HEALTH

First half of cold season ends with H1N1 hangover
All the hype around H1N1  that was so prevalent in 2009 is gone, leaving only the tough comparisons a year later. That makes the first half of the  2010-2011 cough-cold season an H1N1 hangover with overall sales of $4.6 billion, representing a slight decline of 1.8%, for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010, according to SymphonyIRI Group. What was missing in 2010 was the 2009 summer of sickness that reached a crescendo in September.
Allegra joins allergy aisle
PARIS — Allegra is less than a week away from reaching shelves on March 4, and with the latest allergy switch will come a significant number of Rx allergy sufferers this summer.

Study: 53% of colds  originate in workplace

  Americans are hard-pressed these days to call in sick, especially for something as innocuous as a cold or even the flu. A recent CareerBuilder survey found that nearly 72% of workers typically go to work when they are sick. Workplace pressures and “presenteeism” may be causing workers to go in under the weather, as more than half (55%) of workers said they feel guilty if they call in sick.

 The CareerBuilder survey was conducted nationwide from Nov. 15 to Dec. 2, 2010, among more than 3,700 workers. 
Study: Homeopathic shoppers buy more

Homeopathy products, especially in the cough-cold space, appear to be doing very well. That’s good news in and of itself, but according to recent Boiron research, it gets better: People who place homeopathy in their market baskets tend to buy more by the time they get to the checkout. 
Burn cream tackles pain, infection, scars

Welmedix’s First Degree therapeutic burn cream provides a unique solution for minor burns that the company suggests is an unmet need at retail. It’s an all-in-one burn cream that helps soothe pain, cool the burn, prevent infection and reduce the appearance of scars. 
Former Clorox executive named CEO at Schiff Nutrition International

SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff Nutrition International on Friday named Tarang Amin CEO, president and director, effective March 7. Amin will replace Bruce Wood, CEO, president and director, who is retiring.
Scar therapy product  lessens C-section scars

GUILFORD, Conn. — Mitchell-Vance Labs this past fall launched a new scar product to add to its ScarAway lineup appealing to a whole other segment of women in search of scar therapy: ScarAway for C-sections.  
CVS Caremark saluted for Pharmacy Advisor program

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced on Friday that the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute awarded the company and its PBM client, ArcelorMittal, the 2011 Rx Benefit Innovation Award. The award recognizes the Pharmacy Advisor program, which was developed by CVS Caremark to manage costs, improve medication adherence and close gaps in care for members with diabetes.
Cough-cold marketer opts for app

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. — Prestige Brands became one of the first cough-cold marketers to develop a branded smart-phone app to help moms hone in on the most appropriate  PediaCare remedy for their sick children. It’s not a bad play; a recent Millennial Media report indicated that in 2010, 32% of moms owned a smart phone, versus 20% in 2009. 
CHPA, Congress propose dose of clarity for kids

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. — Concerns over kids’ medicines and proper dosing is still a prominent issue. Children between the ages of 2 years and 12 years are inaccurately dosed up to 73% of the time, according to a report published by the American Medical Association. This increases emergency room visits in two-thirds of the cases.