Content about Regulatory and Washington

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The Environmental Protection Agency has given Sears Holdings a 2013 Energy Star Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award, the company said Monday.

Sears Holdings, which operates Kmart, said its efforts to promote sustainability and energy efficiency would be recognized at a ceremony in Washington on March 26.

The company has been an Energy Star partner since 1998.

NEW YORK — In spite of a court ruling striking down a ban on large-sized sugary drinks, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has another health initiative in the works: a requirement that retailers hide tobacco products.

Bloomberg's legislation, which would make New York the first city to keep tobacco products out of the sight of customers, will go to the city council for consideration. The New York Times noted that Bloomberg skipped this procedure with the soft drink rule.

CHICAGO — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new pocket-sized packet option for a testosterone-replacement therapy made by AbbVie, the drug maker said Friday.

AbbVie announced the approval of the new version of AndroGel (testosterone) 1.62%, available in a packet containing 40.5 mg of testosterone in 2.5 g of gel and a packet with 20.25 mg of testosterone in 1.25 g of gel. The drug is used to raise testosterone levels in men with low or no testosterone, known as hypogonadism, estimated to affect nearly 14 million men in the United States.

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today applauded the introduction of S. 557, the Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act of 2013, introduced yesterday by U.S. Sens. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., along with the support of original cosponsors U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Al Franken, D-Minn., Tim Johnson, D-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The legislation seeks to expand access to MTM services for senior citizens enrolled in the Medicare program.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Pat Roberts, R-Kan. and Kay Hagan, D-N.C. on Thursday introduced legislation written to lower healthcare costs by helping more seniors better manage their prescriptions. The Medication Therapy Management Empowerment Act will allow seniors with any high-cost chronic illness to review all their medication and develop a plan of action with a pharmacist.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for obsessive compulsive disorder made by Par Pharmaceutical Cos., the drug maker said Thursday.

Par announced the approval and shipment of fluvoxamine maleate extended-release capsules in the 100-mg and 150-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Luvox CR.

WASHINGTON — Amid a tide of automatic spending cuts resulting from the failure of Congress and the White House to agree on a budget, the generic drug lobby has offered some suggestions to generate savings.

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.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Walgreens was singled out in a lawsuit earlier this week here for suggesting a vitamin E supplement may help improve cardiovascular health. 

Specifically, according to a Reuters report Monday, the complainant stated that Walgreens' Vitamin E 400 IU purported to "naturally contribute to cardiovascular health by helping to protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation which may cause cellular damage." 

NEW YORK — Bills introduced in Oregon's state legislature would allow employers and other health plan sponsors to have greater knowledge about how pharmacy benefit managers determine the rates at which they pay pharmacies for dispensing generic drugs; establish new standards for pharmacy audits while requiring PBMs to register in the state and be licensed by the state board of pharmacy; and prevent health plans from requiring residents of the state to use mail-order pharmacies.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales for the month of February rose by 1.1% seasonally adjusted month to month, according to figures released Wednesday by the Department of Commerce.

The newly released figures include nongeneral merchandise categories, such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants; excluding those, sales rose 0.7%, while rising 0.5% unadjusted year over year. The National Retail Federation noted that sales beat estimates as consumers adapted and adjusted spending in response to higher gas prices and the payroll tax increase.