Generics

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — Now available online, the Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day collection site locator allows consumers to search for a nearby location to dispose of unneeded medications on Saturday, April 26, 2014, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Wednesday. On April 26, from 10 a.m.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Friday confirmed that a federal district court has granted its request to enforce a settlement agreement between Endo Pharmaceuticals and Mylan settling patent litigation in connection with Mylan's filing of an abbreviated new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration for frovatriptan succinate tablets, 2.5 mg. This product is the generic version of Frova, which is used to treat acute migraine headaches in adults. 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — NCPDP, the not-for-profit pharmacy standards development organization, on Wednesday announced the availability of a patient safety white paper that provides specific industry guidance for standardizing the dosing designations and labeling of oral liquid medications. 

WASHINGTON — Ian Read, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, Inc, was elected chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Friday at the trade association’s annual meeting. Also elected were Kenneth Frazier, chairman, president and CEO of Merck, as chairman-elect of the PhRMA board of directors, and George Scangos, CEO of Biogen Idec, as board treasurer.

Read succeeds Robert Hugin, chairman and CEO of Celgene Corp., as PhRMA’s chairman.

MUMBAI and BALTIMORE — Lupin announced that it received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for pioglitazone tablets USP in 15-mg, 30-mg and 45-mg strengths. The product is the generic version of Actos tablets from Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The drug is used an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Actos tablets had annual sales in the United States of approximately $236 million as of December 2013, according to IMS MAT data. 

WASHINGTON — According to new survey data recently released by the National Consumers League, one-third of adult Americans still believe that vaccines may be linked to autism in children. According to the survey, 33% of parents of children under the age of 18 and 29% of all adults continue to believe “vaccinations can cause autism.” Scientific studies have clarified that use of vaccines is not linked to autism in children, the NCL noted. 

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced that it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its generic form of Lovaza (omega-3-acid ethyl esters capsules, USP) in the United States.

Lovaza is used as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglycerdide levels in adult patients, according to the FDA. Teva believes it is the first to file and plans to begin shipping immediately.

Lovaza capsules, marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, had annual sales of $1.1 billion in the United States as of December 2013, according to IMS data.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Healthcare Distribution Management Association president and CEO John Gray on Monday testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health at a hearing on “Improving Predictability and Transparency in DEA and FDA Regulation.” HDMA is in support of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act of 2014, H.R. 4069, sponsored by Reps. Marino, R-Pa., and Blackburn, R-Tenn.