HEALTH

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The very substantial decrease in teen smoking that began in the mid-1990s has come to a halt among younger teens in the United States, and some evidence of a possible increase in their smoking was observed this year, announced researchers that were part of the "Monitoring the Future" study on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing efforts to stop “bogus” health claims, the Federal Trade Commission on Monday reached a settlement requiring NBTY to stop making false and unproven claims that their supplements promote healthy brain and eye development in children, the agency announced.

NBTY has agreed to pay $2.1 million to provide refunds to consumers who purchased certain multivitamins in its Disney and Marvel Heroes line.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid recently was awarded Advertising Age’s Media Vanguard Award in the category “Best Use of Online Video for Customer Service” for its "Giving Care for Parents" original online video series.

Working with Fox Learning Systems, Rite Aid created a comprehensive library of online videos that offered advice and guidance on specific health issues, including dementia, diabetes, cancer and injuries due to falls, in similar tone and production quality to TV news show health segments, AdAge reported.

PHILADELPHIA — Bresslergroup on Tuesday introduced a device that disinfects an entire room without labor or hazardous chemicals. Bresslergroup designed the new product for Sanosil International.

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline on Monday announced its acquisition from Darwin Private Equity of Maxinutrition, a U.K. company that manufactures protein-enhanced functional nutrition products.

“This deal will give GSK a strong presence in the fast-developing protein-based sports nutrition market, appealing across a broad spectrum of consumers, from elite athletes to sports participants and those seeking additional nutritional supplementation,” stated John Clarke, GSK Consumer Healthcare president.

WASHINGTON — Partnership for Prevention on Tuesday named Jason Spangler the organization’s chief medical officer.

Spangler will work closely with Partnership’s Health Professionals Roundtable on Preventive Services, a group representing 1.5 million members from the leading primary care professional organizations. HPR collaborates on issues of common interest and concern in the delivery of clinical preventive services and also develops policy statements that advance preventive care recommendations.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matrixx Initiatives on Tuesday announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by affiliates of private equity firm H.I.G. Capital.

The board of directors of Matrixx unanimously has approved the merger agreement. Under the terms of the merger agreement, affiliates of H.I.G. will commence a tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares for approximately $75.2 million.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In a clear victory for retail pharmacy, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have agreed with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on a motion to dismiss the Medicaid average manufacturer price lawsuit. The landmark agreement came after CMS withdrew the last remaining provisions of the AMP rule that had been blocked by a preliminary injunction following litigation by NACDS and NCPA.