HEALTH

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Tuesday announced that it has begun shipments of over-the-counter nicotine polacrilex mini lozenge USP, 2 mg (mint flavor) and 4 mg (mint flavor), comparable to GlaxoSmithKline's Nicorette mini lozenge. 

"This launch strengthens Perrigo's leading store brand position in smoking cessation products, which also includes coated and uncoated flavored gums and regular size lozenges," stated Joseph Papa, Perrigo's chairman, president and CEO. 

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr. has signed on as a Goody's spokesman, Prestige Brands Holdings announced Tuesday. 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Tuesday announced the establishment of H. D. Smith Specialty Solutions, an organization structured to provide focus and alignment around specialty and traditional brand products, solutions and services. The wholesaler also announced the realignment of select executive leadership positions to best capitalize on the growing needs resulting from recent geographic and service expansions. These expansions include the acquisition of Valley Wholesale Drug in October 2012 and a planned majority ownership investment in Triplefin announced in January 2013.

TYSONS CORNER, Va. — More than 80% of Americans are willing to pay more for Made in the USA products, according to a USA Today report published online late Monday night. 

Out of those shoppers actively seeking to buy all things American, 93% reported that they wanted to keep jobs in the U.S. as their primary reason for doing so, the report noted, citing a survey released in November by Boston Consulting Group.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Friday named Piyush Chaudhari president of the Americas. Chaudhari will report directly to Andrew Appel, SymphonyIRI’s president and CEO.

HOUSTON — Walgreens and Televisa Consumer Products on Friday announced an initiative to engage Hispanic customers and gain additional insight into the Hispanic community through the introduction of TCP's health and wellness products.

RHINEBECK, N.Y. — Topical BioMedics on Thursday named the winners of their second annual Topricin Travel Photo Contest.

The company asked customers to snap photographs of “Where in the World” they take the topical pain reliever Topricin. Fans answered the call by providing images from around the globe.

Winners were selected based on photo composition, creativity and product presence. 

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported a slight drop in influenza-like illnesses across the country, but even so the season is still going strong. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the week ended Jan. 12 was 4.6%, above the national baseline of 2.2%