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PHILADELPHIA — The American College of Physicians, CECity and Pfizer on Wednesday announced a new initiative designed to increase adult immunization rates. 

ATLANTA — About half of all Americans reported taking one or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days during 2007-2010, and 1-in-10 took five or more, according to "Health, United States, 2013," the government’s annual, comprehensive report on the nation’s health that was released Wednesday. Use increased with age: 1-in-4 children took one or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days compared to 9-in-10 adults aged 65 years and older.

The annual growth in spending on retail prescription drugs slowed from 14.7% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaeceuticals on Tuesday announced that the Food and Drug Administration accepted the company's supplemental new drug application for a lower dose QNASL (beclomethasone dipropionate) nasal aerosol, which is used for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in children ages 4 years to 11 years.

QNASL, a waterless intranasal corticosteroid spray, is currently available to treat patients 12 years of age and older who show symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis, the company notes.

LONDON — Pfizer testified before British Parliament Tuesday regarding its proposed offer to acquire AstraZeneca, the New York Times reported. According to the report, British lawmakers challenged Ian Read, Pfizer CEO, on the company's commitment to keep jobs in the United Kingdom.

JUNEAU, Alaska — The 28th Alaska Legislature in late April passed legislation that will allow patients to obtain over-the-phone or online consultations where physicians can diagnose and, if necessary, provide a prescription.  

“Nowadays, much of our life is conducted online or over the phone,” said Rep. Lynne Gattis, R-Wasilla. “In this age where we can do almost everything with a smartphone, it should not be necessary to drive to the doctor’s office to have a physical consultation for many common ailments.”

ATLANTA — A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that flu vaccines prevent flu-associated hospitalizations in people 65 years and older, even during seasons when vaccine effectiveness is low, the agency stated Friday. The study reinforces CDC’s existing recommendation for annual vaccination of adults 65 years and older who are at high risk for serious flu-related complications and often most-impacted by serious flu disease each year, resulting in hospitalization or death.

WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare on Monday announced that the Food and Drug Administration approved the company's new indication for Bayer's Kogenate FS antihemophilic factor VIII (recombinant) for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in adults with hemophilia A.

VALBY, Denmark and CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Lundbeck and Chelsea Therapeutics International last week announced an agreement under which Lundbeck will acquire Chelsea.