Branded

DUBLIN — Perrigo has finalized its acquisition of Elan Corp., Perrigo said Wednesday.

The Michigan-based maker of branded and generic prescription and OTC drugs announced last week that the Irish High Court had approved its $8.6 billion deal to buy Ireland-based Elan, the last regulatory hurdle it had to clear before finalizing the deal, which it announced in July.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has acquired rights to an experimental respiratory drug made by Pfizer, Mylan said Wednesday.

The drug maker said it had bought exclusive worldwide development, manufacturing and commercialization rights to the drug, which was not named, but was described as a long-acting muscarinic antagonist about to enter phase-2b, or mid-stage, clinical trials. Mylan said it would develop the drug into combination therapies and that they would use a multidose dry powder inhaler technology, also licensed from Pfizer.

NEW YORK — A new study has found a significant increase in the number of high school students who report having abused a common prescription drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, even as abuse of other prescription drugs has decreased or remained low.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the agency said Wednesday.

The FDA announced the approval of Anoro Ellipta (umeclidinium; vilanterol inhalation powder) as a once-per-day maintenance treatment for airflow obstruction in patients with COPD, a term that encompasses chronic bronchitis and emphysema; smoking is the leading cause of COPD in the United States.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Actelion has launched a topical gel used to treat a kind of skin cancer, the company said.

Actelion announced the launch of Valchlor (mechlorethamine), which the Food and Drug Administration approved in August for treating stage 1A and 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in patient who have received skin-directed therapy before. Actelion acquired rights to the drug when it merged with Ceptaris Therapeutics. Accredo Specialty Pharmacy distributes the drug in the United States.

NEW YORK — Three organizations will receive part of $1.3 million in funding that German drug maker Merck KGaA and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are distributing for MS research.

EMD Serono, the name the Merck KGaA uses in the United States to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co., and the National MS Society said the money will help encourage early-stage drug discovery for the autoimmune disease.

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Amneal Pharmaceuticals has launched a new treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease under a partnership with a South Korean drug maker.

Amneal announced Tuesday the launch of esomeprazole strontium delayed-release capsules in the 49.3-mg strength, which it is marketing in the United States under a contract with Hanmi Pharmaceutical Co. The drug is expected to begin shipping Wednesday in 30-count bottles.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Nearly 1,200 seniors have complained to Medicare this year about a litany of problems with mail-order pharmacies, including shipping unneeded medication and going without medication due to delayed shipments, the National Community Pharmacists Association noted Tuesday citing documentation recently released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.