HEALTH

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Friday morning honored longtime industry veteran Pat Lonergan, co-founder of Numark Labs, with its Ivan D. Combe Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the advancement of the business of over-the-counter medicines.

LAS VEGAS — In addition to a comprehensive line of Vicks-branded humidifiers and thermometers, Kaz featured a number of hot/cold packs last week at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS.

Among them was the Mind and Body Care by SoftHeat soothing gel mask that begins shipping in June. The specialty mask can either be heated for sinus relief or cooled for headache relief. In addition, the machine-washable cover includes a pocket for scent pads — two rosemary and one lavender scent packets are included in the package.

WASHINGTON — A new partnership aims to educate pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, caregivers and patients about diabetes and about how pharmacists can work with physicians to help patients manage the condition.

The American Pharmacists Association, the APhA Foundation and the American Diabetes Association announced the collaboration Friday, saying it would develop new resources and also promote existing programs, such as the ADA's Stop Diabetes Movement and the APhA's Pharmaceutical Care for Patients with Diabetes certification program.

WASHINGTON — A Food and Drug Administration panel will meet Monday to discuss a class of drugs designed to treat chronic painful conditions that currently are under development and the safety issues possibly related to the drugs.

LAS VEGAS — Longhorne, Pa.-based Scrips America launched a new children's fever reducer at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS last week called Children's RapiMed.

The new product, shipping in June, features a single-ingredient (acetaminophen) small rapid-melt tablet in both bubblegum and grape flavors. The product will be available in two strengths — an 80-mg acetaminophen for children between the ages of 2 years and 6 years and a 160-mg acetaminophen for children between the ages of 6 years and 11 years.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — In excess of $102 billion. That's the value over-the-counter medicine delivers to the U.S. healthcare system, Consumer Healthcare Products Association leaders shared with attendees of the CHPA Annual Executive Conference held here Friday morning.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — Drug maker Hi-Tech Pharmacal has bought a line of homeopathic nasal spray products from Dynova Labs, the company said Thursday.

Hi-Tech announced the acquisition of Sinus Buster and Allergy Buster for $1.25 million and an addition $1.25 million that it will deposit in an escrow account. The company also will pay Dynova a royalty on net sales for up to three and a half years or up to $1.75 million. The products, which Hi-Tech will sell through its Health Care Products over-the-counter division, had sales of $3.3 million in 2011.

Within the past month, two Ohio-based traditional retailers announced plans to test-market automated retail vending machines. It’s not so much thinking outside of the box as it is figuring out how to get that box to where the consumers are, wherever they are — the airport, the hospital, convention centers, exercise facilities, on a college campus or in a hotel.