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SAN DIEGO — A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzing weekly patterns in health-related Google searches reveals a recurring pattern that could be leveraged to improve public health strategies.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck on Thursday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Ragwitek (short ragweed pollen allergen extract) tablet for sublingual use (12 Amb a 1-U). Ragwitek is an allergen extract indicated as immunotherapy for the treatment of short ragweed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis. Ragwitek is approved for use in adults ages 18 years through 65 years. 

ATLANTA — Evidence-based interventions at the local and national levels provide promising strategies for reducing racial and ethnic health disparities related to HIV infection rates, immunization coverage, motor vehicle injuries and deaths, and smoking, according to a new report by the CDC's Office of Minority Health and Health Equity released Thursday.

DUBLIN — Actavis on Friday announced that it has entered into agreements with Akorn and Hi-Tech Pharmacal to purchase four currently marketed products and one product under development for cash consideration. The closing of the purchase agreements are contingent upon the consummation of Akorn's acquisition of Hi-Tech. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

ATLANTA — Rates of five major diabetes-related complications have declined substantially in the last 20 years among U.S. adults with diabetes, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

BALTIMORE — Cases of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States have nearly doubled since 1988, suggests new research released Tuesday from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with obesity apparently to blame for the surge. The researchers also found that the burden of the disease has not hit all groups equally, with alarming increases in diabetes in blacks, Hispanics and the elderly.

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

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Merck announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Grastek (Timothy grass pollen allergen extract) tablet for sublingual use. The drug is an allergen extract used for the treatment of grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis. It is approved for use in persons ages 5 years through 65 years of age.