Branded

PITTSBURGH — Bayer on Tuesday announced that on July 1, Philip Blake will become senior Bayer representative USA, following a common company practice of assigning this oversight role to a senior executive already holding a significant business role or roles within the region.

“Phil Blake is a highly valued and respected leader at Bayer,” stated Richard Pott, member of the management board of Bayer. “Having been with Bayer for more than 30 years, he brings a wealth of experience to this new role.”

BOSTON — Merck on Wednesday released new data from two pivotal Phase III efficacy trials for suvorexant, the investigational medicine Merck is developing for the treatment of insomnia.

Merck expects to file a new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration in 2012. If approved, suvorexant would be the first medicine approved in a new class of medicines, called orexin receptor antagonists, for use in patients with difficulty falling or staying asleep. Merck anticipates that suvorexant will be evaluated by the Controlled Substance Staff of the FDA.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — As health departments across the country report record numbers of pertussis cases, the results of a new survey of American adults released today reveal that most parents aren't asking adults close to their infants and young children to get an adult whooping cough booster vaccine, even though they do ask them to follow other basic precautions to safeguard their children's health.

PHILADELPHIA — One-quarter of Type 2 diabetes patients do not take basal insulin as prescribed, while more than one-third suffer from hypoglycemia, according to a global survey funded by Novo Nordisk.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A Sanofi company is seeking regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug designed to treat relapsing multiple sclerosis.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Tuesday honored 10 pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturers through the presentation of its annual Distribution Management Awards for Notable Achievements in Healthcare, or DIANA. The winners were announced Monday evening at the Association’s 2012 Business and Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

ATLANTA — The 2011-2012 influenza season was one of the mildest and latest seasons on record, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The peak percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illnesses of 2.4% was the lowest reported since the system began in its current format in 1997. The peak percentage of visits for ILI during those 14 seasons ranged from 3.2% for the 2002-2003 season to 7.7% during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

PHILADELPHIA — An investigational insulin being developed by Novo Nordisk significantly reduced the rate of hypoglycemia at night in adults with Type 2 diabetes, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial presented at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.