Branded

STAMFORD, Conn. — Purdue Pharma on Wednesday announced that it filed a new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration to market a hydrocodone bitartrate tablet.

The pain medication was formulated to incorporate abuse-deterrent technology, making the drug more difficult to manipulate for the purpose of abuse, the company said. Data from clinical trials of the investigational medicine were presented at the 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society in Tampa, Fla.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday granted approval to Zykadia (ceritinib) for patients with a specific type of late-stage (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The drug — an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitor — blocks proteins that promote the development of cancerous cells and is intended for patients with metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC who were previously treated with crizotinib.

Total spending on U.S. medicines increased 1% on a real per capita basis in 2013, while the use of healthcare services rose for the first time in three years, according to a report by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Nuanced and intuitive leadership. That’s how Steve Anderson, president and CEO for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, characterized today’s state of the NACDS — a body made greater by the sum of its parts that has successfully navigated the complexities of today’s evolving healthcare environment, as well as the intricacies of the political arena — on Sunday during his address before attendees of the NACDS Annual Meeting 2014.

As lifetime earnings for pharmaceuticals decrease, commercialization expenses increase and payers tighten their belts on reimbursement, life science companies will be faced with shrinking margins over the next few years.

NEW YORK — U.S. pharmaceutical firm Pfizer this morning confirmed discussions with AstraZeneca regarding a possible merger. If the transaction goes through, it's expected that the two companies will combine under a new U.K-incorporated holding company.

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance on Monday announced that Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium and vilanterol inhalation powder), a once-daily that combines two long-acting bronchodilators in a single inhaler, is now available in retail pharmacies in the United States.

Anoro Ellipta is used for long-term maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or the treatment of asthma. The FDA-approved strength is umeclidinium/vilanterol 62.5/25-mcg.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is teaming up with The Partnership at Drugree.org to create a community donation program through which local police departments can apply to receive a drug collection unit to help their communities safely dispose of unwanted medications, including controlled substances, the pharmacy retailer announced on Thursday.