HEALTH

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.

TAMPA, Fla. — Condom Depot on Wednesday released the list of the World's Best Condoms Awards, naming Okamoto's Crown Skinless Skin the No. 1 ranked condom. Okamoto has retained this distinction for 13 years running.  

Rankings No. 2 through 10 included: 

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. —  A research study published this month in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics demonstrated the effectiveness of a sterol/stanol ester softgel capsule for lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in individuals with high cholesterol levels. 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday launched the advisory committee membership nomination portal, an online, interactive system that allows interested individuals to submit nominations for membership to any of the agency’s 33 advisory committees.  

WASHINGTON — According to an economic impact analysis released Tuesday by Martin Kennedy, a former professor of economics who spent seven years on the faculty of Middle Tennessee State University, adopting a prescription requirement for pseudoephedrine products in Tennessee would result in an influx of more than 497,000 additional physician office visits at a direct cost of $44.3 million annually.

MUNDELEIN, Ill. — Medline on Tuesday introduced the Curad Antiviral Face Mask, a face mask that inactivates flu viruses within five minutes of contact, according to the company.

The Curad Antiviral Face Mask was found to inactivate 99.99% of laboratory-tested flu viruses, including imminent pandemic and seasonal strains of influenza viruses, such as H1N1, this year's dominant flu strain in the United States. Traditional face masks act only as a simple barrier or filter and do nothing to neutralize the harmful germs that remain active on the mask itself.

CHICAGO — After a year of sluggish economic growth in 2013, it is no surprise that consumers are beginning the new year with a conservative outlook. An IRI MarketPulse survey released Wednesday found that shopper sentiment dropped in fourth quarter 2013, and this gloomy attitude is spilling over into 2014 across all age groups. 

It is particularly evident among millennials, who reported a 10-point decline since third quarter 2013 and have consistently struggled since the economic downturn began.