Pharmacy Technology

ROCKVILLE, Md. Human Genome Sciences and Novartis have decided not to further develop an investigative biologic treatment for hepatitis C following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to decline its approval, HGS said Tuesday.

HGS said it received a complete response letter from the FDA concerning the drug Zalbin (albinterferon alfa-2b). The FDA delivers a complete response letter to indicate that it has finished reviewing an application, but questions remain that preclude final approval.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. Markwins International has hired former Johnson & Johnson executive Michael Cole to serve as its Walmart team leader.

In this role, Cole will be responsible for both divisions at Walmart; Markwins Beauty Product, featuring the Wet 'n Wild and Black Radiance brands; and Markwins International, featuring The Color Workshop, ACT and Barbie.

Cole will report to Shawn Haynes, SVP sales and marketing for Markwins Beauty Products, and Eric Weeks, VP sales for Markwins International.

BURBANK, Calif. Warner Home Video is feeling the love.

A trio of romantic films from Warner Home Video will be available on Blu-ray Feb. 1, 2011, including "10," "Pleasantville" and "You've Got Mail," all for a suggested retail price of $19.98 each.

MADISON, N.J. Pfizer Consumer Healthcare on Monday launched a consumer campaign encouraging Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unwanted, expired and recalled products.

Pfizer also is partnering with Suzy Cohen, author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist,” to offer essential tips on medicine cabinet safety. “This campaign encourages people to take a few simple steps to help ensure the safety of everyone in their household,” Cohen said. “We all need to declutter and clean out our medicine cabinets.”

KIRKLAND, Wash. Privately owned drug-development company ProteoTech will work with a Chinese company to develop a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, ProteoTech said Monday.