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SAN ANTONIO — Mission Pharmacal Co. has announced the launch of prescription-only Aquoral, a dry-mouth relief oral spray that promises to moisten and lubricate the mouth for up to four hours.

NEW YORK — WebMD Health on Monday announced the availability of the WebMD Cold and Flu Symptoms Across the Nation map and companion health center to help consumers stay ahead of cold and flu symptoms this season.  

NEW YORK — Keeping counterfeit and diverted drugs out of the U.S. drug supply chain will require closing vulnerable regulatory gaps that risk letting them in, according to a new report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

NEW YORK — The state Senate of Pennsylvania will vote on a bill to curb misuse of prescription drugs, according to published reports.

The Beaver County, Pa., Times reported that Pennsylvania House Bill 1694 cleared the lower house of the state legislature in a 191-7 vote. The bill is designed to stop doctor-shopping and pill mills by creating an electronic prescription drug database to track drugs dispensed by doctors and veterinarians. Doctors and pharmacists can then use it to verify patients' medication histories.

WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare last week moved into its new U.S. headquarters on a 94-acre campus here, consolidating Bayer HealthCare's operations that previously operated from Morristown, Montville and Wayne, N.J., and Tarrytown, N.Y., into one location.  

Housed in two buildings connected by a five-story glass atrium, the 700,000-sq.-ft. office space features state-of-the-art technology and a modern open design for the approximately 2,400 employees now based at the new location.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Nearly 90% of office workers come to work even when they know they are sick, according to the fourth annual Flu Season Survey from Staples. The findings show a growing trend when compared to last year’s findings indicating 80% of workers come to work sick, and up from 60% in the 2011 Staples survey.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a pain drug made by Iroko Pharmaceuticals, Iroko said.

The drug maker announced the approval of Zorvolex (diclofenac) capsules for mild to moderate acute pain in adults. The drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, belonging to the same class as the common analgesic drug ibuprofen. Zorvolex was approved at dosage strengths 20% lower than currently available diclofenac products, the company said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Actelion Pharmaceuticals for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The agency announced the approval of Opsumit (macitentan) for adults with PAH, a chronic, progressive and debilitating disease caused by high blood pressure in the arteries that connect the heart to the lungs that can lead to death or the need for lung transplantation.