Branded

PEAPACK, N.J. — Pfizer's generics division has launched an authorized generic drug for treating epilepsy.

Greenstone announced the introduction of phenytoin tablets in the 50-mg strength, an authorized generic version of Pfizer's Dilantin Infatabs.

Authorized generics are generic drugs marketed under their generic names at a reduced price, often through third-party companies under contract with the original drug's manufacturer.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration last week approved the anti-clotting drug Eliquis (apixaban), an oral tablet used to reduce the risk of stroke and dangerous blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve problem. Eliquis is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and marketed by BMS and Pfizer.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — While the "fiscal cliff" bill heads off the most severe tax implications for most Americans, the 25.8 million Americans with diabetes may find this bill a bitter pill to swallow, suggested the National Community Pharmacists Association in a press release issued Wednesday. 

SPRING SPRING, Md. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Fulyzaq (crofelemer) to relieve symptoms of diarrhea in HIV/AIDS patients taking antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines used to treat HIV infection. Diarrhea is experienced by many HIV/AIDS patients and is a common reason why patients discontinue or switch their antiretroviral therapies.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug from Johnson & Johnson for patients with tuberculosis who do not respond to other treatments, the company announced.

Tuberculosis is an air-spread infection that usually attacks the lungs, but also affect the brain, the spine and the kidneys. The drug blocks an energy-producing enzyme the tuberculosis bacteria needs to survive and is the first drug in 40 years to attempt to cure the disease using this type of treatment.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Emergent BioSolutions on Friday announced that it has signed a license agreement with VaxInnate Corporation under which Emergent acquired the exclusive right to manufacture and sell VaxInnate’s pandemic influenza vaccine candidate in the United States. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals on Friday confirmed that Actavis, which was acquired by Watson in October, has filed an abbreviated new drug applications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market bortezomib, a generic version of Millennium Pharmaceuticals' Velcade.

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor for intravenous or subcutaneous administration, approved for treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy.

ATLANTA — The incidence of influenza continued on an upward trajectory heading into the Christmas holiday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. Nationwide for the week ending Dec. 22, 4.2% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness, above the national baseline of 2.2%.