Generics

NEW YORK — Three drug makers are looking into buying Pfizer's branded-generics drug business, according to published reports.

Reuters reported that Actavis, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and Mylan had expressed interest in buying Pfizer's business segment focused on generic drugs. However, Reuters reported that Pfizer was not yet ready to make a deal and was in the process of a potential separation of the generics unit.

GURGAON, India — The Food and Drug Administration has found possible violations of agency regulations at a manufacturing plant in India owned by drug maker Ranbaxy Labs, the company said Monday.

Ranbaxy said it received a Form 483 from the FDA, a statement issued to a company's management after it has inspected a plant and found conditions that may violate the agency's regulations, and that products produced therein could be hazardous to people who use them. The plant in question is in Toansa, in India's Punjab region.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — More than three-dozen pharmacists in 41 states will receive the 2013 National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations' Excellence in Innovation Award, which is designed to recognize pharmacists who have demonstrated significant innovation in their practice.

The award, sponsored by drug maker Upsher-Smith Labs, focuses on those innovations in practice, method or service that directly or indirectly improve patient care and the advancement of the pharmacy profession.

ATLANTA — According to this week's FluView report, overall flu activity continued to be high across the nation, with activity continuing to spread from state to state, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. Thirty-five states are now experiencing widespread activity, and 20 states are reporting high levels of influenza-like illness. 

DUBLIN — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for high blood pressure made by Actavis, the company said Friday.

Actavis announced the approval of telmisartan immediate-release tablets in the 20-mg, 40-mg and 80-mg strengths, which it intends to release immediately.

Rather than take vacation for Christmas and New Year’s, the editors of DSN worked to compile a list of the top 10 trends that will shake up the business in 2014.

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has appointed Erez Vigodman as president and CEO, the Israeli drug maker said Thursday.

Vigodman will replace acting president and CEO Eyal Desheh, who will return to his previous position as group EVP and CFO. Desheh took the interim position after the departure of former president and CEO Jeremy Levin in October 2013.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic drug for preventing rejection of transplanted organs, the company said Thursday.

The generic drug maker announced the launch of mycophenolic acid delayed-release tablets in the 180-mg and 360-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Novartis' Myfortic. As the first company to file a completed regulatory approval application for the generic, Mylan is entitled to 180 days in which to compete exclusively against Novartis' product before the Food and Drug Administration can approve additional generic versions.