Branded

DUBLIN — Covidien has finished spinning off its pharmaceuticals division, the medical products maker said.

St. Louis-based Covidien announced that it had separated Mallinckrodt as an independent company that has started trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "MNK," a move that it announced in December 2011. Shares in the newly public company were trading at $43.52 at noon Tuesday, down by 48 cents from the start of the day.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has declined to approve a sleeping pill made by Merck & Co., citing issues with dosage.

The drug maker said Monday that it received a complete response letter from the FDA concerning the drug suvorexant, for which it is seeking regulatory approval. A complete response letter means that the agency has finished reviewing its approval application, but questions remain that preclude final approval.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Sunovion and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co. for bipolar disorder, Sunovion said Monday.

The FDA has approved Latuda (lurasidone hydrochloride) for use either alone or combined with lithium or valproate in patients with bipolar depression. The drug was already approved for treating schizophrenia.

NEW YORK — A new law in Maine will allow residents of the state to buy drugs through mail-order from licensed pharmacies in other countries, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that the law, an amendment to the Maine Pharmacy Act, will allow Mainers to buy drugs through a Canadian mail-order program called CanaRx and licensed programs in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

The AP reported that the bill became law without the signature of Gov. Paul LePage and will go into effect in 90 days.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — OraSure Technologies, makers of the OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test, on Tuesday announced its support for the new recommendations issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

RARITAN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has declined to approve a drug made by Johnson & Johnson for patients who have received coronary stent implants.

J&J subsidiary Janssen Research & Development said Friday that the FDA issued a complete response letter for Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Stent thrombosis is when blood pools at the site of a stent in the patient's coronary artery and, while uncommon, is serious and can cause a heart attack and death.

DEERFIELD, Ill — Walgreens today announced its app is available for download on mobile phone devices across the Windows Phone 8 platform. A Windows 8 version for desktops and tablets is expected to become available at a later date.

Additionally, the company will soon release its QuickPrints API designed for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

NEW YORK — Target has ended its relationship with celebrity chef Paula Deen following reports that she used racial slurs, according to published reports.

The Associated Press reported that the Minneapolis-based mass merchandise chain would not replenish its inventory of Paula Deen-branded cookware in its stores or online once the merchandise sold out. Walmart has made a similar announcement.