HEALTH

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Thursday named Bruce Johnson to VP consumer healthcare research and development. Johnson will lead new product development for the supplier in the U.S. market. 

Johnson joined Perrigo in 2005 and has since played a critical role in the company’s analytical research and development activities for both the U.S. and abroad.

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Wednesday announced the addition of six new members: Chr. Hansen, Cyvex Nutrition, Dicentra, InterHealth Nutraceuticals, Nature’s Gifts, and Neptune Technologies and Bioressources.

Chr. Hansen is a developer of natural ingredient solutions for the food, pharmaceutical, nutritional and agricultural industries. With U.S. offices in Milwaukee, Wis., the company is best known for its probiotics, dairy enzymes and natural colors.

MANNHEIM, Germany — Roche on Wednesday announced it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its Accu-Chek Nano SmartView blood-glucose monitoring system. The meter is smaller than a standard credit card, employs a large backlit display and does not require any manual coding or code key for enhanced ease of use, the company stated. It also offers improved functions such as customizable test reminders, pre- and postmeal markers and average glucose calculation.

TAMPA, Fla. — Fembody Nutrition on Monday named Paula Abdul their national celebrity spokeswoman for its line of nutritional supplements formulated for women and sold exclusively through GNC. 

"I am thrilled to start this journey as Fembody Nutrition's spokeswoman," Abdul stated. "The truth is that with my grueling schedule, it is so hard to maintain a healthy diet and a strict wellness regimen," she said. "You can rely on Fembody Nutrition to supplement your everyday routine." 


ST. LOUIS — Fleming Pharmaceuticals has sold rights of several of its products to Valeant International, Fleming said Wednesday.

Fleming announced the sale of the OTC nasal spray Ocean, the prescription kidney dialysis vitamin supplement Nephrocaps, the magnesium supplement Magonate and ProBarimin QT, a medical food product for patients who have received weight loss surgery. Financial terms were not disclosed.

SAN DIEGO — A special focus on its diabetes franchise will define Amylin Pharmaceuticals' corporate strategy, the company's chief executive said at a recent conference sponsored by J.P. Morgan.

NEW YORK — Over the past year, store-brand sales of over-the-counter products have helped maintain a slight growth through the sector, and with the number of proposed prescription-to-OTC switches on the horizon, the future looks especially bright, Joe Papa, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO, told attendees of the 30th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference held here Monday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Tuesday joined the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, an initiative aimed at tipping the scales against the epidemic of diabetes, prediabetes and obesity by expanding access to community-based programs that use evidence-based approaches to help prevent and control diabetes.