All News

FDA notified healthcare professionals that neither injectable nor oral terbutaline be used by pregnant women for prevention of preterm labor due to risk of serious maternal heart problems and death.

Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax and Boniva may reduce patients? risk of developing colon cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Forest Laboratories $1.2 billion acquisition of Clinical Data, the developer of Viibryd (vilazodone HCl) for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder, is expected to allow Forest to leverage its existing presence in the antidepressant category.

The independent pharmacy industry needs to unite and develop an internal public relations campaign to mobilize pharmacy store owners and patients to fight for their prescription rights. This was one of the suggestions made during a PBM Discussion Panel for Independent Pharmacy.

" The National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Food Marketing Institute, and other retail organizations are urging Congress to help reform credit and debit card interchange fees. "

FDA has approved hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection (Makena), the first drug to help prevent premature delivery before 37 weeks in women who have had at least 1 previous preterm birth.

OTC Product News

In this section we showcase products and product news that ran up against space limitations or fell outside the parameters of recently featured categories in the print edition. Look for more OTC Product News in upcoming issues of the Drug Topics e-newsletter.

FDA has announced that labeling for rosiglitazone (Avandia) has been changed to include information on cardiovascular risks (including death) connected with use of this agent.

The $20.1 billion acquisition of Genzyme by Sanofi-aventis will allow Sanotif-aventis to expand its footprint in biotechnology and give it an edge in the market for drugs for rare diseases, according to experts.

Pharmacists and patients are being told to be mindful of the limited shelf life of the new anticoagulant, Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate), manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

Zinc, in lozenge or syrup form, is beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people, when taken within at least 24 hours of onset of symptoms, according to a new report published in the Cochran Library.

A woman recently pleaded guilty to a charge of smuggling erectile dysfunction drugs falsely labeled as herbal dietary supplements from the People's Republic of China into this country.

At the PDS Independent Pharmacy Business Growth Conference in Orlando, Fla., Friday, Feb. 18, at 2:00 p.m. EST, a panel discussion will brainstorm what can be done to "save our industry ... and your local business."