Content about pharmaceutical

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs has appointed a new president of its generic pharmaceutical division.

The drug maker said that Carole Ben-Maimon will be responsible for expanding the generic business. Recently, Ben-Maimon served as Qualitest Pharmaceuticals' SVP corporate strategy consulting. Additionally, she served as the chairman of the board of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association from 2000 to 2003.

Ben-Maimon will report to Impax's president and CEO Larry Hsu.

JERUSALEM — A federal court has acted in favor of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries in the drug maker's patent infringement case against several generic drug companies seeking to market versions of its multiple sclerosis drug.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canada-based drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has acquired a Kaunas, Lithuania-based specialty pharmaceutical company.

Valeant said it completed its acquisition of Sanitas Group, which operates in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia markets.

The deal, which initially was announced by Valeant in May, was valued at EUR314 million (about $450 million) in cash.

PHILADELPHIA — A generic pharmaceutical company announced that its CFO has resigned.

Lannett said that Keith Ruck has exited the company to pursue other interests. The company expects to name a successor soon.

“During his tenure, Keith improved the performance of our accounting and financial reporting team,” Lannett president and CEO Arthur Bedrosian said. “In addition, he was instrumental in upgrading our internal controls and business processes. I would like to thank Keith for his hard work and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

COVINGTON, Ky. — The VP distribution operations for Omnicare's RxCrossroads business has stepped into a new role, Omnicare announced Tuesday.

Dan Thomas was appointed to the role of SVP and general manager for RxCrossroads, an Omnicare division that provides specialized solutions specifically tailored to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Thomas, who has worked in the unit for 27 years, will have full operational responsibility in his new role and report to Nitin Sahney, EVP and president of Omnicare’s Specialty Care Group.

LAS VEGAS — Good Neighbor Pharmacy last week recognized five Good Neighbor Pharmacy operators at the National Healthcare Conference and Exposition.

Liss Pharmacy in Newark, N.J., was named the 2011 Good Neighbor Pharmacy “Pharmacy of the Year” for its commitment to the Newark community. Led by owner Matthew Parisi, the pharmacy has created programs in conjunction with both the city of Newark and the Heinz Family Philanthropies to provide pharmaceutical services and generic medications at a reasonable cost, for example.

NEW YORK — Bristol-Myers Squibb will acquire San Diego-based Amira Pharmaceuticals for $325 million, the two companies said Friday.

Amira develops pharmaceutical drugs for treating inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, and the deal includes milestone payments of up to $150 million on top of the upfront purchase price. Amira’s drugs include AM152, an investigational treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, currently in early-stage clinical trials and set to enter mid-stage trials.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — Generic drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal reported its fourth-quarter net sales increased 45% to $57.2 million from the year-ago period.

Net income for Hi-Tech totaled $12.7 million, or 98 cents per diluted share, compared with $6.5 million, or 50 cents per diluted share in fourth quarter 2010.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith, the fourth-largest national pharmaceutical wholesaler, on Tuesday named Mark de Bruin to the post of corporate VP managed care.

In his new position at H. D. Smith, 29-year industry veteran de Bruin will be responsible for the company's third party network, creating and maintaining an alliance of prescription and healthcare service providers.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Wednesday announced that its closing date to complete the acquisition of Paddock Labs — a generic pharmaceutical and specialty over-the-counter products manufacturer — has been delayed by an extended Federal Trade Commission review.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Impax Labs has expanded its senior management team with two appointments.

The generic drug maker said that Mark Fitch has joined the company as SVP operations, while Jeff Nornhold will become SVP quality affairs. Fitch, who joins Impax from Nycomed US, brings more than 35 years of pharmaceutical experience to his role. Nornhold, who most recently served as VP quality operations at drug maker Watson, is a 20-year pharmaceutical industry veteran.

Both Fitch and Nornhold will report to Impax president and CEO Larry Hsu.