Content about Washington

December 3, 2012

After the huge success of Marvel's "The Avengers" movie this past summer, a new generation of kids were turned on to one of the most popular superhero teams of all time.

SPOKANE, Wash. — After the huge success of Marvel's "The Avengers" movie this past summer, a new generation of kids were turned on to one of the most popular superhero teams of all time. To capitalize on this burgeoning new fanbase, Zak Designs is launching a new line of mealtime products based on the blockbuster hit.

November 30, 2012

Increasing the prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries by 1% would reduce the program's spending on medical services by about 0.2% by reducing costs in such areas as hospitalizations, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office.

WASHINGTON — Increasing the prescriptions filled by Medicare beneficiaries by 1% would reduce the program's spending on medical services by about 0.2% by reducing costs in such areas as hospitalizations, according to a new report by the Congressional Budget Office.

November 29, 2012

Drug companies have made "remarkable progress" in treatment options for patients with HIV and AIDS, according to two new reports from a drug industry trade group.

WASHINGTON — Drug companies have made "remarkable progress" in treatment options for patients with HIV and AIDS, according to two new reports from a drug industry trade group.

November 28, 2012

The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday announced it is partnering with the National Osteoporosis Foundation in hosting a free webinar for pharmacists and nurse practitioners around updated recommendations and research of calcium and vitamin D.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday announced it is partnering with the National Osteoporosis Foundation in hosting a free webinar for pharmacists and nurse practitioners around updated recommendations and research of calcium and vitamin D. 

November 28, 2012

The Natural Products Association on Wednesday announced its sponsorship of the Girls on the Run – DC 5K on Dec. 2 in Anacostia Park.

WASHINGTON — The Natural Products Association on Wednesday announced its sponsorship of the Girls on the Run – DC 5K on Dec. 2 in Anacostia Park. Girls on the Run encourages girls in third through eighth grade to lead healthy lives using a fun, experience-based curriculum that integrates running.

November 28, 2012

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday urged Congress to examine wasteful spending on potentially unnecessary medication refills, such as through mail order, as lawmakers held a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Examining Options to Combat Health Care Waste, Fraud and Abuse.”

WASHINGTON — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday urged Congress, such as through mail order, as lawmakers held a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Examining Options to Combat Health Care Waste, Fraud and Abuse.”

According to the House committee’s web site, its lawmakers are concerned about Medicare spending in particular and the hearing is intended to “explore potential new approaches to address these substantial and ongoing threats.”

November 28, 2012

The prestige beauty gift set industry posted double-digit growth year-to-date and looks to be quite promising this holiday, especially makeup and skin care gift sets, according to market research company the NPD Group.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — The prestige beauty gift set industry posted double-digit growth year-to-date and looks to be quite promising this holiday, especially makeup and skin care gift sets, according to market research company the NPD Group.

November 28, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration will review the safety of energy drinks containing such stimulants as caffeine in response to a letter from two senators.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration will review the safety of energy drinks containing such stimulants as caffeine in response to a letter from two senators.

November 26, 2012

Consumer spending could drop by almost $200 billion next year while depressing real consumer-spending growth by 1.7% if middle-class taxes rise in response to the fiscal cliff, according to a report released Monday by a White House economic team.

WASHINGTON — Consumer spending could drop by almost $200 billion next year while depressing real consumer-spending growth by 1.7% if middle-class taxes rise in response to the fiscal cliff, according to a report released Monday by a White House economic team.

November 26, 2012

Many health insurance plans are failing to provide coverage mandated by the healthcare reform law for treatments to help smokers and other tobacco users quit, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reported Monday, citing a study of insurance contracts by Georgetown University researchers that the group commissioned.

WASHINGTON — Many health insurance plans are failing to provide coverage mandated by the healthcare reform law for treatments to help smokers and other tobacco users quit, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reported Monday, citing a study of insurance contracts by Georgetown University researchers that the group commissioned. 

November 21, 2012

Walgreens on Tuesday publicly urged congressional leaders to make headway in avoiding the upcoming fiscal cliff if expiring tax cuts aren't reinstated.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday publicly urged congressional leaders to make headway in avoiding the upcoming fiscal cliff if expiring tax cuts aren't reinstated. 

November 16, 2012

Residents in counties across the country that participate in the National Association of Counties' Prescription Discount Card Program have saved more than $500 million on their prescription medications since the launch of the program in 2004, according to data released by NACo and CVS Caremark.

WASHINGTON and WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Residents in counties across the country that participate in the National Association of Counties' Prescription Discount Card Program have saved more than $500 million on their prescription medications since the launch of the program in 2004, according to data released by NACo and CVS Caremark.

November 14, 2012

Retail sales were down slightly in October on a month-to-month basis while increasing on an annual basis, reflecting Hurricane Sandy and uncertainty in Washington, according to the National Retail Federation.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales were down slightly in October on a month-to-month basis while increasing on an annual basis, reflecting Hurricane Sandy and uncertainty in Washington, according to the National Retail Federation.

The retailing trade group said Wednesday that October retail sales — with exception to automobiles, gas stations and restaurants — decreased 0.3% seasonally adjusted from September while increasing nearly 4% unadjusted year over year.

