HEALTH

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — McNeil Consumer Healthcare on Tuesday initiated another recall at the retail level of one product lot (60,912 bottles) of Tylenol extra strength caplets in 225-count bottles because of a small number of odor reports, including a musty, moldy odor.

The uncharacteristic musty, moldy odor has been linked to the presence of trace amounts of a chemical known as 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA).

The product lot number (ABA619) for the recalled product can be found on the side of the bottle label. The recalled product was manufactured in February 2009.

SAN DIEGO — A cobranded Type 2 diabetes treatment may help reduce blood-sugar levels among patients when combined with insulin (with or without metformin), according to a late-stage clinical trial.

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb said that when Onglyza (saxagliptin) in the 5-mg strength was combined with insulin (with or without metformin), patients saw significantly lower HbA1C levels by an average of about 0.73% by the end of the phase-3 trial, compared with a placebo-insulin (with or without metformin) combination.

CINCINNATI — Pepto-Bismol once again is sponsoring the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y.

As part of its sponsorship, the brand has tapped celebrity Nick Cannon to grill hot dogs for the contest and serve contestants Pepto-Bismol to keep them going, the brand said. What's more, Pepto-Bismol also is the official sponsor of the women's competition, marking the first time female contestants' talents will be showcased in a separate contest.

PARIS — An investigational Sanofi drug for diabetes works at least as well as a similar treatment already on the market, and results in less abnormally low blood sugar, according to late-stage clinical trial results presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego this past weekend.

PARIS — A new study indicated that two insulin products made by French drug maker Sanofi lower blood-glucose levels to a greater extent than premixed insulin, and with improvements in quality of life and less hypoglycemia.

Sanofi announced results of the 60-week study, which compared regimens, including Lantus (insulin glargine [rDNA origin]) and Apidra (insulin glulisine [rDNA origin]).

SAN DIEGO — New data from a late-stage clinical trial of a recently approved drug for Type 2 diabetes show improved blood-sugar control in adults who take it with metformin or alone.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly presented data from the study of Tradjenta (linagliptin) at the American Diabetes Association’s 71st Scientific Sessions in San Diego last weekend. The study showed reductions in blood sugar and weight, and a low incidence of abnormally low blood sugar, known as hypoglycemia.

The FDA approved Tradjenta as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes in May.

SAN DIEGO — Use of a drug for Type 2 diabetes made by Eli Lilly and Amylin Pharmaceuticals may lower patients’ risk of heart failure, according to a new study.

The study of more than 778,000 patients taking the injected drug Byetta (exenatide) found that adding the drug to a pre-existing diabetes regimen, especially if that regimen included insulin, was associated with reduced likelihood of heart failure. Results were presented Saturday at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO — Novo Nordisk unveiled data from two extension studies at the 71st annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego that show its diabetes drug, when combined with other medications, may help patients achieve blood-sugar control.

The drug maker found that combining Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) with metformin and/or sulfonylurea helped patients achieve blood-sugar control.