HEALTH

NEW YORK — Patients with inflammatory conditions may have lower rates of diabetes if they take drugs commonly used to treat arthritis, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study, conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, examined nearly 14,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis who took disease-modifying anthrheumatic drugs. Patients who have these diseases have significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

NEW YORK — The charitable arm of Bristol-Myers Squibb has awarded five grants totaling $1.5 million to organizations that encourage African-American women with Type 2 diabetes to better manage their disease.

OREM, Utah — Xlear recently announced the release of two new products: Xlear nasal spray and Kids Xlear nasal spray.

The new Xlear nasal sprays are formulated with xylitol, a 5-carbon sugar alcohol found in many fruits and vegetables. The Kids Xlear nasal spray retails for approximately $6.99. The adult version of Xlear nasal spray retails for $6.99 and also is available in an easy-to-inhale “Pump-Mist” dispenser, retailing for $13.49.

NEW YORK — Prestige Brands has expanded its sales management team and customer planning group.

The appointments include:

• David Howenstine, who joins Prestige as VP sales from Pfizer. At Pfizer, he served in a variety of leadership roles in field sales, customer development and category management;

• Jayne Reiss, who previously worked at Warner Lambert, Brach, Insight Pharmaceutical and Matrixx, where she managed the national accounts sales force, has joined Prestige as VP national accounts;

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Lelo on Thursday launched Intimina by Lelo, a new brand of intimate wellness products positioned as a premium to what’s on the shelf today.

The new line of products — a line of personal massagers, pelvic floor exercisers, hygienic cleansers and feminine moisturizers — will be available to ship this summer.

NEW YORK — Despite the expansion of the diabetes drug market over the past 20 years, the rate of diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States.

NEW YORK — It seems that intensive-dose statin therapy is linked with a higher risk of onset diabetes, compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis, which pooled data from previously published clinical trials, found that among 32,752 nondiabetic participants:

• 2,749 participants (8.4%) developed diabetes. Among them, 1,449 were assigned intensive-dose therapy, while 1,300 assigned moderate-dose therapy;

NEW YORK — Purdue Products on Thursday announced new packaging and product design across its Senokot Laxatives Comfort Promise line.

The packaging makeover includes Senokot-S Tablets, a laxative plus stool softener for those who experience occasional constipation which may be caused by certain medications, and Senokot To Go, a convenient, easy-to-carry four-pack choice for busy consumers with on-the-go schedules.