Content about Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas is launching a certification program for pharmacy technicians, the school said.

The university's Professional Development Center, part of its Division of Continuing and Innovative Education, will begin classes in February. Students in the 14-week program, which includes a 120-hour internship at a local pharmacy, will learn the skills needed to work as pharmacy technicians, under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — A UnitedHealth Group company announced its plans to acquire a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans in an all-cash transaction.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s MinuteClinic has prepared all of its Texas-based clinics for an increased demand for the meningococcal vaccine for bacterial meningitis following a bill signed into law last May, whereby Texas will become the first state in the country to require that all college students receive one dose or booster of the meningococcal vaccine for bacterial meningitis. The requirement goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

DENTON, Texas — Beauty supply retailer Sally Beauty Holdings has bolstered its presence in Europe by acquiring Kappersservice Floral B.V. and two related companies, Hair Zone B.V. and Exphair B.V. (the “Floral Group”).

WASHINGTON — Two senators are trying to get the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to take up a bill that would ban so-called "pay-for-delay" patent settlements between brand and generic drug companies, according to published reports.

The Pharma Letter reported that Sens. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had urged the "super committee" to support a bill that would ban settlements that include any form of payment in exchange for holding off launch of a generic drug.

EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy’s Bed Head has introduced its new purse-friendly Groupie Collection, which offers a mini-sized dryer, curling iron, two straighteners and crimpers.

At the beginning of the year, a major global controversy was settled when it turned out that a study published in The Lancet in 1998 linking the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine to autism in children turned out to be a whopper of a fraud.


But despite the exposure of the study’s author — and outbreaks of preventable diseases among children in the United States and Europe, thanks to parents who opted to have their kids vaccinated — it appears that sowing fear of childhood vaccines still appears to have some currency.


AUSTIN, Texas — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new strength for a psychiatric drug made by Edgemont Pharmaceuticals, Edgemont said Tuesday.

The drug maker announced the approval of a 60 mg dose of fluoxetine tablets, a treatment for major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa and panic disorder. The drug was originally marketed under the brand name Prozac.

WASHINGTON — A congressman from Texas is urging the Department of Health and Human Services to reject an attempt by the Texas state government to move millions of Medicaid prescription drug beneficiaries into managed care plans.

Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, head of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation, said the move would harm small pharmacies that cater to Medicaid beneficiaries and leave many patients without access to pharmacy services by reducing pharmacy dispensing fees to far below the average pharmacy's cost of dispensing each prescription.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas — McKesson on Monday announced the creation of a new division: McKesson Specialty Health.

Less than a year ago, McKesson Corporation acquired US Oncology with a vision of enhancing its customer offerings. Through integrated technology offerings, including iKnowMed, a top-ranked Web-based oncology electronic health record, and the Lynx Mobile drug inventory management system, McKesson Specialty Health hopes to improve the financial health of its customers, while empowering them to advance the science, quality and efficiency of patient care.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Healthcare technology company Supplylogix and consulting firm Kindler & Crimmins Associates will collaborate to deliver inventory management and reverse logistics services to pharmacy chains around the country, the two companies said.

KCA is led by former Rite Aid VP inventory management Stephen Kindler and Ed Crimmins, former Rite Aid senior director of pharmacy inventory and returns, and helps retailers, manufacturers and distributors increase inventory productivity and reduce return volume.

PLANO, Texas — A new Snapple flavor is making its way to participating retailers nationwide next month.

Snapple said that its latest limited-edition flavor, Tea Will Be Loved, was developed in partnership with Grammy award-winning pop-rock band Maroon 5 to benefit hunger relief organization Feeding America.