Branded

JERUSALEM — Teva on Monday announced that the Food and Drug Administration approved an expanded label for Azilect (rasagiline tablets) from monotherapy and adjunct to levodopa to now include dopamine agonists. The approval reflects that Azilect can be used alone or with other Parkinson's disease medications.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck and Idenix Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Idenix for $24.50 per share in cash. The transaction, which values the purchase of Idenix at approximately $3.9 billion, has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

DARIEN, Conn. — Health Media Network and the American College of Cardiology on Wednesday announced a strategic partnership that will significantly increase the size of HMN's Cardiology Network while broadening the distribution of ACC's CardioSmart Initiative. CardioSmart provides tools and resources to heart health providers and the populations they serve to enhance the dialogue between all the members of the care team and improve health outcomes. 

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. - Upsher-Smith Laboratories on Wednesday announced that it has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its new drug application for Vogelxo (testosterone) gel for topical use CIII.  

Vogelxo is a Schedule CIII androgen indicated for testosterone replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone: primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired).

ATLANTA - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated a health advisory, recommending an inactivated poliovirus booster for adults traveling to countries with an active wild polio virus in circulation. 

These countries include Cameroon, Pakistan and the Syrian Arab Republic. The United States is not expected to issue any requirements for entry into the United States, however, according to the CDC.

DUBLIN, Ohio — Cardinal Health on Wednesday launched a new solution to make it easier and more time-efficient for retail pharmacies to help patients better understand and adhere to their medications.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health and state health officer, last week warned that the number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases continue to increase in California.

CDPH has received reports of 2,649 cases of pertussis occurring from January through May 27, 2014, more than the number of cases reported in all of 2013. More than 800 cases were reported in April alone, the highest monthly count since the 2010 epidemic.

JERUSALEM – Teva Pharmaceutical and Labrys Biologics, a privately-held development stage biotechnology company focused on treatments for chronic migraine and episodic migraine, on Tuesday announced that Teva has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Labrys in a deal for $200 million in upfront payment in cash at closing as well as up to $625 million in contingent payments upon achievement of certain pre-launch milestones.