Branded

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A 30% rise in attendance at the Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit is nothing to brush off — it's as clear an indication as any that specialty pharmacy is growing and probably poised for more growth in the near future, thanks in particular to the aging population and consequential rise in the number of people living with difficult-to-treat medical conditions.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is introducing prescription pet medications at its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Friday.

The company said the new program was designed to make it easier for customers to get branded and generic pet drugs and more convenient to shop for the whole family. More than 60% of American households own a pet, and families spent more than $50 billion on their pets in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The number of new drug shortages has been halved as early notifications from manufacturers of potential shortages have increased sixfold, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration wrote Thursday.

NEW YORK — Drug makers could strike big with new treatments for rare diseases, according to a new report by a market research firm.

RARITAN, N.J. — Drug maker Johnson & Johnson is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a drug to treat patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, the company said.

J&J division Janssen Research & Development announced the submission of a supplemental new drug application for Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to the FDA for the two conditions and for preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for a rare genetic disorder that affects 10,000 people worldwide.

Pfizer and Protalix BioTherapeutics announced Wednesday the approval of Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa), an enzyme-replacement therapy for the long-term treatment of Type 1 Gaucher disease.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — Eisai announced that Allen Waxman has joined the company.

Waxman, who has worked at such companies as Kaye Schouler LLP and Pfizer, will serve as SVP and general counsel, where he will be responsible for leading the office of the general counsel and all legal matters for the company in the United States. Waxman also will be a member of the company's executive committee and also will join others in providing leadership for a number of global legal matters for Eisai.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — Mylan will be barred from marketing a generic version of a Merck cardiovascular drug until the drug's patent expires, under a court ruling announced Friday.

Merck said the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled against Mylan in two patent infringement suits related to the drugs Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin). Specifically, the court ruled that a patent covering the drug, RE 42,461, is valid and enforceable and enjoined Mylan from launching until the patents expiration in April 2017.