Cough-Cold and Flu

DEERFIELD, Ill. — With this year's flu season coming to a close, citizens across the middle of America are still experiencing flu-like symptoms, according to the latest Walgreens Flu Index from Walgreens Boots Alliance.

The top 10 markets as measured by flu activity for the week of March 19 were:

BALTIMORE, Md. –  App developer Sickweather on Tuesday announced it can predict allergy remedy sales through the analysis of user-submitted reports of seasonal allergies and flu.

PALATINE, Ill. — Acura Pharmaceuticals and MainPointe Pharmaceuticals last week announced that they have entered into a license agreement to have MainPointe exclusively market Nexafed and Nexafed Sinus in the US and Canada. The pseudoephedrine-containing Nexafed brand products utilize Acura's IMPEDE Technology which disrupts the extraction and conversion of the pseudoephedrine into the illicit drug, methamphetamine.  

MainPointe will assume all manufacturing and commercialization activities from Acura.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The Lone Star State remains the chief hold out with regard to extending a flu season that's been winding down. According to the latest Walgreens Flu Index, four of the top 10 markets still experiencing high levels of flu activity are in Texas, including three of the top five markets.

For the week of March 12, the top 10 markets for flu activity were:

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with USDA APHIS and the Tennessee Department of Health to minimize any human health risk posed by the avian influenza outbreak in Lincoln County, Tenn., the agency announced Wednesday. This includes implementing a protocol to monitor the health of poultry workers exposed to commercial poultry involved in the  USDA/APHIS-confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H7N9) outbreak.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The incidence of flu is beginning to scale back as evidenced by Walgreens' latest Walgreens Flu Index heat map, which shows the West Coast and Northeast United States are back in the "green" in terms of flu incidence.

For the week of March 5, the top 10 markets still showing signs of flu activity were:

The graying of the baby boomers, an increased focus on supplementing healthier lifestyles and the steady stream of nasal corticosteroid brands making their way from prescription-only to the more value-oriented OTC aisle were just three significant drivers behind the growth of over-the-counter medicines in 2016.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

WASHINGTON — Reps. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, and Doris Matsui, D-Calif., both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the DXM Abuse Prevention Act on Thursday in a bipartisan effort to prevent teen abuse of over-the-counter cough medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, commonly referred to the DXM.

The bill would establish a national age-18 requirement for the purchase of the medicines containing DXM. Over the past several years,12 states have addressed this issue by passing similar legislation.