with Medco.