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DUBLIN — Ireland's High Court has approved Actavis' acquisition of Warner Chilcott, the drug makers said.

The companies said the approval of Irish authorities meant that they had obtained all regulatory approvals required to complete the transaction, and that it now remained subject to satisfaction of other customary closing conditions and would occur as soon as practicable.

Actavis and Warner Chilcott announced the $8.5 billion merger deal in May. The companies' shareholders voted to approve it on Sept. 10.

NEW YORK — The Department of Health and Human Services will furlough more than half of its employees due to the government shutdown, the agency said.

In announcing a contingency staffing plan for the shutdown, which started Tuesday when Congress failed to pass a budget in time, HHS said 52% of its employees would be on furlough, totaling 40,512 members of its staff. The remaining 48%, or 37,686 employees, would remain. The scheduled introduction of the health insurance exchanges mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will also continue.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Tuesday announced the re-election of David Neu, president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. as chairman of its board of directors. Ted Scherr, president and CEO of Dakota Drug, also was re-elected as vice chairman.  

Additionally, HDMA welcomed two members to the Board. Mark Walchirk, president of McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical, was elected to replace Paul Julian, EVP and group president of McKesson Corporation, on the board and executive committee. 

BRUSSELS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new usage for a drug made by UCB, the drug maker said Monday.

UCB announced the approval of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for psoriatic arthritis in adults. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints, usually combined with the skin lesions of psoriasis. The drug was already approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Saturday added its voice supporting national pharmaceutical traceability legislation (Drug Quality and Security Act/H.R. 3204). 

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Criminal Justice Association has recognized a program to combat prescription drug abuse in Arizona as the best such program in the west of the country.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said the Arizona Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Initiative received the NCJA's 2013 Western Region Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award. The program involves state agencies and organizations, including the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for treating early-stage breast cancer before surgery, the agency said Monday.

COLUMBIA, Md. — FlavoRx will start recognizing independent pharmacies that have implemented its program next month, the company said Friday.

FlavoRx, which makes flavorings that pharmacists can add to drugs, announced the inaugural FlavoRx Independent Pharmacy of the Year award, to be presented every October.