HEALTH

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee on Thursday announced it would meet February 25 to discuss data submitted by Armstrong Pharmaceuticals in support of a new drug application for the over-the-counter marketing of Primatene HFA, an epinephrine inhalation aerosol 125 microgram (mcg)/actuation, as a temporary reliever of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma for consumers 12 years of age and older. 

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — NBTY has been named a silver winner in the category “Most Socially Responsible Company of the Year” by the Best in Biz Awards, the company announced Thursday. 

LOS ANGELES — Maloof Ventures announced on Friday the launch of Never Hungover at GNC. Never Hungover is a dietary supplement that is comprised of a natural vitamin blend, antioxidants, amino acids, nutrients and minerals packaged as a 2-oz. serving. 

The hangover shot is designed to take up to an hour before or while consuming alcohol, and experiences optimal results when taking one bottle per four drinks. 

Sales of vitamins and minerals represent a $6.5 billion book of business that’s growing at a 5.2% clip across total U.S. multi-outlets for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 3, 2013, according to IRI.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

Probiotics is another large-scale source of growth for the vitamins, minerals and supplements category, having realized a 33% rate of growth, or an increase in sales of $121 million in the last year, noted Doug Jones, Pharmavite spokesman.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — GlaxoSmithKline recently tapped Emmy-nominated choreographer, “Dancing with the Stars” professional dancer and recording artist Mark Ballas to headline the company’s Blueprint to Quit smoking-cessation program. The star has been smoke-free for more than six months thanks to the comprehensive, two-part quit-smoking Blueprint to Quit resource available exclusively at Walmart.

TORONTO — Soho Flordis is in the process of launching Calorease, a dietary supplement that helps bind to the fat in foods and reduce caloric intake up to 500 calories a day. One of the differentiators setting this diet aid apart from other supplements is the active ingredient — FBCx (α-cyclodextrin), a stimulant-free, heart-healthy fiber. FBCx binds up to nine times its weight in fat from food, safely removing it from the body before it can be absorbed.