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DEERFIELD, Ill. - With flu activity winding down in the U.S., Walgreens on Friday announced the top markets and states for flu activity for the season, according to its season-ending Walgreens Flu Index examining aggregate prescription data from Nov. 2015 through mid-April 2016.

 

The states with the highest rates of influenza, according to the Index, were Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.

 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Takeda Pharmaceuticals on Thursday announced that it would be expanding its Help At Hand patient assistance program for patients in the United States. 

 

The expansion will allow patients whose income is at 400% of the federal poverty level to apply for discounted or no-cost medicine under the program, which currently includes 11 of the company’s drugs. Under the expansion, a family of four whose household income is about $100,000 is now eligible for the prescription drug program. 

 

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Teva’s ProAir RespiClick (albuterol sulfate) inhalation powder to treat or prevent bronchospasm in children aged 4 to 11 years. The drug had previously been approved for the same indication in patients older than 12. 

 

The drug is the only breath-activated multi-dose short-acting beta agonist, inhaler in the U.S., Teva said. 

 

NORTH CHICAGO — Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie on Thursday announced its planned acquisition of Stemcentrx and its late-stage potential treatment for small cell lung cancer, Rova-T (rovalpituzumab tesirine). 

 

BALTIMORE — Lupin on Thursday announced that it would be re-introducing its Methergine (methylergonovine maleate) tablets. The drug is indicated to manage uterine atony, hemorrhage and subinvolution of the uterus following delivery of the placenta, and for control of uterine hemorrhage in the second stage of labor. It's also the preferred treatment for postpartum hemorrhage, according to American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines. 

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Exelixis’ Cabometyx (cabozantinib) tablets, the company announced this week. Cabometyx is indicated to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have previously received anti-angiogenic treatment. 

 

PARKVILLE, Australia - An international evidence review has found that certain nutritional supplements can increase the effectiveness of antidepressants for people with clinical depression.

 

Omega 3 fish oils, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), methylfolate (bioactive form of folate) and vitamin D, were all found to boost the effects of medication.

 

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Upsher-Smith Laboratories on Monday announced that its Androxy (fluoxymesterone) tablets were once again available exclusively through the company. The drug is a synthetic androgen available in 100-count bottles of 10-mg tablets. 

 

“As the only supplier of fluoxymesterone tablets in the United States, we have made it a priority to get this medication back on the market,” Upsher-Smith president Rusty Field said. “We are pleased that physicians and patients can once again access Androxy.”