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March 1, 2011

Mylan's board of directors now includes the drug maker's president.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan's board of directors now includes the drug maker's president.

Mylan said its board of directors now includes Mylan president Heather Bresch and Robert Cindrich, who currently serves as senior adviser to the office of the president at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a global health enterprise.

With the additions of Bresch and Cindrich, Mylan's board now has 11 members.

March 1, 2011

A new leader has been named for a maker of shelf-stable seafood products.

PITTSBURGH — A new leader has been named for a maker of shelf-stable seafood products.

StarKist named In-Soo Cho as president and CEO of the company. Prior to joining StarKist, Cho was the principal of his own consulting firm, Insight & Strategy, with a focus on consumer goods and the restaurant industry.

Cho will assume his new office on March 1.

February 28, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for shingles made by a subsidiary of generic drug maker Mylan.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for shingles made by a subsidiary of generic drug maker Mylan.

Mylan announced Monday the approval of Matrix Labs’ gabapentin capsules in the 100-mg, 300-mg and 400-mg strengths. The drug is used to treat postherpetic neuralgia, a painful complication of shingles.

Gabapentin capsules had sales of about $300 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.

February 15, 2011

Mylan has launched a generic drug for fungal infections, the company said Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic drug for fungal infections, the company said Tuesday.

Mylan announced the launch, through subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals, of voriconazole tablets in the 50-mg and 200-mg strengths. The drug is a triazole antifungal agent.

The tablets are a generic version of Pfizer’s Vfend, which had sales of $186 million in 2010, according to IMS Health. Mylan launched its version of the drug under a settlement with Pfizer.

February 4, 2011

A private entrepreneur is close to introducing a take-home intracervical insemination fertilization kit to retail, according to a story published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Friday.

PITTSBURGH — A private entrepreneur is close to introducing a take-home intracervical insemination fertilization kit to retail, according to a story published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Friday. The product will be submitted for Food and Drug Administration approval in the first half of 2011. If approved, Steve Bollinger first plans to introduce the product into doctor’s offices before launching through retail pharmacy.

February 1, 2011

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle may be a regional player, but the company’s willingness to experiment with its pharmacy formats — including its latest HBW/pharmacy store-within-a-store concept — proves that it can shake things up.


In fall 2009, Giant Eagle put into motion its health, beauty, wellness pilot tests — a new wellness format that helps bridge the prescription files of the pharmacy with the natural health-and-wellness opportunities across the front end.

January 28, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic hypertension treatment made by Mylan.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic hypertension treatment made by Mylan.

Mylan announced the approval Friday of nisoldipine extended-release tablets in the 8.5-mg, 17-mg, 25.5-mg and 34-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Shionogi Pharma’s Sular, which had sales of about $103 million during the 12-month period ended in September 2010, according to IMS Health.

January 27, 2011

A Mylan subsidiary has inked a nonexclusive license agreement with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals to manufacture, market and distribute a generic version of an HIV treatment.

PITTSBURGH — A Mylan subsidiary has inked a nonexclusive license agreement with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals to manufacture, market and distribute a generic version of an HIV treatment.

Pending the regulatory approval of TMC278 (rilpivirine hydrochloride), Matrix Labs will have the right to manufacture once-daily 25-mg TMC278 as a single-agent medicine and a fixed-dose combination product, Mylan said. Matrix also will be able to market the drug in sub-Saharan Africa, certain developing countries and India.

January 25, 2011

Generic drug maker Mylan has entered settlements with Pfizer concerning two drugs for treating cholesterol.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has entered settlements with Pfizer concerning two drugs for treating cholesterol.

Mylan announced Tuesday that it had settled patent litigation suits with Pfizer concerning Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) and Caduet (atorvastatin calcium and amlodipine besylate).

Under the Caduet agreement, the lawsuit will be dismissed, and Mylan can launch its generic version on Nov. 30. Terms of the Lipitor agreement remain confidential.

January 25, 2011

Pittsburgh and Green Bay, Wis., retailers ought to have plenty of sore throat remedies in preparation for the Super Bowl — 28% of sore throat sufferers got that pain by cheering and screaming, according to a new study released Tuesday by Prestige Brands.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Pittsburgh and Green Bay, Wis., retailers ought to have plenty of sore throat remedies in preparation for the Super Bowl — 28% of sore throat sufferers got that pain by cheering and screaming, according to a new study released Tuesday by Prestige Brands.

January 24, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for gastroesphageal reflux disease made by a subsidiary of Mylan, the generic drug maker said Monday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for gastroesphageal reflux disease made by a subsidiary of Mylan, the generic drug maker said Monday.

The FDA approved Matrix Labs’ pantoprazole sodium delayed-release tablets in the 20-mg and 40-mg strengths.

The drug is a version of Protonix DR, made by Wyeth, now part of Pfizer. Various versions of the drug had sales of around $1.7 billion during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health. The FDA also approved a version made by Dr. Reddy’s Labs on Friday.

January 20, 2011

The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to an antiretroviral treatment for children with HIV and AIDS under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to an antiretroviral treatment for children with HIV and AIDS under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program.

Mylan announced Thursday that its subsidiary, Matrix Labs, had received the tentative approval for lamivudine and zidovudine tablets in the 30-mg/60-mg strength. The drug is a generic version of Combivir, made by ViiV Healthcare, a company specializing in HIV and AIDS created as a partnership between Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline.

January 19, 2011

In partnership with Bayer Healthcare Diabetes Care and Novo Nordisk, Giant Eagle is offering its customers free in-store diabetes screenings.

