Generics

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Thursday commended a bipartisan group of 13 U.S.

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has reviewed new data that indicated that budeprion XL (bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets) in the 300-mg strength, manufactured by Impax Labs and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, is not therapeutically equivalent to Wellbutrin XL in the 300-mg strength.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid unveiled what it called its "next generation" Wellness store as the chain reported a decrease in same-store sales Thursday.

The store, in Lemoyne, Pa., is less than a mile from the 4,639-store chain's Camp Hill, Pa., headquarters. A ribbon-cutting Thursday morning marked the store's grand opening.

NEWARK, N.J. — The Keystone Folding Box Co. has launched a pharmaceutical compliance packaging system that it said was environmentally sustainable, easy to use for elderly people and resistant to tampering by children.

The company announced Wednesday that its Ecoslide-RX would soon arrive at Walmart pharmacies.

"At Walmart, we are dedicated to quality patient care and have proven that adherence packaging assists in these endeavors," Walmart VP pharmacy merchandising Sandy Kinsey said.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a drug used to treat apnea of prematurity in infants, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Sagent announced the launch of caffeine citrate injection and caffeine citrate oral solution, used to treat apnea of prematurity in infants between 28 and less than 33 weeks gestational age.

The market for the drug was worth about $28.5 million during the 12-month period ended in July, according to IMS Health. The drug features Sagent's PreventIV Measures packaging and labeling, which are designed to reduce medication errors.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two companies have signed a deal to provide access to real-time medication history to healthcare providers.

Pharmacy management services provider PDX and healthcare revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange services provider Emdeon announced the deal Monday, whereby medication history will be delivered from PDX's Electronic Pharmacy Record to Emdeon's Clinical Exchange and then to hospitals, providers, health information exchanges, nursing facilities and ambulatory and acute inpatient facilities that request it.

CLEVELAND — More than 20,000 RxAlly member pharmacies — including independent pharmacies, regional chains and Walgreens — will begin accepting a new federally qualified Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, SmartD Rx, beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Developed by Smart Insurance Company with the input of pharmacists, SmartD Rx will be offered to beneficiaries for the first time this fall during Medicare’s open enrollment period. 

PITTSBURGH — Generic drug maker Mylan has received regulatory approval for a drug used to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, the company said Friday, saying that it would launch both drugs immediately.

Mylan said the Food and Drug Administration approved its irbesartan tablets in the 75 mg, 150 mg and 300 mg strengths and irbesartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the 150 mg/12.5 mg and 300 mg/12.5 mg strengths. The drugs are respectively generic versions of Sanofi's Avapro and Avalide.