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GHENT, Belgium — Belgian drug maker Ablynx is licensing an experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to U.S. drug maker AbbVie in a deal worth up to $840 million, the companies said.

The two drug makers announced that AbbVie would license the drug ALX-0061 for an upfront payment of $175 million plus milestone payments worth up to $665 million, as well as royalties. The drug belongs to a class known as anti-interleukin-6R nanobodies, which work by targeting an immune-system protein pathway that plays a key role in the inflammation associated with RA.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo Co. has hired a former Food and Drug Administration official for its regulatory department, the drug maker said Friday.

The Allegan, Mich.-based drug maker announced the appointment of Keith Webber as head of regulatory review, a position in which he will start on Oct. 21. Webber previously served as acting director of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Science, part of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which regulates prescription and OTC drugs. He also served as director of the Office of Generic Drugs.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi's vaccines division is targeting people who have not received vaccinations against flu this season in an effort to encourage them to do so.

Sanofi Pasteur announced Thursday the launch of its "The FLUgitives" campaign. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual flu vaccinations for everyone ages 6 months and older, but according to the CDC, about 20% of the population gets the flu each year, while 226,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications.

The healthcare industry has been laser-focused on prevention since it became obvious that stemming the tide of disease in our country required an upstream solution. From tackling prediabetes in adults to preventing childhood disease with infant immunizations, health professionals are onboard — with most finding a way to incorporate disease prevention into everyday practice.   

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Wednesday recognized three members of Congress — Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio; and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah — with the association’s Rx Safety and Healthcare Leadership Award. 

The award honors public officials for their leadership and commitment to policies that promote the safe and efficient delivery of lifesaving medicines to patients nationwide.

ATLANTA — Antibiotic-resistant bacteria sicken more than 2 million people per year and kill at least 23,000, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And the costs go beyond human health and life. According to a study by Tufts University, direct healthcare costs and costs to society for lost productivity from the infections could be as high as $55 billion per year.

FRAZER, Pa. — The participation of reality TV star Jack Osbourne in "Dancing with the Stars" has garnered recognition and a donation from a drug maker.

Teva Pharmaceuticals said Tuesday it would donate $100,000 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to recognize Osbourne's decision to compete in the show. Osbourne, the son of rock musician Ozzy Osbourne and a television host and producer, was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS last year. Teva is the maker of Copaxone (glatiramer acetate), an injectable drug for the disease.

NEW YORK — Stiefel has launched a new drug for treating acne, the company said Tuesday.

Stiefel, which is a subsidiary of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline, announced the launch of Fabior (tazarotene) foam, which it called the only retinoid in a topical foam formulation for acne vulgaris in patients aged 12 and older.

The drug originally received Food and Drug Administration approval in May 2012.