HEALTH

SILVER SPRINGS, Md. – Federal regulators are lifting some restrictions on a diabetes drug that were placed two years ago after studies linked the drug to increased cardiovascular risk.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Global Market Development Center and The National Grocers Association on Thursday announced the GMDC Showcase at the 2014 NGA Show, to be held February 9-12, 2014 at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. For the first time, GMDC in partnership with their supplier and wholesale members will bring a 3,000 square foot pavilion of general merchandise, health, wellness, and beauty care products, merchandising concepts and promotions to the 2014 NGA Show.

CHICAGO — Across five different product or service attributes analyzed (i.e., price, service agreement, selection, feature or quality) in a Nielsen Global Survey of Loyalty Sentiment, "offering the best price" held the most persuasive power to motivate consumers to swap devotion to a brand, service provider or retailer, Nielsen reported on Monday. 

MELBOURNE, Australia — PGT Healthcare, the international joint venture between Procter & Gamble and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, earlier this week announced a collaboration with Swisse Wellness, a leading wellness brand in Australia, to begin expanding Swisse Wellness' range of more than 100 vitamins, minerals and supplements globally over the next few years.

Swisse Wellness products are currently available in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The collaboration with PGT Healthcare encompasses all new markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

MADISON, Tenn. — Vireo Systems on Thursday launched CanineActiv, a pain reliever for dogs that will serve as an alternative to NSAIDs. "We have had outstanding success with NSAID alternatives for people, and we knew that many of our discoveries and innovations could be extended to dogs," Mark Faulkner, Vireo Systems president said. "With CanineActiv, consumers can expect the same level of safe and effective pain relief for their dogs as they've come to expect for themselves from AminoActiv."

LOS ANGELES — Trigg Laboratories, makers of Wet personal lubricants, will be supporting World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 through the donation of more than 5,000 safe-sex kits and samples to local clinics across nine cities to help raise awareness around HIV/AIDS, the company announced Tuesday.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Through mid-November, a national registry of over-the-counter drugs considered chemical precursors to methamphetamine prevented more than 16,700 boxes of the drugs from being sold illegally.

WESTPORT, Conn. — Skeeter Snacks, an allergy-friendly food, will launch its product in 212 Walgreens locations in the New England area.

Skeeter Snacks provides a variety of snack options for children and adults with tree nut and peanut allergies, and are available in six different cookie options: Chocolate Chunk, Chocolate Cubed, Golden Oatmeal, Skeeter Doodle, Chocolate Chip Minis and Cinnamon Graham Minis.