HEALTH

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Mylan subsidiary Dey Pharma has launched a mobile application for patients at risk of severe allergic reactions, which is tied to its EpiPen product.

The MyEpiPen app is available for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, and allows individuals, parents, guardians and others to create and share profiles of severe allergies with friends, family, teachers, school nurses, babysitters and others. Other features include an instructional video, user guide and others.

LOS ANGELES — Direct-to-consumer distributor Herbalife on Wednesday named longtime Council for Responsible Nutrition executive Andrew Shao to the post of VP global product science and safety, effective March 7.

WASHINGTON — Surgeon general Regina Benjamin on Thursday issued a “Call to Action to Support Breast-feeding,” outlining steps that can be taken to remove some of the obstacles faced by women who want to breast-feed their babies.

HOUSTON — A recent clinical trial involving a new drug formulation incorporating aspirin with soy-derived phosphatidylcholine found that the drug combination significantly can reduce irritation to the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract.

VALENCIA, Calif. — It seems that MannKind has experienced a setback with a drug designed to control hyperglycemia in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients.

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued a complete response letter to the drug maker regarding Afrezza (insulin human [rDNA origin]) inhalation powder. The regulatory agency requested that the company conduct two clinical trials, one in patients with Type 1 diabetes and one in patients with Type 2 diabetes, with its next-generation inhaler, to assure it works as effectively as MedTone, its predecessor.

BERKELEY, Calif. — Clif Bar on Wednesday introduced several new chocolate flavors across its Luna line of nutritional bars for women in time for Valentine’s Day. Luna Bar offers chocolate-dipped coconut and chocolate chunk varieties, while Luna Protein introduces mint chocolate chip and chocolate flavors.

CRAWLEY, England — An insulin pen for children made by Novo Nordisk has won a design award, the company said Wednesday.

The Danish drug maker won the 2010 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies for its NovoPen Echo, used to treat Type 1 diabetes. The annual award, which the two organizations have given since 1950, are the oldest and among the most coveted for design and innovation, Novo Nordisk said.

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Continua Health Alliance has appointed a new president and chairman to its board of directors.

The nonprofit said that Clint McClellan, senior director of market development at Qualcomm, will take on his new role this week. McClellan has represented Qualcomm on the board since 2009.