Generics

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — University of British Columbia researchers may have found a way to develop universal flu vaccines and eliminate the need for seasonal flu vaccinations, university officials announced Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — An organization that promotes efforts to stop prescription drug abuse announced Tuesday the release of a mobile app that directs users to places where they can safely get rid of unwanted and unused medications.

The American Medicine Chest Challenge said the AMCC Rx Drop app, sponsored by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, links to the AMCC's directory of local, county and state law enforcement-sponsored permanent collection sites around the country. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

NEW YORK — A generic version of a schizophrenia drug made by Otsuka Holdings and Bristol-Myers Squibb can't be launched until April 2015, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the validity of patents covering Abilify (aripiprazole) in the two companies' lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Apotex.

According to IMS Health, Abilify was the fourth top-selling drug in the United States in 2011, with sales of $5.2 billion.

CHICAGO — Consumption of probiotics is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, a common adverse effect of antibiotic use, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies published in the May 9 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Pharmaceutical wholesaler H. D. Smith will act as the exclusive supplier of various healthcare products for a buying group that serves independent pharmacies, the company said Monday.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is introducing prescription pet medications at its stores, the mass merchandise retail chain said Friday.

The company said the new program was designed to make it easier for customers to get branded and generic pet drugs and more convenient to shop for the whole family. More than 60% of American households own a pet, and families spent more than $50 billion on their pets in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The number of new drug shortages has been halved as early notifications from manufacturers of potential shortages have increased sixfold, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration wrote Thursday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has appointed Lisa DeFrancesco as its VP global investor relations, the company said Friday.

Succeeding Patricia Eisenhaur, who will leave the company on June 1, DeFrancesco will report directly to chief communications officer Charles Mayr. She will be responsible for investor relations programs and serve as the company's principal spokeswoman and point of contact with the analyst and investment community.