HEALTH

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — McNeil Consumer Healthcare on Thursday launched an enhanced consumer education website called GetReliefResponsibly.com to promote safety in using OTC medicines to help kick a cold. 

WALTHAM, Mass. — Alere on Thursday announced the availability in Europe of the Alere i Influenza A & B test, a molecular test that detects and differentiates influenza A and B virus in less than 15 minutes. The test is now commercially available in Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the U.K. 

DUBLIN — Perrigo Co. announced that it received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for repaglinide tablets — a generic version of Prandin tablets — in 1-mg and 2-mg strengths. The company has started shipment of the drug. Perrigo previously launched the 0.5-mg strength in 2013.

BOSTON — Private equity firm Palladin Consumer Retail Partners on Thursday announced the acquisition of KT Health, a producer of kinesiology tape and related sports medicine products in the retail market. KT Tape, the company’s flagship product, is used by professional and recreational athletes to prevent injury, reduce pain, promote recovery and maximize comfort.  

NEW YORK — Match.com and Pfizer on Wednesday announced results from a recent survey showing that single smokers may want to consider breaking up with their cigarettes as they look for that special someone this year. Nearly 9-in-10 (89%) respondents said they prefer not to date someone who smokes, and when asked which actions were unacceptable on a first date, more said taking a smoke break (51%) than checking one’s phone (45%) or being late (40%).

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — SheaMoisture, a personal care brand, has released two new products formulated especially for babies and children with allergies and skin sensitivities.

BOSTON — For patients in the early stages of multiple sclerosis, low levels of vitamin D were found to strongly predict disease severity and hasten its progression, according to a new study led by the Harvard School of Public Health investigators in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare. The findings suggest that patients in the early stages of MS could stave off disease symptoms by increasing their vitamin D intake.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan on Thursday announced that its subsidiary has launched repaglinide tablets, a generic version of Novo Nordisk's Prandin. The drug is used to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Repaglinide tablets in 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 2 mg had sales in the United States of approximately $212.95 million for the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2013, according to IMS Health.