HEALTH

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — McNeil Consumer Healthcare has about 75% of its consumer brands back on shelf, Dominic Caruso, Johnson & Johnson VP finance and CFO, told attendees of the Cowen and Company Health Care Conference on Tuesday. 

"We are schedule to restore our reliable supply of products in the OTC marketplace," he said. "You should start seeing more Tylenol Children's advertising on TV. That's a good sign. It means we are confident that the products now are not only back on the shelves but they are back on the shelves in a reliable manner."

BENTONVILLE, ARK. — On March 8, Sam's Club will host free allergy and health screenings to members and visitors at Sam’s Club locations with a pharmacy — 584 locations — to ease management of allergies this season, the club operator announced Wednesday.

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. — According to a new survey by Traditional Medicinals, use of natural remedies has increased recently, with more than 1-in-3 (35%) Americans reporting they do more today to take care of themselves with natural remedies than they did five years ago. Education about natural remedies, however, is lacking. Nearly 2-in-5 (39%) of those who don’t already only use natural remedies for their health needs would be motivated to do so if they knew more about them.

MINNEAPOLIS — Norwest Equity Partners on Monday announced that it has acquired Apothecary Products from Terry Noble, founder and CEO of Apothecary. The transaction closed Feb. 28, 2014; financial terms were not disclosed.

Apothecary offers its customers a one-stop-shop solution with both over-the-counter consumer health products and behind-the-counter pharmacy supplies, spanning across three categories, including pharmacy supply, medication management and home health care.

EWING, N.J. — Church & Dwight on Tuesday announced that the Food and Drug Administration has cleared the First Response Gold Digital Pregnancy Test to determine if a woman is pregnant up to six days before her missed period and with more than 99% accuracy from the day of her expected period. In addition, the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test, which was previously cleared to determine if a woman is pregnant up to six days before her missed period, also has been FDA-cleared to detect pregnancy with more than 99% accuracy from the day of her expected period. 

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Clif Bar & Co. on Monday introduced its latest line of snack bars — Clif Mojo Fruit & Nut and Clif Mojo Dark Chocolate. Crafted with 70% organic ingredients, Clif Mojo Fruit & Nut and Clif Mojo Dark Chocolate deliver a convenient and gluten-free snack that supports today’s on-the-go lifestyle, Clif Bar noted. 

NEW YORK — Pfizer is recruiting for a 1,200-patient actual use study to measure whether or not patients can appropriately self-select treating high cholesterol with the statin Lipitor, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. 

The trial is recruiting patients through more than 35 pharmacies and is expected to be completed by year-end.  

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration last week ruled that generic equivalents to Teva Pharmaceutical's Plan B emergency contraceptive can be sold alongside Plan B without any behind-the-counter merchandising restrictions or a requirement to verify the age of the purchaser in a letter to the interested parties.