Cough-Cold and Flu

ATLANTA — Only one-third of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 have gotten their flu shot this season, which is a contributing factor to why this year's flu activity has hit young adults particularly hard, according to Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on Tuesday voted 25-to-9 to make pseudoephedrine a Schedule IV prescription drug and exempt medicines that can’t easily be diverted to methamphetamine, according to published reports. A similar bill is being considered by the West Virginia House of Delegates.

According to reports, the two exceptions to the prescription-only requirement would include Acura Pharmaceuticals' Nexafed and Westport Pharmaceuticals' Zephrex-D. 

ATLANTA — While flu activity declined slightly from the week prior, incidence of influenza-like illness rates remained above the national baseline for the week ended Feb. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

Six states were still experiencing high ILI activity, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.

SLOUGH, England — Reckitt Benckiser has line extended its Mucinex franchise into the year-round allergy sector with Mucinex Allergy, Heather Allen, Reckitt Benckiser EVP category development, told analysts Wednesday. 

"Super fantastic launch in the U.S.," she said. "Allergy is a $2.5 billion market in the U.S. More than 75% of Mucinex users also take an allergy treatment, and now, we're able to offer them Mucinex Allergy, maximum strength, non-drowsy antihistamine, acts fast and lasts for 24 hours."

ATLANTA — According to last week’s FluView report, released Friday, influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Flu activity is likely to continue for several more weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded.

For the week of Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, the national proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness decreased slightly for the fifth week, but remains above the national baseline. All 10 regions continue to report ILI activity above their region-specific baseline level. 

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Cough-cold suppliers are presently operating in a challenging environment, noted Matthew Mannelly, Prestige Brands CEO, president and director, during a conference call Thursday. The return of Tylenol to the cough-cold aisle and the accompanying media splash from McNeil Consumer isn't the only competitive factor impacting the cough-cold category, Mannelly said. The season is down more than 15% versus last year. And that lack of consumption, coupled with an overall soft retail environment, is forcing retailers to significantly cut back on inventories. 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia took one step closer to making pseudoephedrine products prescription-only, as the state's Senate Committee on Health voted Tuesday to move ahead with the proposal, according to an Associated Press report. 

According to the report, the bill would allow an exception for certain over-the-counter drugs that are deemed "tamper resistant" by the Board of Pharmacy.

NEW YORK — Hy-Vee has teamed up with the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy and Ferris State University to offer rapid-diagnostic flu and strep tests in its pharmacies.

Hy-Vee stores in Omaha and Papillion are among 60 sites throughout three states that will have pharmacists trained to administer these tests, the results of which are available shortly after the test is given. In addition to the testing, pharmacists also will be able to fill prescriptions to treat identified illnesses, if needed, under protocol set by prescribing physicians.