PITTSBURGH — In partnership with Bayer Healthcare Diabetes Care and Novo Nordisk, Giant Eagle is offering its customers free in-store diabetes screenings.

Offerings include A1C tests to measure blood-glucose levels, as well as consultations with Giant Eagle diabetes and pharmaceutical care specialists. The retailer also will have dietitians and wellness coaches on hand at select locations.

Testing is available through Feb. 5, while supplies last.

January 18, 2011

Colin Mackenzie has been appointed the new president of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare North America. Mackenzie succeeds Roger Scarlett-Smith, who is relocating to London to become president of GSK Consumer Healthcare Europe.

PITTSBURGH — Colin Mackenzie has been appointed the new president of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare North America. Mackenzie succeeds Roger Scarlett-Smith, who is relocating to London to become president of GSK Consumer Healthcare Europe.

Mackenzie has been directing the U.S. oral care business since 2007. Under the leadership of MacKenzie, the business accelerated its net sales growth rate, acquired the leading dry mouth product, Biotene, in 2008, and claimed the No. 1 toothpaste SKU in the United States (Sensodyne Extra Whitening).

January 18, 2011

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

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

Mylan announced the approval of acarbose tablets in the 25-mg, 50-mg and 100-mg strengths. The drug is a version of Bayer’s Precose, used with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

The drug had sales of around $23 million during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health.

January 12, 2011

Supermarket wine kiosks are being reintroduced into the Pennsylvania market in the coming week after being taken offline in the days before Christmas, according to a report published Monday in the Beaver County Times, a newspaper based in Beaver County and northwest of Pittsburgh.

BEAVER, Pa. — Supermarket wine kiosks are being reintroduced into the Pennsylvania market in the coming week after being taken offline in the days before Christmas, according to a report published Monday in the Beaver County Times, a newspaper based in Beaver County and northwest of Pittsburgh.

January 5, 2011

PITTSBURGH — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration last year initiated programs that will breathe new life into sales of smoking-cessation products. The surgeon general issued a report titled “How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease,” and the FDA will be mandating that tobacco manufacturers have smoking-is-bad-for-you messages on packaging. 


January 4, 2011

Generic drug maker Mylan has settled a lawsuit concerning Medicaid reimbursements with the federal government and the state of Texas, Mylan said Dec. 24.

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has settled a lawsuit concerning Medicaid reimbursements with the federal government and the state of Texas, Mylan said Dec. 24.

Under the settlement, Mylan will pay $65 million.

Several state attorneys general filed lawsuits against Mylan and other drug companies in September 2003 over Medicaid reimbursements, alleging that the companies defrauded the programs by reporting average wholesale prices greater than the prices of their prescription drugs, thus causing the programs to make excessive payments to healthcare providers.

December 10, 2010

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

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

Mylan announced Friday the approval of nifedipine extended-release tablets in the 30-mg, 60-mg and 90-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Bayer’s Adalat CC.

Nifedipine tablets had sales of around $82 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

December 8, 2010

Chinese retailer Bright Food Group is looking to potentially grow its portfolio with the acquisition of specialty retailer GNC, according to several reports.

PITTSBURGH — Chinese retailer Bright Food Group is looking to potentially grow its portfolio with the acquisition of specialty retailer GNC, according to several reports.

The Bright Food Group acquisition would be backed by Hony Capital, one of China’s biggest buyout firms. What's more, the global buyout firm the Blackstone Group is expected to join Hony in backing Bright Food Group’s potential GNC bid, published reports have noted.

December 7, 2010

The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to a generic drug for HIV/AIDS made by Mylan subsidiary Matrix Labs for distribution in developing countries under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Mylan said Tuesday.

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has given tentative approval to a generic drug for HIV/AIDS made by Mylan subsidiary Matrix Labs for distribution in developing countries under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Mylan said Tuesday.

The tentative approval under PEPFAR covers Matrix’s abacavir sulfate tablets in the 60-mg strength. The drug is a generic version of ViiV Healthcare’s Ziagen, and is used to treat the disease in children.

November 18, 2010

GNC on Thursday announced the launch of its GNC Longevity Factors, GNC's first and only...

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Thursday announced the launch of its GNC Longevity Factors, GNC's first and only complete line of nutritional supplements marketed for aging well. The line features supplements that support health and bioavailability enhancement technology to improve the absorption of a key antioxidant important for healthy cell aging.

 

November 8, 2010

One of the world's largest food and beverage businesses is teaming up with a specialty...

PURCHASE, N.Y., and PITTSBURGH One of the world's largest food and beverage businesses is teaming up with a specialty retailer of nutritional products to develop and sell fortified coconut water products.

PepsiCo and GNC said its Phenom brand will launch during second quarter 2011 and exclusively will be sold at GNC stores and GNC.com. The companies added that the line will address the growing demands of health-conscious consumers for natural products that help them with their daily regimen.

 

November 4, 2010

This is a next-generation pharmacy solution for the next generation of seniors, who begin celebrating...

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — This is a next-generation pharmacy solution for the next generation of seniors, who begin celebrating birthday No. 65 with the coming of the New Year at a rate of one every 10 seconds, and that’s for nearly two straight decades.

November 4, 2010

Rite Aid will introduce Rite Aid Online Care to the Pittsburgh market, a service that...

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid will introduce Rite Aid Online Care to the Pittsburgh market, a service that offers patients live online interactive personal consultations with specially trained Rite Aid pharmacists via a computer, at the American Diabetes Association on Nov. 6.