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FRAZER, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceuticals and the Parkinson's Unity Walk on Friday announced the launch of a public awareness campaign, "CommUNITY: Carrying the PD Torch," to support Parkinson's disease patients during Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in April. The campaign aims to empower patients to set their goals and work to achieve them by uniting the community and encouraging patients in their PD journey.

WASHINGTON — Ian Read, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc, was elected chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Friday at the trade association’s annual meeting. Also elected were Kenneth Frazier, chairman, president and CEO of Merck, as chairman-elect of the PhRMA board of directors, and George Scangos, CEO of Biogen Idec, as board treasurer.

Read succeeds Robert Hugin, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp., as PhRMA’s chairman.

WASHINGTON — According to new survey data recently released by the National Consumers League, one-third of adult Americans still believe that vaccines may be linked to autism in children. According to the survey, 33% of parents of children under the age of 18 and 29% of all adults continue to believe “vaccinations can cause autism.” Scientific studies have clarified that use of vaccines is not linked to autism in children, the NCL noted. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — Healthcare Distribution Management Association president and CEO John Gray on Monday testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health at a hearing on “Improving Predictability and Transparency in DEA and FDA Regulation.” HDMA is in support of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2014, H.R. 4069, sponsored by Reps. Marino, R-Pa., and Blackburn, R-Tenn. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. John Kasich got his first look on Tuesday at what’s being called a next-generation pharmaceutical distribution center — under construction in central Ohio.

AmerisourceBergen’s new national distribution center will process approximately 96 million units of medication daily. The facility is expected to employ 100 associates when it opens in the fall of 2014. The company already employs nearly 500 people in the Columbus area.  

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — Sunovion Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced that Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate), a once-daily antiepileptic drug, is now available across the United States.

The drug, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 8, 2013, is a prescription medicine used with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures. The drug is available in four table strengths: 200 mg, 400 mg, 600 mg and 800 mg; it can be taken whole or crushed, with food or without.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals announced that the Food and Drug Administration has approved Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate). The drug is indicated for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients who have received a parenteral anticoagulant for five to 10 days, and to reduce the risk of recurrent DVT and PE in patients who have been previously treated, the company said.

DUBLIN — Mallinckrodt and Questcor Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Mallinckrodt will acquire Questcor in a transaction valued at approximately $5.6 billion. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction currently is expected to be completed in the third calendar-quarter of 2014.