November 13, 2012

Crossmark has launched a self-service data portal that it said would deliver business insights in real time to manufacturer and retail clients in the consumer goods industry.

REDMOND, Wash. — Crossmark has launched a self-service data portal that it said would deliver business insights in real time to manufacturer and retail clients in the consumer goods industry.

The portal, which uses the Microsoft SQL Server Parallel Data Workhouse, provides sales and marketing channels with access to real-time market data, allowing them to analyze and take advantage of market trends faster than before, the company said.

November 13, 2012

The Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Grocers Association on Tuesday released guidelines designed to promote model practices in the “end-to-end” digital coupon process and reduce the incidence of coupon fraud.

WASHINGTON — The Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Grocers Association on Tuesday released guidelines designed to promote model practices in the “end-to-end” digital coupon process and reduce the incidence of coupon fraud.

November 12, 2012

The Natural Products Association last week launched an industry effort to help those directly affected by Hurricane Sandy through the creation of the NPA Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

WASHINGTON — The Natural Products Association last week launched an industry effort to help those directly affected by Hurricane Sandy through the creation of the NPA Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. All donations to the fund can be made to the Natural Products Foundation at NaturalProductsFoundation.org/Sandy

November 12, 2012

Target, Walmart and McKesson were each recognized Friday as one of America’s more community-minded companies as part of the The Civic 50 — the first scientific evaluation to rank the companies that best use their time, talent and resources to improve the quality of life where they do business.

WASHINGTON — Target, Walmart and McKesson were each recognized Friday as one of America’s more community-minded companies as part of the The Civic 50 — the first scientific evaluation to rank the companies that best use their time, talent and resources to improve the quality of life where they do business. 

The survey was conducted by the National Conference on Citizenship and Points of Light, and was published in the Nov. 9 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek.

November 8, 2012

Church & Dwight will be initiating trial of its Trojan Vibrations personal massagers with a multi-city giveaway, the company announced Wednesday.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Church & Dwight will be initiating trial of its Trojan Vibrations personal massagers with a multi-city giveaway, the company announced Wednesday. Beginning in Washington on Nov. 13, Church & Dwight will feature its latest product innovations via a specially-designed Trojan Vibrations Pleasure Carts that are modeled after traditional hot dog carts.

November 7, 2012

Liquor can cost $2 more at liquor stores in states where the government has a monopoly on sales than at privately owned stores, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Liquor can cost $2 more at liquor stores in states where the government has a monopoly on sales than at privately owned stores, according to a new study.

Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health, the Boston Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University analyzed the prices of 74 different alcohol brands in 13 "control states" — states where the government has a monopoly on liquor sales — and at 50 private retailers in "license states." The study appeared online in the journal Addiction.

November 5, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for treating blood pressure and chest pain.

FDA approves cardiovascular drug

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for treating blood pressure and chest pain. Actavis announced the approval of diltiazem hydrochloride extended-release capsules.
The drug is a generic version of Valeant’s Tiazac. The branded drug and its generic equivalents had sales of about $76.3 million in 2011, according to IMS Health.



November 5, 2012

Rx Response, an initiative of America’s bio-pharmaceutical supply system to help ensure the continued flow of medicine to patients in a severe public health emergency, has continued its close coordination with federal, state and local government agencies to address impacts from Hurricane Sandy on the bio-pharmaceutical supply system, the organization announced Friday.

WASHINGTON — Rx Response, an initiative of America’s bio-pharmaceutical supply system to help ensure the continued flow of medicine to patients in a severe public health emergency, has continued its close coordination with federal, state and local government agencies to address impacts from Hurricane Sandy on the bio-pharmaceutical supply system, the organization announced Friday. 

November 2, 2012

The National Retail Federation and more than a dozen retailers on Thusday asked a judge to reject a proposed class-action settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit filed against Visa and MasterCard because of credit card swipe fees.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation and more than a dozen retailers on Thusday asked a judge to reject a proposed class-action settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit filed against Visa and MasterCard because of credit card swipe fees. The NRF suggested the settlement would not bring credit card swipe fees under control and does not give retailers who oppose it an adequate mechanism to opt out.

November 1, 2012

Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions on Wednesday announced that its specialty pharmacy, OncoSourceRx, has been awarded Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC, a Washington-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions on Wednesday announced that its specialty pharmacy, OncoSourceRx, has been awarded Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation from URAC, a Washington-based healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry.

October 19, 2012

A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

Pharmacy OneSource announced the release of a new version of Simplifi 797, used for ensuring compliance with USP chapter 797 regulations, which call for proper training of staff who prepare sterile compounded products.

October 18, 2012

Market research company the NPD Group has announced that the prestige fragrance industry showed solid sales of $1.6 billion in U.S. department stores — up 7% year-to-date (January to September 2012) — with men’s fragrance sales growing slightly faster than women’s.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Market research company the NPD Group has announced that the prestige fragrance industry showed solid sales of $1.6 billion in U.S. department stores — up 7% year-to-date (January to September 2012) — with men’s fragrance sales growing slightly faster than women’s.